Club Announcement

Peter H McCall OAM

27/6/1941-21/4/2026

85 years

It is with great sadness that Rotary Melbourne advises the death of our dear friend and colleague, Past President Peter McCall OAM. Peter passed away on Tuesday 21 April 2026.  

Peter H. McCall, OAM, respected community leader, former mayor, dedicated Rotarian, Past President, Paul Harris Fellow and tireless advocate for youth and social welfare passed away after a life defined by service, leadership, and compassion. He was 85.

Born in Melbourne on 27 June 1941, Peter’s life was marked early by determination and achievement. Leaving school at 15, he began work at the Footscray abattoirs of William Angliss and at 18, became the youngest person to qualify as a Victorian State Meat Inspector.

In 1963, he married Kaye, beginning a partnership that would span more than five decades. Together they raised two children, Brett and Lisa, and later delighted in their five grandchildren: Elisha, Callum, Jack, Liam and Finn.

Peter joined Victoria Police in 1975, rising to the rank of Sergeant.  It was during his time in the police force that a defining moment shaped the course of his life. Attending a drug overdose in Collingwood, Peter held a dying 15-year-old girl in his arms as she pleaded, “don’t let me die.” The experience remained with him forever. As he later reflected, “She lives today with me… sitting on my shoulder.”That moment became the catalyst for a lifetime of community commitment — what he would simply describe as commitment.

Elected as a Councillor for the City of Springvale in 1976, Peter served as Mayor from 1984 to 1985, later continuing his civic contribution as Councillor and Deputy Mayor of the City of Monash. His leadership extended across numerous public bodies, including the Springvale Noble Park Sewerage Authority and the Dandenong/Springvale Water Board, both of which he chaired.

Peter’s contribution to community organisations was extensive and enduring. He served as Victorian State President of the Australian Small Business Association and chaired numerous educational, charitable, and civic bodies, including the Noble Park Language Centre, Carwatha College Council, St John Ambulance (Springvale Division), Odyssey House Appeal (South Eastern Division), and the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal in Springvale. He founded the Springvale Interfaith Network and the City of Springvale Youth Sports Scholarship Program, reflecting his lifelong dedication to inclusion and opportunity for young people.

In 1983, he established McCall Security Group Pty Ltd, building a successful enterprise that notably included providing personal security to Muhammad Ali during his 2000 visit to Australia. On that occasion, surrounded by global figures, Peter was quietly reminded of the difference between appearance and substance — what he would later call perception — remarking wryly that true capability is often best understood only in moments of need.

Monash Leader June 14, 2016

His service was recognised with numerous honours. He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2003 for service to the communities of Springvale and Dandenong, and held appointments including Commissioner and Deputy Chairman (East) of the Melbourne & Metropolitan Board of Works. He also served on the Ethics Committee of the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and as an Honorary Ambassador for beyondblue, the White Ribbon Foundation, and the Waverley Gymnastics Centre.

Peter’s connection to Rotary was profound. A member of the Rotary Club of Melbourne from 2001, and previously of Noble Park, he served as President in 2007–08, during which the Club reached a record membership. He contributed across numerous committees and served as Bulletin Editor for many years. In 2010, he was named a Paul Harris Fellow, and in 2018 was honoured with Honorary Life Membership.

During his Rotary presidency, another defining experience reinforced his belief in practical impact — what he called reality. Through a youth program, he encountered a troubled young man who months later returned transformed, proudly declaring, “You saved my life… I’m off the streets, sleeping in my own bed and off the drugs.” For Peter, it was a powerful reminder that real change lies not in words, but in lives quietly turned around.

A proud Melburnian who shared his birthday with General Sir John Monash, Peter often reflected on the words of A. A. Milne: “The things that make me different are the things that make me.” It was a philosophy he embodied — through individuality, resilience, and an unwavering belief in the value of every person.

He spoke often of gratitude to his colleagues, his community, and above all to his wife Kaye, whom he described as “the very best friend I could ever wish to have… the love of my life.”

Peter McCall’s legacy endures in the communities he strengthened, the institutions he helped shape, and the countless individuals whose lives were changed by his compassion, friendship, leadership, and lifelong commitment to service.

Rest in Peace dear friend your work is done.

Kaye advises that Peter has donated his body to research at Melbourne University.  As such a memorial service will be advised, will be held in possibly three weeks time.

Opening of Odyssey House, Peter and Kaye led the Fundraising Team

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