Every day, 55 African elephants are killed for ivory and a rhino is lost every 16 hours. If you care about wildlife, want to act, and believe individual effort matters, the AMES Fellowship offers 2 to 4 weeks of hands-on conservation work at the Dabchick Reserve in Limpopo: game drives, anti-poaching training, wildlife research and cultural exchange with the local Gumbi community.
The fellowship is organised by a former fellow student of Tita Matuschka (Rotary Club Melbourne), who is happy to connect interested members directly with the program coordinator.
Open to anyone 17 and over. See Fellowship_2026_-_AUS.pdf for more info.
In 2023, your support backed Dr Talia Carl with an Australian Rotary Health grant to research the mental health of Aboriginal children aged nought to twelve, a group at higher risk yet far less likely to receive help.
Rather than adapt an existing tool, Talia is co-creating one with the community it's meant to serve: the Growing Minds Check In for Aboriginal children, designed to catch early signs and connect families to culturally safe support.
Reach a child early, through support their family trusts, and you can change what comes next. That's possibility, backed early, by you. Read more here.
This months MITS Newsletter explores the theme of Respect – one of the core values that underpins life at MITS. In this edition, you'll read stories that highlight the many ways respect is lived out across our community: respect for culture, family, learning, Country and one another.
From repairing Mrs. Sokhom's home for 20 volunteers in the summer heat, to fixing bicycles for children at Don Sva School, to leading a rural reading campaign, our Rotaract scholar in Siem Reap has had a month full of service and growth. She also marked a personal milestone, being elected President-Elect of Rotaract Siem Reap.
Read her full update, and see the photos, in this month's bulletin.
A warm invite from Rotary Melbourne Member Mimmie Watts:
Join us in Melbourne from 17 to 20 November 2026 for the 3rd African Diaspora Women's Summit, "Reclaiming the Narrative: Legacy, Leadership & Global Sisterhood in a Polarised World." Hosted by the Australian African Institute, the Summit brings together leading women from across the African diaspora for keynote sessions, panels and networking.
Registrations are now open. Learn more and register: theaustralianafricaninstitute.com.au/
Membership Anniversary: John Green (29), John Peberdy (20), John Saunders (5).
Happy Birthday: Sumeer Bhandarkar, Adrian Nelson.
Have you missed the Rotary and Community Service Radio Show on Friday 14 August, on 94.1FM 3WBC? Hosted by Ian Salek and his co-host Alex Birnie, tonight’s program features a special interview with Rotary Melbourne President Dr Carol Bond.
On Wednesday 12 Augusdt 26, Rotary Melbourne was privileged to step inside one of the great stories of Australian innovation — the extraordinary work of the Corporate member Bionics Institute.
This week’s duties: John Peberdy, Sue Smith, Marg Leser (Reception), Rosemary Nixon (Raffle), Rosemary Nixon (MC), Tony Battaini (Reflection), Gerald Ashman (Photographer).
Owen Parnaby's book Australia's First Rotary Club tells the story of Rotary Melbourne since our 1921 foundation, its influential members, and the projects that shaped Victoria. It has long been part of the new member joining pack, giving every new Rotarian a direct line to the Club's history and figures such as General Sir John Monash.
Copies have now run out. A reprint would take time and come at real cost.
If you have a copy at home, please bring it along to a lunch or drop it at the office. Your donation helps ensure new members can still discover the story that connects us all.
