Paul Harris (April 19, 1868 – January 27, 1947) was a Chicago, Illinois-based attorney. He founded the club that became the humanitarian organisation Rotary International in 1905. Paul Harris said that:
“The way to war is a well-paved highway and the way to peace is still a wilderness” and he could very well be talking about the world today.
At this Rotary Melbourne meeting Professor Jeremy Oats AM, a Rotary Melbourne member and highly respected and acclaimed Obstetrician was the guest speaker.
Jeremy then proceeded to deliver an insightful and evidence-based address examining the growing phenomenon of “free birthing” — where a woman chooses to give birth without the support of a registered midwife or doctor. His remarks were framed by a recent maternal death in Melbourne that has drawn renewed public attention to the risks associated with unsupervised birth.
Rotary Melbournemember Stephen Rando wanted to share something that his family has recently been interviewed by the ABC on a reflection on dedication, community and the legacy of service that people like his Uncle John lives every day.
Visiting Rotarians: Shinji Higuchi (Osaka), Dores Schembri (Kensington & Chelsea, UK) , Gerhard Otto & Elisabeth Walther (Salzburg Land).
Guests of Members: Wendy Dalziel (Robert Fisher), Elena Suprihartono (Kevin Sheehan), Julian Carr (Peter Rogers). Caroline Pilot (Deb Yin Foo).
Membership Anniversary David Carruthers (24), Sam McLarty (2), Robert Klupacs (3), Robert McGuirk (33).
Happy Birthday Susan Barton, Grahme Bond.
On Duty: John Peberdy, Sandra Hills (Reception), Rosemary Nixon (Raffle), TBD (MC), Adrian Nelson (Reflection), John Peberdy (Photos).
Thank you to Peter Dakin for last week's reflection on Wednesday 18 February 2026.
Rotary Melbourne's 2025 Cynthia’s Gift Awardee, Elena Suprihartono attended last week’s meeting to hear our Guest Speaker, Professor Jeremy Oats AM who has since her Award was conferred last August, has mentored Elena as she prepared and then sat her Medical School interviews.
Honorary Member Consul-General Tokuro Furuya kindly invited a number of Melbourne Rotarians to attend a reception at his home on 17 February to celebrate the Emperor's 66th birthday. It provided an opportunity to engage in conversation, and share experiences, with many people from multiple cultures, backgrounds and professions.
Join us to hear Professor Jeremy Oats AM, Honorary Fellow at the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, and our longstanding club member, present Freebirthing: Pros and Cons. As former Chair of the Victorian Consultative Council on Obstetric and Paediatric Mortality and Morbidity and adviser to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, he has helped shape understanding of pregnancy outcomes nationwide.
Drawing on decades in clinical care, research and national maternity review, Jeremy will explore safety, autonomy and how maternity services can better respond to women’s experiences and expectations.
This Sunday’s SecondBite collection at Prahran Market was another special experience. Robert Fisher and Trevor Nink providing hands on assistance collecting surplus food from the Market’s generous vendors for delivery to the Salvation Army at 69 Bourke Street, Melbourne.
Rotary Melbourne Honorary member Dr Alan Finkel AC was honoured on 11 February 26 with a Monash building named after him at their Clayton Campus. Monash University Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Sharon Pickering today announced the Alan Finkel Building for Technology and Design as the new name of Building 94, alongside Chancellor Megan Clark AC at an unveiling on the Clayton campus.
Rotary Peace Center at Symbiosis International University will train peace and development professionals from across Asia. Leaders of Rotary International and Symbiosis International University gathered in Pune, India, to inaugurate a new Rotary Peace Center at the university. Supported through The Rotary Foundation, the center will provide experienced peacebuilders from across Asia with one-year professional development certificate fellowships to study subjects such as conflict transformation, sustainable development, and social change.
Kate Datson, St John Emergency Services Project Lead, PNG Snakebite Partnership, addressed members at the 4 February lunch. Kate spoke about the challenges faced in delivering effective prevention and treatment services in a country with limited infrastructure and one of the highest mortality rates from snakebite globally.
Last Wednesday 11 February was our annual Picnic at Rotary Melbourne Peace Park, South Yarra. We had a wonderful crowd, including visitors from Japan, representatives of the City of Melbourne and the Botanical Gardens, and many members and some prospective members. After a few glasses of bubbles, the heavens opened and most retreated to the Botanical Hotel to continue a very social evening inside!
As the start of the 2026 footy season approaches quickly, we turn our mInds to all things AFL. If you're lucky enough to barrack for the mighty Magpies but are not yet a member of the GO PIES group/team please reach out to Branko on email to be added to this mighty team. If you don't barrack for Collingwood, consider setting up your own coterie group.....
Membership Anniversary Joe Balci (19).
Happy Birthday George Giamadakis, Jeremy Oats, Rob Medcalf.
Visiting Rotarians: Ian Knight (Werribee), Pam Dittmer, Shinji Higuchi (Osaka).
Guests of Members: Andrew Laidlaw (Rob McGuirk), Nick, Kimberley Pierzchalski (Peter Berg), Jane Wang (Chris Wang), Myra Fisher (Robert Fisher), Srita Das, Caroline Pilot, Louise Nelson (Adrian Nelson).
The Rotary Peace Fellowships were inaugurated in 2002 between Rotary International and prestigious universities around the world. Each year, 170 fully funded fellowships are awarded to encourage master’s level students to dedicate their lives to peace and humanitarian service.
Rotary Melbourne’s partnership with the Cambodian Rural Student Trust is creating lasting change through education, service, and leadership. Carol Bond shares how dedicated students and Rotary support are helping rural Cambodian communities break the cycle of poverty - seen first hand during a recent visit to Siem Reap.
Thank you to Robert Fisher for your reflection on Wednesday 4 February 26.
This month the District 9800: Environment and Sustainability News February 2026 features articles tfrom around District 9800. Click here to read.
Sambun Sambath, a Cambodian scholar supported by Rotary Melbourne and Member of Rotaract Club of Siem Reap, has provided a January 26 update on learning Chinese. He also expressed his warm and sincere gratitude for the trust, love, care and support to make his life goals come true via the support of Rotary Melbourne.
Iqbal advised that one of our long-standing members, Colin Honey, has been unwell and is currently admitted at Epworth Hospital in Richmond. Iqbal visited Colin on 1 February 26, and he shared that he is awaiting a heart bypass procedure prior to undergoing knee and hip replacement surgeries. While he appeared a little weak, he was in good spirits.
