Rotary Melbourne has again achieved carbon neutrality, reducing annual emissions to 11.979 tonnes CO₂e and offsetting these with 12 certified Carbon Social credits from the WithOneSeed community forestry program in Timor-Leste - supporting both sustainability and stronger regional communities.
Rotary Melbourne proudly recognised Charlotte Arndt of Beaconhills College with the 2025 Student Community Service Award. Celebrated for her inspiring and sustainable Play It Forward Vic initiative, Charlotte has transformed a simple idea into a project bringing joy, opportunity, and connection to young athletes in Fiji and now Samoa.
Did you see the story about BioEYES on WIN News? This Rotary Melbourne-supported project is an innovative school science program using Zebrafish to teach students about biology and genetics. BioEYES is expanding to regional and remote schools. Click on read more to watch the video.
Olayinka Hakeem Babalola, a member of the Rotary Club of Trans Amadi, Nigeria, has been selected by the Board of Directors to become Rotary International’s president for 2026-27. His term will begin on 1 July 2026.
Curious about starting a podcast or using it to grow your business? Join us for an engaging evening conversation at the Imperial Hotel with John Downes, host of A Critical Few Actions, and Karen Kim, creator of Music World.
John is an experienced management consultant and started his podcast "A Critical Few Actions" last year launching at number 6 in the Apple Podcast Charts at number 6 Business Entrepreneurship. The effervescent Karen is well known in our Club but also well known in the community as part of her music education business is a podcast promoting "Music World". Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from two dynamic podcasters.
Planet Ark reports that South Australia has become the first state in the country to officially phase-out plastic soy sauce fish in addition to other pre-packaged and attached products.
Thank you to Cheryl Lacey for your reflection on Wednesday 3 September 2025.
Immediate Past President Catherine Baxter presented the David Wittner Mentoring Award to Quin Scalzo, recognising a Rotarian who has excelled as a mentor and advocate for Rotary, and honouring the memory of Past President David Wittner AM.
This month, Rotary shines a light on one of our core causes: supporting education and literacy around the world. More than 775 million people worldwide over the age of 15 still cannot read or write. Rotary believes that literacy is not just about reading books – it’s about unlocking opportunity, breaking cycles of poverty, and empowering individuals to build better futures.
Last week’s Rotary Melbourne meeting was full of recognition and inspiration. Awards honoured Mary Barry and Quin Scalzo, tributes marked Bill Pratt’s 100th and the loss of Marie Fels and Genny Knight, and guest speaker Anna Schulze highlighted Rotary’s role in saving lives through the PNG Snakebite Project.
Tangly Ton, a Cambodian scholar supported by Rotary Melbourne and President Rotaract Club of Siem Reap, has provided an update on his move to Phnom Penh and working as the training coordinator at the Happy Return Center of Cambodia, which is the Korean government-funded center inside the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training. 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.
We are saddened by the death of Dr Marie Fels wife of Bob Fels, who died on Sunday 31 August 25, after a brief illness. Marie was a great supporter of Bob and his Rotary activities.
The funeral Mass for Marie Helen Hansen Fels will be offered at The Chapel of the Holy Spirit, Newman College, 887 Swanston Street, Parkville on Thursday 11 September at 1:00pm. The Mass will be webcast live. Click read more for information.
August Board Rasmussen was born on 8 August 2025 in Denmark – first time grandparents Russell and Narelle Board are chuffed.
Join Rotary Richmond for their Business Breakfast on Wednesday 15th October at Amora Hotel featuring Jodie Rowlands, IDector of Supply Technology and Innovation at Treasury Wines Estates, as she explores how cutting-edge innovation, including AI, is tranforming the wine industry.
Rotary Melbourne's Stephen Rando is proud to share a milestone moment: the My Room Children’s Cancer Charity Ball raised a record $1.8 million in one night - fueling research, care, and hope in the fight against childhood cancer. Together, they’re moving closer to a 100% cure rate for every child.
President Philip reflected on the remarkable centenary of the Rotary Club of Bendigo at its 100 Year Celebration. He honoured its origins under our charter President W.A. Osborne and Rotary Melbourne’s role in its founding. He highlighted Rotary’s enduring commitment to service, fellowship, and leaving the world a better place—values as vital today as in 1925. Click read more to read his speech.
Rotary Melbourne proudly recognises former Honorary Member Professor Hugh Taylor AC, who has launched his autobiography Opening Eyes: Preventor of Blindness. He has also received the prestigious 2025 Laureate Recognition Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, honouring his global leadership in blindness prevention and Indigenous eye health.
The Australian Rotary Health August 2025 Newsletter features upcoming events and feature articles. Click read more below to read the newsletter.
Guests of the Club Anna Schulze (Speaker).
Visiting Rotarians Michael Lapina (Wyndham).
Guests of Members Sajjad Ahmad (Bernie McIntosh), Brett Lombardi (Cheryl Lacey), Denis Hallissey (Chris Wang).
Membership Anniversary this week: Cas Burr (5), Bob Glindemann (32), Bernie McIntosh (20), Quin Scalzo (24).
Happy Birthday this week: Stephen Rando.
Learning from History and from the Next Generation of Peacebuilders - you are welcome to this seminar that will take place at Bangårdsgatan 13, Uppsala and via a ZOOM-meeting on Sunday September 21 at 11:00-15:00.
Click on read more to REGISTER and see the entire agenda.
September is Rotary International Education & Literacy Month, and our unstoppable Ruth Carlos-Martinez has just pulled off another inspiring mission. She personally collected 18 boxes of books from Brighton Library to be sent to Dangan, Philippines.
Our Community Welfare Committee created and implemented the 2025 Cynthia’s Gift Mentoring Awards through partner organisations. The Inaugural Cynthia’s Gift presentation 20th August 2025 was led by PP Kevin Sheehan,
Rotary Melbourne members recently joined District 9800’s Polio Plus Society Afternoon Tea, reaffirming Rotary’s commitment to eradicating polio worldwide and hearing the latest updates on progress, challenges, and upcoming fundraising initiatives.
