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On Wednesday 12 August 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.
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, the program features a special interview with Rotary Melbourne President Dr Carol Bond.
A number of Rotary Melbourne members attended the 0808 Battle of Amiens Service at the Shrine on Saturday 8 August 2026. The service commemorated the 108th Anniversary of the Australian Victory at the Battle of Amiens, 8 August 1918 by the Australian Army Corps led by Sir John Monash, Lieutenant-General, Commander Australian Corps.
On Friday 7 August 2026, the Spirit of Australia Foundation celebrated the Monash Commemorative Service at the Legislative Assembly Chamber, Parliament House hosting a broad collection of Victorian secondary schools, politians, senior members of the Victorian community and Rotarians from Rotary Melbourne to share in celebrating the legacy and ongoing impact of General Sir John Monash GCMG KCB VD.
A group of club members have ridden in the Around the Bay bike ride for the last decade. This is partly an opportunity to fundraise for the Smith Family's Learning for Life program but also a great fellowship opportunity for bike riding club members.
Last week, 75 chairs, 14 sewing machines and three overlockers arrived at Canossa PreEscola in Dili, with shipping funded through a Rotary Melbourne club grant. The chairs have already been put to good use at parent–teacher meetings, while the sewing equipment will support valuable learning and practical opportunities for the Canossian community.
The Rotary Club of Melbourne Mentoring Award recognises a Rotarian who has excelled as a mentor and advocate for Rotary. The award was inaugurated honouring the memory of Past President David Wittner AM. The Board recognised David’s extraordinary commitment to Rotary spanning 54 years until his sudden passing in 2018 and his willingness to mentor many members, and indeed beyond in the community at large. The perpetual trophy of multi-faceted design is a reminder of the breadth of character that was David Wittner.
Awarded to Marg Leser
Rotary Melbourne welcomed Dr David Horgan, founder of the Australian Suicide Prevention Foundation, who introduced WhatDoISay.org, a free resource offering over 500 medically approved phrases to help everyday people support someone at risk of suicide on 15 July 26. With most at risk people signalling distress to loved ones rather than crisis lines, this award winning tool removes the guesswork, and is now expanding internationally through Rotary networks.
If this topic raises concerns for you personally, Lifeline (13 11 14) is available anytime.
On Thursday 9 July 26, 11 Rotary Melbourne members volunteered at the Magpie Nest Café, helping the Salvation Army's Project 614 team serve 94 breakfasts and 180 lunches to people experiencing homelessness and hardship.
Rotary Melbourne’s final meeting of the Rotary year, its 5,130th meeting, was also the 2026 President’s Changeover Lunch — a fitting occasion to reflect on a year of service, recognise outstanding contributions, welcome a new member, and formally induct Dr Carol Bond as the Club’s 110th President.
Our new Rotary Melbourne short video was launched at last week's Changeover Lunch on 24 June 26. Thank you to Janet Jane for the production and to our members for the support and involvement.
Click Read More below to watch.
A $5,000 Rotary Club of Melbourne grant helped Docklands Yacht Club purchase a patient hoist that is now enabling people with physical disabilities — including stroke survivors — to access their sailing simulator.
This month’s Evening Conversation took us somewhere a little different — the bustling Winter Night Market at Melbourne’s iconic Queen Victoria Market.
Appreciation to Plan International Philippians, Rotary Club of Lubang Island and Rotary Club of Melbourne Inc. Australia.
Ilin San Jose people lived through disasters, typhoons, rain or heat and on a daily basis we use small boats, walk and use habalhabal to get buckets of water from springs/wells.
Rotarians, we need your nominations. Let’s find an outstanding volunteer worthy of the Sir John Reid Community Service Award. We all hear about or come across dedicated volunteers who fly under the radar, who do not receive due recognition, despite years of unstinting effort.
We honour the life and service of Reverend Dr Peter Hollingworth AC OBE — priest, advocate, teacher, Governor-General, Rotarian, and above all, a man deeply committed to the dignity and wellbeing of others.
Thank you to our valued partner, Rotary Melbourne, for their generous donation of $20,000 to enable us to evaluate our Model of Care across one or more Lighthouse programs.
Evaluations like these are crucial as they enable us to show the positive impact of our work, and also make improvements to strengthen our programs further. 
Rotary Melbourne is proud to continue our long term support of Lighthouse Foundation.
An Epic Day activity packing T-shirts and caps destined for St John PNG’s Clinical Snakebite Trainer, Andrew Maru, and his colleagues. CSL’s Anna Schulze will deliver these RCM branded goods when she’s in Port Moresby for the upcoming PNG Snakebite Partnership annual meeting on 25 May 2026.
Rotary Melbourne partner, the Melbourne Arboretum is excited to have received 21 Bird boxes, made by the Mernda Men's Shed. These boxes have been well crafted from weather proof marine ply, with specific native bird's needs given to to the Arboretum by Bird Life Australia.
At the Baker Oration last week (wednesday 13 May 26), Rob McGuirk, the Chair of the National Rotary EndTrachoma project outlined how the Baker Foundation enabled Rotary Australia to contribute to a landmark national health achievement: the elimination of trachoma as a public health problem in Australia.
The 2nd Cynthia’s Gift Awards are being presented on Wednesday 27th May 26 by President Philip to four most worthy Awardees who we will jointly mentor with their respective Sponsor Organisations as they pursue their career goals.
Cynthia’s Gift will offer annual funding of up to $10,000 to empower women and girls from underprivileged backgrounds to transform their lives by providing the necessary support to unlock opportunities in critical areas such as education, employment, and financial independence. This will equip recipients with the tools and resources to build a brighter and more secure future.
On Wednesday May 13th 26 we will once again be celebrating the life of our esteemed 8th President, Thomas Baker, in the 10th year at the Oration in his name. Each year we seek an orator that embodies leadership in medicine, science, technology, entrepreneurial or philanthropy. This year we are honoured by Professor John Greenwood, Director of Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, as our orator in the centenary year of the Institute's formation. Thomas Baker was instrumental in establishing the organisation which has become the Baker HDI.
Across rural Cambodia, Rotary clubs and community partners are delivering lasting change by combining clean water, safe housing and human connection to transform lives one village at a time.
