Bulletin 22 April 26 - {FIRSTNAME}

Bulletin 22 April 2026

Highlights

This Week
Member News
Club News
Last Week's Meeting
Other News
Upcoming Events

This Week Wednesday 22 April 2026
No 5121 in the Club's 106th Year

Lunch with Don Farrands KC

April 22, 2026, 12:45 pm to April 22, 2026, 2:00 pm

No 35, Sofitel on Collins 25 Collins Street Melbourne VIC 3000

Author

Topic: Life on the Western Front - A Stretcher Bearers Perspective
Wednesday 22nd of April 2026
12:45 PM to 2:00 PM
No 35, Sofitel on Collins
Also Online via Zoom

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This Week's Duties - 22 April 26

On Duty: Robert Fisher (Reception), Jan Moffatt (Raffle), Carol Bond (MC), Peter Hollingworth (Reflection), Joseph Ebbage (Photos).

Member News

Welcome New Member - Catherine Freeman

We’re delighted to welcome Catherine Freeman who is engaged in fashion modelling, participating in editorial and runway events for a European fashion retailer based in Melbourne.

Please Update Our Database 2026/27

An email has been sent to all Rotary Melbourne members to check their online Directory data in preparation of the 2026-2027 printed Directory. Please ensure you have checked both the hardcopy and online directory and advise any changes including updated photos. Please send your updates to the Directory Editor directory@rotarymelbourne.org.au

Members Anniversaries & Birthdays - Week 22 April 2026

Membership Anniversary Ian Hamm (12), Deb Yin Foo (20).

Happy Birthday Will Abdo, Peter Addison, Kenza Dairi, Kelton Dennis.

Club News

Rotary Melbourne Assisting Homelessness project needs your help

Rotary Melbourne's Make a House a Home (MAHA) project provides new homewares to Launch Housing’s front line offices around Melbourne. We now need more volunteers to cope with the demands on homless housing.

Rotary Melbourne Jazz Group

Following the Club Jazz Night some members have asked about setting up a Jazz Interest Group. The genre encourages social interaction and there are venues across Melbourne. While a few ideas have been canvassed we need people to follow through. It has been suggested that some activities may be combined with Home Groups or stand alone. It isn't expected to be a large commitment. This should be about having fun. If you are interested please contact President Philip.

Happy Birthday Rotary Melbourne

105 years ago on the 21^st April 1921 our club first met. The first steps towards Rotary in Australia was taken by Walter Drummond, a young Melbourne architect, on a visit to Chicago in 1913. Rotary International was established in Chicago on 23 February 1905.

Presentation 90th Anniversary of Rotary by David Wittner

Rotary Melbourne ticks over another year with our anniversary of first meeting on 21 April 1921.

On 23 May 2011 David Wittner delivered a moving Presentation on the 90^th Anniversary of Rotary in front of Ms Quentin Bryce AC CVO, then Governor General and other distinguished Rotarians and guests.

Volunteer for Second Bite

Today (19 April 26), Tony Battaini, Trevor Nink and Robert Fisher took a lighter than usual Second Bite load at Prahran Market today. Thank goodness because, in the absence of a delivery truck, we had to pile everything into Tony’s car…..!
Anyone interested in joining the Second Bite Sunday team should please contact Robert. Even once a month for a couple of hours would make a big difference!

Sambun Monthly Email in April 2026

Sambun Sambath, a Cambodian scholar supported by Rotary Melbourne and Member of Rotaract Club of Siem Reap, has provided a March 26 update where he completed his first foundation-year subject, Cultural Anthropology. He sincerely appreciates you taking the time to read his update and for the continued support of Rotary Melbourne.

Last Week's Meeting

Last week's meeting 15 of April

President Philip especially welcomed Guest speaker, Charlie Thomas, CEO of the Victorian Farmers’ Federation, and Club Guest Catherine Freeman to be inducted as a Rotary Melbourne member at this meeting.

Reflection Adrian Nelson 15 April 26

by Adrian Nelson

Thank you to Adrian Nelson for last week's reflection on Wednesday 15 April 26.

Club Guests: Don Farrands (Speaker), Caroline Pilot (Inductee), Abiola Akinbiyi.

Visiting Australian Rotarians: Quentin Parker (Kununurra, WA).

Guests of Members: James Panagiotopoulos (Deb Yin Foo).

Other News

Research Spotlight: Dr Tara Lal ASFM

From the Frontline to the Forefront of Mental Health Research
What happens when a firefighter with nearly two decades on the frontline turns her lived experience into a PhD - and then into a national leadership role? Dr Tara Lal AFSM, supported by a Rotary Clubs of NSW PhD Scholarship, spent five years researching PTSD and the hidden toll of suicide exposure on emergency services workers.

Reclaiming Democracy Together · National Launch

On the afternoon of 9 May 1901, Australia’s first Parliament was opened in Melbourne before 12,000 invited guests — a defining moment in the birth of a democratic nation. On the 125th anniversary of that historic occasion, it is time to take stock, assess Australia's current predicament, place it in the deeply troubling global context, and reimagine and plan for a promising future.

Upcoming Events

An Evening Volunteering FORaMEAL

April 23, 2026, 5:00 pm to April 23, 2026, 6:30 pm

RMIT University Level 7 Building 10, Swanston Street Melbourne VIC 3000

Join us for a fun evening
of volunteering at RMIT
FORaMEAL

SOLD OUT!

Thursday 23rd of April 2026
5:00 PM to 6:30 PM
RMIT University Level 7 Building 10,

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Lunch with Alan Oster

April 29, 2026, 12:45 pm to April 29, 2026, 2:00 pm

No 35, Sofitel on Collins 25 Collins Street Melbourne VIC 3000

Consultant Economist

Topic: 'An Economist's Local & Global Outlook'
Wednesday 29th of April 2026
12:45 PM to 2:00 PM
No 35, Sofitel on Collins
Also Online via Zoom

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