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Rotary Melbourne proudly congratulates the 2026 Young Achiever Award recipients -Mahsa Nabizada, Jack Benci, Joel Moffet and Mary Nguyen— who were honoured by Nick Pearce, Co-Founder & former CEO of one of Australia’s leading social enterprises, HoMie at a special ceremony held on Wednesday 20 May 2026 at the Sofitel on Collins. These inspiring young leaders are already making a significant impact in their fields and communities, continuing the strong legacy of the Award.
Rotary Melbourne proudly congratulates the 2026 Young Achiever Award recipients -Mahsa Nabizada, Jack Benci, Joel Moffet and Mary Nguyen— who were honoured by Nick Pearce, Co-Founder & former CEO of one of Australia’s leading social enterprises, HoMie at a special ceremony held on Wednesday 20 May 2026 at the Sofitel on Collins. These inspiring young leaders are already making a significant impact in their fields and communities, continuing the strong legacy of the Award.
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.
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.
A Rotary collaboration supporting displaced Karen State students
A chance conversation sparked a powerful Rotary partnership bringing dignity, education and opportunity to displaced Karen State communities through locally led, sustainable action.
How UNICEF Australia and Rotary are supporting communities in Kiribati to protect girls from cervical cancer. In Kiribati – a Pacific island nation just north of Samoa – a simple vaccine is helping to protect girls from cervical cancer and safeguard their futures.
Rotary Melbourne member Rob McGuirk, Chair EndTrachoma is a Rotary Districts of Australia Project has provided a write up on this exciting project.
Image credit: Minum Barreng: Indigenous Eye Health Unit, The University of Melbourne, 2016. The photo is of a community mural in Warburton, Western Australia, featuring Clean Faces, Strong Eyes and Milpa the goanna, painted by Adnate in collaboration with community.
Australia is now the 30th country to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem, validated by the World Health Organization. For Rotary Melbourne, this milestone reflects one of our leading projects over the past decade alongside the National Rotary Trachoma initiative EndTrachoma.
Many women who live in poverty are forced to give birth in dirty places without professional medical help. Sometimes well-meaning friends or relatives will cut the umbilical cord with an unclean objects such as a piece of bamboo. Infection during delivery threatens the lives of both mothers and babies. These kits will be distributed to communities in need.
Somewhere far away, there is war and famine. Yet here we are, gathered together at RMIT on Thursday 23 April 26 - and perhaps we can make a small difference. Even a little can mean the world to someone. The next FORaMEAL will be held on Tuesday 29 September 26.
A Small Jab, A Safer Future - Kiribati
UNICEF Australia and Rotary are working with Kiribati's Ministry of Health to deliver HPV vaccinations to girls across the remote Pacific island nation, where cervical cancer rates are significantly higher than in Australia. All 15 health facilities on the main island now deliver the vaccine through schools, community outreach, and fixed health sessions - made possible through Rotary's "Give Every Child a Future" program. unicef
A timely read for World Immunisation Week (24–30 April). Full article here.
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 90th Anniversary of Rotary in front of Ms Quentin Bryce AC CVO, then Governor General and other distinguished Rotarians and guests.
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!
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.
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.
For the 9th edition of District 9800 March 26 Networker for 2025-2026, please click on Read More below. In this issue there is an article on A “Love Letter” to the Unite for Good Multi-District Summit
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Rotary Melbourne has been supporting the five Black Rhinos basketball teams in various ways over the past four years. They were founded in 2007 by Afri-Aus Care and have been coached by Ryan Rooney.
On 25 March 26 Rotary Melbourne proudly recognise and celebrated Trevor Nink—an outstanding Rotarian whose dedication, leadership, and enduring commitment to Service Above Self have made a lasting impact on our Club, our community, and the wider Rotary world. It is with great pleasure that we elevate Trevor to Paul Harris Fellow Double Sapphire.
