As we are all well aware, the past two weeks in Victoria have been devastating, with fires impacting communities across the state.
Many of us are keen to help by providing assistance and donating items. However, it is critical that any support offered aligns with what affected communities can realistically manage and genuinely need. These needs will also change over time.
The Rotary Club of Melbourne Young Achievers awards recognise and honour annually up to three outstanding young Victorians with an award of $1,500 each. Nominations are now open.
For the 7th edition of District 9800 January 26 Networker for 2025-2026, please click on Read More below. In this issue there is an article on Rotary Castlemaine's Harcourt Bushfire Assistance.
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To see what projects Rotary Clubs around the globe are undertaking click on the link below. For example the Rotary Club of Saigon International participated in two global grant projects with District 3740 in Korea that have corrected congenital heart disease for 100 Vietnamese children since 2023.
To provide access to Water and Sanitation to the indigeneous Taubuid-Mangyan fishing communities of Ilin Island, San Jose and Burgos, Sablayan who have nil to water shortages, that result in water borne illnesses.
Membership Anniversary Sarah Gosper (1).
Happy Birthday Bob Burgess, Sarah Gosper, Mamum Haque, John Shaw.
Dave Chauhan, Janet Huynh (RC Interact Club), Sebastian Immaraj, Christos Papadimitriou, Caroline Pilot, Dores Schembri, Catherine Watt, Althea Weeratunga, Jessica Ziersch (Deb Yin Foo), Manon Beauchamp-Tardieu (Peter Berg), Jarrod Rubenstein (Philip Cornish), Anthony Hyett (Visitor), Rohan Sachdeva (Visitor), Kristina Schwarze-Kelso (Visitor).
A warm evening of fellowship at Good Heavens
Around 40 Rotary Melbourne members and guests gathered at the Good Heavens Rooftop Bar on a beautifully warm, balmy Melbourne evening for an informal night of connection and conversation.
Membership Anniversary Garry Fowler (18), Mamum Haque (1), Sharann Johnson (32).
Happy Birthday this week: Sandra Hills, Bob Glindemann, Jeremy Oats, John Shaw.
Guests of Members: David Pecorini, Dores Schembri (Deb Yin Foo), Chrysanthe Pragastis (Sue McDonald).
17 Rotary Melbourne members and friends volunteered at RIMERN on Wednesday 21 January 26. It was the annual RIMERN Volunteering Day. There were also the regular volunteers from other Clubs, so, many hands.
It is with great sadness that Rotary Melbourne acknowledges the passing of our esteemed member, David Dunoon, who devoted over 56 years to Rotary and a member of this club since 2004. His service will be live streamed via this link next Friday
Service Details: Friday, January 23, 2026, 2:00–3:00 PM
Wesley Uniting Church, 130 Lonsdale St, Melbourne, VIC 3000
It is with great sadness that Rotary Melbourne acknowledges the passing of Margaret Jannice "Jann" TRUMBLE (HUNT) on 10 January 2026 wife of former Rotary Melbourne member Alan Trumble who passed away on 1 October 2025. A private service and celebration of life to follow.
President Philip Cornish has provided an update on the planning for the upcoming Rotary Melbourne Strategic Plan 2026-2029.
With falls now leading Australia's cause of accidental death in older people, a united movement is stepping up to drive awareness, action and life saving prevention. Rotary Lismore West, NSW, is launching this important project in 2026. They are working with the Falls Prevention Alliance Australia at the University of Sydney. Click on the following article Australias_Silent_Falls_Epidemic to find more information on this project.
You are specially invited to join us as a Special Guest at the upcoming 2026 Peace Begins at Home – International Mega Meeting.
📅 Date: Tuesday, 24 February 2026
⏰ Time: 9:30 PM (AEST)
📝 Registration: Click here to register
https://forms.gle/MHTV83qsom4HJo4BA
It’s hard to believe it’s been two years since our last OTC road trip adventure, and we’re delighted to be planning another one in March 2026, travelling from Melbourne to Horsham ahead of the annual District Conference.
Sambun Sambath, Active Team Member, Rotaract Club of Siem Reap was kind enough to provide a write up of PE Carol Bond's visit to Siem Reap, Cambodia, with details of the work they did together on Project G and included photos of the two of them when Carol visited Cambodia Rural Students Trust (CRST).
This month the Environmental Sustainability Rotarian Action Group (ESRAG) newsletter ESRAG January 2026 Volume 11 Issue 6 features an article titled 'How Climate Change is Endangering Children Worldwide'. Click on read more below.
Rotary Melbourne has forged a productive and promising relationship with The Melbourne Arboretum (TMA), a major new environmental initiative taking shape in Melbourne’s north.
For the 6th edition of District 9800 December 25 Networker for 2025-2026, please click on Read More below. In this issue they there is an article on DG Peter Shephers musing where he refers to Past Rotary International President and current chair of the Rotary Foundation Holger Knaack and his wife Susanne visitng the wonder that are the Peace Bells at Rotary Melbourne Peace Park.
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The Australian Rotary Health December 25 Newsletter is available by clicking on Read More below and features articles on upcoming events and feature articles. This newsletter includes the ARH Annual Report.
Happy Birthday this week: Peter Davis, Steve DeBono, Colin Honey, David Hayes, Kevin O'Flaherty.
Thank you to Quin Scalzo for your reflection on Wednesday 10 December 25 sharing stalwart member John Mitchell's last THANKFULL REFLECTION in 2016.
