More than 20 members and guests braved a chilly Melbourne evening on Wednesday 9 July for Rotary Melbourne’s first Evening Conversation of the 2025–26 year. Held at the Imperial Hotel, the meeting featured engaging talks from Global Scholar nominee Alexander Tashevski-Beckwith and Rotary Peace Fellow Ika Trijsburg.
Guests of the Club: Coco Ma (Speaker), Harry Baugh.
Visiting Rotarians: Shinji Higuchi (Osaka), Bill Singh (Singapore).
Guests of Rotarians: Amanda Battaini (Tony Battaini), Kat Sayers (Bernie McIntosh), Michael Li (Yidan Xi).
Membership Anniversary this week: Peter Clements (17), Malcolm Simpson (52).
Happy Birthday this week: Bob Fels, Karen Kim, Patricia von Matuschka, Trevor Nink (TODAY!).
Rotary Melbourne has proudly supported The Smith Family’s Learning for Life program for nearly 20 years — and now it’s your chance to be part of something special! Join us for a fun, social, and feel-good morning at the 2025 Melbourne Marathon on Sunday 12 October 25, as we staff a drink station in vibrant Elwood (corner of Point Ormond Rd and Marine Parade).
We are delighted to welcome back Professor Jeremy Oats AM, a distinguished Rotarian and maternal health advocate. Now retired, Jeremy brings with him 29 years of Rotary service, global impact in Timor Leste, and a deep commitment to “Service Above Self.” Peter Rogers has already commandeered him to help with a new Pacific project. Welcome home, Jeremy!
Membership Anniversary this week: Gerald Ashman (40), Alan Finkel (8), Trevor Nink (19), Michael Selth (20).
Happy Birthday this week: Joe Balci.
On Duty: Carol Bond (MC), Joseph Ebbage (Photos), Peter Dakin (Reflection), Tony Battaini (Reception), Bruce Davidson (Raffle).
Thank you to Tony Battaini for your reflection on Wednesday 2 July 2025.
Guests of the Club: Christos Papadimitirou (Speaker).
Visiting Rotarians: James Allen (Sydney).
Guests of Rotarians: Jeremy Oats (Peter Rogers), Catherine Stace (Richard Dent), Surjeet Dhanji (Karen Kim), Chrysanthe Pragastis (Sue McDonald), Mike Gornalle (Karen Gornalle).
Rotary Melbourne has received a carbon social certificate for offsetting our club’s carbon emissions for 2023-24 which were calculated as 14 tonnes of CO2e. This is signed by the President Jose Ramos-Hota. The Certificate, signed by the President Jose Ramos-Hota symbolises “ …. not only your (organisation’s) climate leadership, but also your support for local communities (in Timor Lesté) working to restore their forests and livelihoods.”
Rotary Melbourne’s support is driving impact in PNG, funding Dr Arabella Koliwan’s community awareness campaign and Kate Datson’s clinical training in Central Province. St John’s next goal - supported by Rotary Melbourne - is a dedicated retrieval ambulance to deliver antivenom to remote areas.
For the Special edition of District 9800 June 25 Networker for 2024-2025, please click on Read More below. In this issue they cover articles from District 9800 including DG Michael's monthly musing which reflected on 'As this Rotary year draws to a close, I find myself filled with immense gratitude. It has truly been an honour to serve as your District Governor, and I want to sincerely thank each and every one of you for making this year Simply Irresistible and truly Magical.'
The Rotary Club of Bendigo proudly celebrates its centenary in 2025, marking 100 years since its founding meeting on 23 August 1925, when representatives from the Rotary Club of Melbourne - Acting President Mr. G.E. Emery and Honorary Secretary Mr. W.A. Drummond - joined Bendigo’s Mayor, Councillor E.M. Vains, to officially establish the club. President Philip Cornish will attend the special centenary celebration on Saturday 23 August 2025, and you are welcome to join him.
This weekend, Rotary Melbourne was presented with a special International Service Recognition by District 9800 Governor Michael Lapina for our ongoing work on our Papua New Guinea Snakebite Project. Project Champion Tony Battaini was on hand to accept this special presentation.
This week marks one year since SecondBite and FareShare officially joined forces — a milestone that reminds us just how much more we can do together. In that time, we’ve increased the amount of food we’re able to rescue, grow, cook and share. You can read more about the anniversary in this news story.
Our first meeting of the Rotary year featured an update on breakthrough neuroscience from Dr Christos Papadimitriou and welcomed back long-time member Professor Jeremy Oats AM. Click read more to catch up on photos, key moments, guest insights and full presentation links inside the bulletin.
A powerful international Rotary collaboration including Rotary Melbourne and the Rotary Passport Club of Melbourne has brought education, menstrual health kits, and solar lights to displaced the indigenous Karen students in the hills of Thailand and Myanmar.
Membership Anniversary this week: Alan Finkel (8), Margaret Garnder (1), Robert Read (18).
Happy Birthday this week: Peter Dakin, Richard Dent, Jan Moffatt, Bill Pickett, Michael Selth.
At last week's Changeover Lunch, Rotary Melbourne was delighted to announce the recipients of its inaugural 2025 Music Scholarships and hear them play and sing. This exciting new program supports young Victorian musicians from diverse backgrounds, recognising exceptional talent and need. The scholarships reflect Rotary’s ongoing commitment to the arts and the transformative power of music in our communities.
The 2025 Changeover on 25 June was a vibrant celebration of Rotary Melbourne’s achievements and a warm welcome to incoming President Philip Cornish. Highlights included musical performances by our inaugural Music Scholarship winners, the induction of three new members, recognition awards, and inspiring reflections from outgoing President Catherine Baxter.
Rotary Melbourne welcomed and inducted Karen Gornalle on 25 June 2025 with the classification Real Estate -Training & Management. In 2007 Karen was appointed to the Justice Department – Consumer Affairs Victoria as a board member for the Estate Agents Council.
MITS (Melbourne Indigenous Transition School) has shared their latest newsletter. Edward Tudor, Executive Director noted 'Term 3 - our 'Premiership Term' - is in full swing, and the latest edition of our MITS Family Newsletter captures all the excitement from around MITS. This includes our recent 'MITS Celebration of the Arts' event, showcasing the incredible and varied talents of our students.' Click on read more to read the newsletter.
On Duty: Peter Dakin (MC), Bill Pickett (Photos), Anthony Battaini (Reflection), TBA (Reception), Peter Addison (Raffle).
Guests of the Club: Peter Shepheard, Jane de Git, Ailesh Dupate, Karen Gornalle, (Inductees) Michael Gornalle, Margaret Kerr, Tilly Jones, Orvokki Britton, Sara Deeb (Arts Scholars).
Visiting Rotarians: Aviv Palti (Passport Melbourne), Maria Hicks (Passport Melbourne).
Guests of Rotarians: Javed Bilal, Leah Njau, May Yin (Bernie McIntosh), Rachel Cornish, Robin Victorino, Debbie Sonin (Philip Cornish), Helen Weeks (Clive Weeks), Jane Wang (Chris Wang), Warren Wills, Anna Ulzi (Karen Kim).
Thank you to Adrian Nelson for your reflection at last week's meeting Wednesday 25 June 2025.
