Rotary Melbourne welcomed and inducted Jane de Git on 25 June 2025 with the classification Education – Schools. She has been ‘Rotary adjacent’ - a term she light-heartedly coined - for eleven years, as the wife of Past President Catherine Baxter.
Tony Battaini was awarded the 2025 Axle Award presented by President Philip Cornish at our meeting on Wednesday 16 July 24. Congratulations Tony.
In 2023 Harry Baugh attended a Melbourne Rotary meeting and spoke with Peter Rogers and the President at the time Chris Sotiropoulos about Rotary Melbourne endorsing him for the Georgia Rotary Scholarship Program which they did. Here to report on his US cultural experience is Harry.
You are warmly invited to the D9800 Polio Plus Society Afternoon Tea on Saturday 30 August 2025 starting at 2.30pm. Everyone is invited to attend so invite those who you think may be interested in joining the Polio Plus Society and being part of Rotary efforts to eradicate Polio.
Rotary Melbourne member Rob McGuirk wrote the following article on the EndTrachoma Project which was recently published in the Rotary Down Under (RDU) publication.
Thanks to the generous support and sponsorship of Rotary, I had the amazing opportunity to attend the Rotary International Convention in Calgary, Canada. This experience was truly one of the most meaningful moments in my life. It opened my mind, helped me grow, and showed me the power of global connection.
Last week’s meeting, led by MC Dr Carol Bond, featured a moving reflection by Past President Peter Dakin, an update from Rotary Scholar Harry Baugh, and an insightful presentation by Dr Coco Ma on independent film production in Australia. President Philip also presented the 2024–25 Axle Award to Tony Battaini.
Club Member Amanda Wendt reflects on her unforgettable time at last month's Rotary International Convention in Calgary - cowgirl boots and all! From leading global teams to sharing fresh membership insights, she found connection, inspiration, and plenty of reasons to be excited for Rotary’s future.
July is Maternal and Child Health Month — Rotary Melbourne supports life-changing projects including immunisations across the Pacific (Give Every Child A Future), training midwives in Timor Leste, mental health research, and abuse prevention through SAFE Families. [Click on Read more below →]
Rotary Melbourne, in partnership with STEM Sisters, is working with regional and rural Rotary Clubs to help deliver Future Me - an engaging comic book series introducing STEM careers to young children, especially in underrepresented and disadvantaged communities.
This month the Environmental Sustainability Rotarian Action Group (ESRAG) newsletter ESRAG July 2025 Volume 10 Issue 1 features an article titled 'Clean Energy and ESRAG’s Vision for the New Rotary Year'. Click on read more below.
Rotary Melbourne’s annual Vocational Service Award recognises significant vocational service of community leaders in the community who have achieved distinction in their chosen career and have demonstrably used their vocational skills to selflessly make significant contributions to the community.
We are saddened by the death of former member Dr Robert “Bob” Winstanley Barnes. Robert was an active member of 28 years having resigned in 2018 and he will be well known by longer serving members.
A funeral service will be held at St Peter's Eastern Hill, East Melbourne, 1.30pm, Saturday, 16 August 2025.
It is with great pleasure that we invite Rotary Melbourne members to celebrate with us the 2024-2025 changeover and the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the club. I believe that our anniversary is of special significance to the Rotary Club of Melbourne, as I understand that your club has chartered ours, therefore we owe a particular sense of historical gratitude to the Rotary Club of Melbourne. It would be amazing to share this celebration with some officials or members of our charter club. Dr Áron Perényi, President (2024-2025), Rotary Club of Carlton (https://www.carltonrotary.org) Rotary email: aron.rotary@gmail.com
For 33 years, the Rotary Melbourne has conferred Young Achiever Awards to high achieving young people to encourage their career development and endorse their commitment to community service. In our current social media age of ‘selfies’ and ‘self-centeredness’, all the participants in this year’s Young Achiever Award program deserve sincere commendation. However, we can only give three Young Achiever Awards each year.
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).
