Guests of the Club Murray Verso (Speaker), Warwick Cavell, Isabell Horn.
Visiting Rotarians Ayanthi G (Rowville-Lysterfield), Ian Knight (Werribee).
Guests of Members Ruwangi Fernando (Peter Berg), Akinbiyi Abiola (Wyndham Harbour - Marg leser).
On Duty: John Peberdy (Photos), Rosemary Nixon, Sandra Hills (Reception), Philip Endersbee (Raffle), Tony Battaini (Reflection), Peter Dakin (MC).
Membership Anniversary this week: Sap De (3), George Giamadakis (5), Stephen Lake (25), John Levi (45 - TODAY!), Graham O'Donnell (3).
Happy Birthday this week: Anthony Austin, Carol Bond, Christina Boys, Carolyn Burr, Bernie McIntosh, Robin Syme, Mimmie Watts.
Past District 9800 Governor, Murray Verso spoke on Building Peace Through Rotary. Murray began by highlighting Rotary’s deep and enduring commitment to peacebuilding, both historically and in contemporary practice. His remarks coincided with the United Nations International Day of Peace, and Rotary’s role in promoting peace in a turbulent world.
On Duty: Bruce Davidson (Photos), Tony Battaini, Marg Leser (Reception), Rosemary Nixon (Raffle), Peter Hollingworth (Reflection), Richard Dent (MC).
At this week's meeting on 17 September 25, German violinist Isabell Horn, the 2025 NGSE exchange young artist, will perform Bloch’s Nigun with Dr David Kram.
Hosted by Rotary Melbourne Central, Isabell has been active since arriving in August, working with the Melbourne Youth Orchestra, Monash Academy Orchestra, and preparing for Iopera’s Athenaeum season. She is also receiving tuition from leading Melbourne violinists thanks to the generosity of two clubs. Isabell returns home October 10. This exchange, supported by Rotary Melbourne and Herzogenaurach Rotary in Germany, continues to build valuable cultural and musical ties between our countries.
Join Rotary Melbourne’s lunch with Past District Governor Murray Verso, acclaimed peace leader and chair of the District 9800 Peace Fellow Selection Committee. He’ll highlight how Rotary Peace Fellows drive global change and share our club’s role in this prestigious program.
Peter Berg will also present our exciting new STEM project, STEM Sisters.
Rotary Melbourne has again achieved carbon neutrality, reducing annual emissions to 11.979 tonnes CO₂e and offsetting these with 12 certified Carbon Social credits from the WithOneSeed community forestry program in Timor-Leste - supporting both sustainability and stronger regional communities.
Rotary Melbourne proudly recognised Charlotte Arndt of Beaconhills College with the 2025 Student Community Service Award. Celebrated for her inspiring and sustainable Play It Forward Vic initiative, Charlotte has transformed a simple idea into a project bringing joy, opportunity, and connection to young athletes in Fiji and now Samoa.
Our club sent the following message to Rotary Lubang Island, Philippines for its recent club changeover event. We have built a strong relationship working closely with Lubang Island in recent years on projects impacting water, health and sanitation.
Over 100 corporate volunteers joined Lighthouse Foundation’s Care Packing Day, assembling essential packs for vulnerable babies, children and young people on RUOK Day. Rotary Melbourne proudly supported the event, with Philip Endersbee donating a generous supply of new socks and beanies and partners including the Sofitel Melbourne adding toiletries.
Did you see the story about BioEYES on WIN News? This Rotary Melbourne-supported project is an innovative school science program using Zebrafish to teach students about biology and genetics. BioEYES is expanding to regional and remote schools. Click on read more to watch the video.
Guests of the Club John Downes, Karen Kim (Speakers)..
Guests of Members Mark Ekkel, Warren Wills, Eason Chen, Doris Hsido (Karen Kim), Victoria Pcikett (Bill Pickett), Jae Adela Park, Srita Das.
Membership Anniversary this week: Will Abdo (1), Adrian Nelson (7), Roy Gangopadhyay (1).
Happy Birthday this week: David Carruthers (TODAY!), Tony Battaini, Peter Clements.
Olayinka Hakeem Babalola, a member of the Rotary Club of Trans Amadi, Nigeria, has been selected by the Board of Directors to become Rotary International’s president for 2026-27. His term will begin on 1 July 2026.
Last week's evening conversation at the Imperial Hotel featured on Podcasting for Business featured management consultant John Downes, host of A Critical Few Actions, and entrepreneur Karen Kim, creator of Music World.
Curious about starting a podcast or using it to grow your business? Join us for an engaging evening conversation at the Imperial Hotel with John Downes, host of A Critical Few Actions, and Karen Kim, creator of Music World.
John is an experienced management consultant and started his podcast "A Critical Few Actions" last year launching at number 6 in the Apple Podcast Charts at number 6 Business Entrepreneurship. The effervescent Karen is well known in our Club but also well known in the community as part of her music education business is a podcast promoting "Music World". Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from two dynamic podcasters.
Planet Ark reports that South Australia has become the first state in the country to officially phase-out plastic soy sauce fish in addition to other pre-packaged and attached products.
Thank you to Cheryl Lacey for your reflection on Wednesday 3 September 2025.
Immediate Past President Catherine Baxter presented the David Wittner Mentoring Award to Quin Scalzo, recognising a Rotarian who has excelled as a mentor and advocate for Rotary, and honouring the memory of Past President David Wittner AM.
This month, Rotary shines a light on one of our core causes: supporting education and literacy around the world. More than 775 million people worldwide over the age of 15 still cannot read or write. Rotary believes that literacy is not just about reading books – it’s about unlocking opportunity, breaking cycles of poverty, and empowering individuals to build better futures.
Last week’s Rotary Melbourne meeting was full of recognition and inspiration. Awards honoured Mary Barry and Quin Scalzo, tributes marked Bill Pratt’s 100th and the loss of Marie Fels and Genny Knight, and guest speaker Anna Schulze highlighted Rotary’s role in saving lives through the PNG Snakebite Project.
Tangly Ton, a Cambodian scholar supported by Rotary Melbourne and President Rotaract Club of Siem Reap, has provided an update on his move to Phnom Penh and working as the training coordinator at the Happy Return Center of Cambodia, which is the Korean government-funded center inside the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training. He also expressed his warm and sincere gratitude for the trust, love, care and support to make his life goals come true via the support of Rotary Melbourne.
We are saddened by the death of Dr Marie Fels wife of Bob Fels, who died on Sunday 31 August 25, after a brief illness. Marie was a great supporter of Bob and his Rotary activities.
The funeral Mass for Marie Helen Hansen Fels will be offered at The Chapel of the Holy Spirit, Newman College, 887 Swanston Street, Parkville on Thursday 11 September at 1:00pm. The Mass will be webcast live. Click read more for information.
