Thank you to Barbara Yerondais for reflection for last week's reflection on Wednesday 29 October 2025.
Guests of the Club Henry Dwyer (Guest Speaker).
Guests of Members Matt Ball, Luke Ball, Andrew Barett, Todd Dewberry, Nicholas Hullet, Oli Scalzo, Michael Scalzo, David Scalzo, Chris Scalzo (Quin Scalzo), Andrew Bostock (Peter Dakin), Roswitha Horgan (David Horgan), Tim Holland (Peter Hanlon).
Membership Anniversary this week: Kelton Dennis (23), Peter Manger (42).
Happy Birthday this week: Neville Barwick (TODAY!).
On Duty: John Peberdy, Marg Leser (Reception), Peter Addison (Raffle), Bob Glindemann (MC), Peter Hollingworth (Reflection), Gerald Ashman (Photographer).
At last week's lunch, we featured the inaugural Rotary Melbourne Cup - a race call by Past President Adrian Nelson - and saw sixteen of our esteemed Past Presidents saddle up as jockeys, each riding their own legendary Rotary theme-horse. Under the expert “training” of Jo Mavros, it was a field packed with experience, enthusiasm, and just a hint of healthy competition!
Rotary Melbourne’s 5,101st meeting was a lively hybrid gathering at Sofitel No.35, featuring guest speaker Henry Dwyer, acclaimed horse trainer behind Asfoora, the first Australian-trained Royal Ascot winner. Henry shared his journey “from Ballarat to Buckingham Palace to Longchamp,” including a memorable meeting with King Charles III. The meeting also highlighted World Kindness Day, upcoming AGM nominations, the Rotary Melbourne Cup, and next week’s Growing Futures in Timor-Leste project launch.
This week we welcome Henry Dwyer, one of Australian racing’s rising stars and the trainer behind the brilliant mare Asfoora, winner of the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot. Henry will share the story of that historic win, his meeting with the Monarch, and his thoughts on the upcoming Melbourne Cup Carnival.
A Melbourne University Commerce graduate, Henry began his racing journey mucking out boxes at Flemington before completing an Advanced Diploma in Horse Business Management at Marcus Oldham College. He later honed his craft under leading trainers Robert Smerdon and Rob Hickmott, playing a role in Green Moon’s 2012 Melbourne Cup triumph.
Launching his own stable in 2013, Henry quickly struck Group 1 gold with Sonntag in the Queensland Derby and Precious Gem in the Sangster Stakes. His move to Ballarat and St Leonards set the stage for Asfoora’s rise from overlooked yearling to international sprinting sensation, adding victories at York and Longchamp to her Royal Ascot crown.
Wear a hat or spring colours to join the celebration!
Rotary Melbourne's Past President Robert Fisher yesterday, joined a handful of Rotary stalwarts and friends and walked over 10kms along the Yarra from Leonda, as can be seen from the attached pictures. He has been overwhelmed by the response from Rotarians, family and friends to his appeal after reaching over $8,000 this week. The campaign remains open and let’s just keep going, remembering that whatever Robert raises will be tripled by the Gates Foundation. Please help support us to End Polio Now by clicking Read More below.
Rotary Melbourne volunteers Deb Yin Foo and Trevor Nick drove the SAG Wagon in support of the Around the Bay bike event on Sunday 26 October 25.
Our evening meeting for November is dedicated to supporting the Hush foundation in its celebration of World Kindness Day and its 25th year of operation.
The gathering is to be held at Wingate Capital, Level 48, 101 Collins St Melbourne, between 5:00pm and 7:00pm on Thursday 13 November 2025.
Dr Vinod Kumar Goyal is current President of the Rotary Club of Ahmedabad Heritage, DC 3055, a city in India of approximately 7 million people. He has been a Rotarian for Padiar since 1982, was President for 4 terms of office, and was Assistant Governor. His son is also a Rotarian. Dr Goyal was keen to present to our club the flag from his own district and club RCA Heritage.
Rotarians enjoyed a relaxed Sunday afternoon at Yarraville’s Sun Theatre for a special screening of *The Travellers*, raising funds for Rotary’s End Polio Now campaign. With purple pinkies raised in solidarity, District 9800 members celebrated fellowship and commitment to ending polio worldwide - one movie ticket at a time! Our own Will Abdo was armed with popcorn, seated front and centre.
THRIVE Connect, the Victorian Chamber’s new monthly hub for essential news includes an article on the Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ASD’s ACSC) Annual Cyber Threat Report for 2024-25. If you are a small business its essential that you ensure you are protected by starting your cyber journey by confirming that multifactor authentication, automated updates, and backups are fully implemented.
Rotary members are an imaginative bunch when it comes to making a difference on World Polio Day, observed last week on 24 October. A Missouri member rides his rickshaw bicycle in parades and at different clubs’ meetings, talking with passengers about polio eradication and Rotary. Italian members collaborate with city leaders to illuminate the Leaning Tower of Pisa with red floodlights.
Rotary Melbourne proudly welcomed Kat Sayers on 22 October 2025 with the classification Risk Management – ESG. A leader in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Risk Management, Kat joins Rotary Melbourne with a passion for building a more sustainable, equitable world.
Guests of the Club Sonia Vignjevic (Guest Speaker), Liana Tranis, Kat Sayers (Inductee).
Guests of Members None.
On Duty: Bill Pickett (Photos), Karen Gornalle (Reception), Clive Weeks (Raffle), Barbara Yerondais (Reflection), Philip Endersbee (MC).
Membership Anniversary this week: Stephen Mandie (23), Gerry Johnston (43).
Happy Birthday this week: Vaideek Chaudhary & Satish Menon (TODAY!), Joseph Ebbage, Cheryl Lacey.
Rotary Melbourne’s 5100th meeting featured the induction of new member Kat Sayers and a powerful address by Sonia Vignjević from Settlement Services International, who shared insights into supporting refugees and migrants, addressing barriers to skilled employment, and promoting inclusion across Australia.
Thank you to Adrian Nelson for reflection for last week's reflection on Wednesday 22 October 2025.
The Rotary Club of Melbourne extends warmest congratulations to Honorary Member Bill Pratt on his 100th birthday on 25th October. A true pioneer in business and a lifelong Rotarian, Bill’s century of service, leadership and innovation is an inspiration to us all. Happy Birthday, Bill!
Join us this week to hear from **Sonia Vignjevic**, a passionate advocate for community inclusion and one of Australia’s most respected leaders in multicultural affairs, migration, and settlement. With over 25 years’ experience in the multicultural sector, Sonia has played a key role in shaping policies and programs that enhance the wellbeing and integration of vulnerable people.
Holding qualifications in psychology, international law, and trauma counselling, and as a former Victorian Multicultural Commissioner and registered migration agent, Sonia brings both professional expertise and deep compassion to her work. She has led and contributed to significant national and global initiatives, building strong partnerships across government, academia, and civil society.
Sonia’s presentation will explore how civic leadership, collaboration, and grassroots action can drive inclusion, belonging, and resilience in our communities. Join us for an engaging and inspiring session with a true champion of multicultural Australia.
This week we honour the Rotary Club of Geelong - chartered by Rotary Melbourne on 19 October 1925 and now proudly known as the Rotary Club of Greater Geelong. From its humble beginnings at the ABC Café in Moorabool Street to a century of remarkable community service, the club’s story reflects Rotary’s enduring spirit of fellowship, innovation, and commitment to humanity. Click read more to learn more about their proud history
Rotary's World Polio Day is on October 24th, a day dedicated to raising awareness and funds for polio eradication efforts. Rotary and its partners, including health organizations, host events to highlight the progress made in fighting the disease and the urgent need for continued global commitment to eradicate it completely
Rotary Melbourne's Past President Robert Fisher has been overwhelmed by the response from Rotarians, family and friends to his appeal after reaching over $7,500 this week. The campaign remains open and let’s just keep going, remembering that whatever Robert raises will be tripled by the Gates Foundation. Please help support us to End Polio Now by clicking Read More below.
