Chris Wang and Robert are always keen to keep members up to date with progress, even though it’s a while since final contributions were made to help fully fund the project. Click read more below for the latest report from UNICEF, which really has too much content to pass on. The most interesting parts are the independent report by the RI Foundations’ cadre, who in May visited the vaccination program in action in Kiribati (page 6), and the vaccination summaries (pages 10-11).
Peter Berg introduced Dr Ruwangi Fernando the Founder & Director of STEM Sisters a highly acclaimed Not-for Profit community whom Rotary Melbourne through the Welfare of the Young Committee is partnering with on an educational printed comic book project called The Future Me. This is an edited version of Ruwangi’s and Peter’s remarks.
This Sunday’s SecondBite collection at Prahran Market was another special experience. SecondBite co-founder, Simone Carson AM, Robert Fisher and Reg & Sue Smith shared the experience with Rotary Melbourne Honorary Member, Tokuro Furuya, Japanese Consul General. Tokuro enjoyed providing hands on assistance collecting surplus food from the Market’s generous vendors for delivery to the Salvation Army at 69 Bourke Street, Melbourne.
Our Waverley Canterbury group enjoyed a warm Sunday lunch with Peter and Kaye McCall at Arcare. This year the group has held regular Sunday gatherings with Peter and Kaye.
Always lots of laughter, rich debate and a lot of learning about the history of our great club and the lives of those around the table.. Attendees included Clifton Warren, Victoria Picket, June Ashman, Robert Read, Bill Pickett, Peter & Kaye McCall, Cheryl Lacey, and Ted Garland.
Hear AFL icon David Parkin OAM share powerful insights on leadership, resilience and men’s health. Inducted into the Sport Australia andf AFL Halls of Fame, he is a Hawthorn premiership captain, 211-game player, and four-time premiership coach with Hawthorn and Carlton,
Beyond the field, David is a passionate advocate for men’s health. He serves as a Director of The Male Bag Foundation Ltd, alongside Past President Philip Endersbee and Doug Marshall. What began as a fun idea to ride postie bikes across the country has grown into a powerful awareness campaign for prostate cancer, with a special focus on rural men’s health.
Wear your team colours, bring a mate, and enjoy an unforgettable lunch with a true football legend. Our legendary Grand Final Quiz is back, so bring your smartest footy friend to help you win!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
