Appreciation to Plan International Philippians, Rotary Club of Lubang Island and Rotary Club of Melbourne Inc. Australia.
Among the 3,372 residents of Barangay Burgos, people have endured disasters, typhoons, extreme rains, and intense heat. On a daily basis, many residents had to fetch water from the river or from distant springs and wells, often carrying buckets of water back to their homes.
In this years Kings Birthday Honours 2026 Rotary Melbourne member Dr Celina Ping Yu, was awarded Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division for service to business education, and to international trade.
Guests of Members: Robin Whyte, Helen Chaudhuri, Arshad Samsudeen (Deb Yin Foo), Debra Sonin (Philip Cornish), Amanda Battaini (Tony Battaini), Philip Whelan (Mary Barry).
Membership Anniversary: Christina Boys (6) - Today!, Sana Malik (5), Ramona Martinovici (5).
Happy Birthday: Suresh Marcandan.
Mark your diaries for our annual night at the National Gallery of Victoria's Winter Masterpiece Series on Friday 28 August 26 from 6pm. This year features Experience the elegance and exhilaration of CARTIER The night will include an introductory talk and exhibition.
Rotarians, we need your nominations. Let’s find an outstanding volunteer worthy of the Sir John Reid Community Service Award. We all hear about or come across dedicated volunteers who fly under the radar, who do not receive due recognition, despite years of unstinting effort.
Thank you to Presidet Philip Cornish for last week's reflection on Wednesday 3 June 2026.
Rotary Melburne member Cheryl Lacey paid a visit to RC Seminyak on 3 June 26. The club consists mainly ex-pats. There are only 4 English speaking clubs in Bali. This club is working with RC Perth and Woodend on ‘plastics in bali’. But, naturally the highlight was learning from President Patrick on matters of education in Bali. Clifton and I have been invited to join him for lunch on Saturday in Ubud.
After nearly three decades with the Hamilton Police Service, Joanne Serkeyn was burning out — until her commander suggested she join Rotary. Attending her first Rotary International Convention, she was "gobsmacked" by the scale of good happening in the world.
Her forensic work connecting missing persons cases to human trafficking led her to the Rotary Action Group Against Slavery. In July she becomes Governor of District 7090 (southern Ontario and western New York), with a districtwide anti-trafficking initiative at the heart of her plans. Her message: "Together, we can move the needle." From the May 2026 issue of Rotary magazine.
The June issue of Rotary magazine showcases this year's 13 award-winning photographs — all taken by Rotarians and Rotaractors around the world. The collection ranges from a solitary child lost in thought beside spring flowers in Vienna (overall winner Luca Venturi, Italy) to a tearful woman clasping her hands in gratitude at a free medical camp in India, a moonrise over an Antarctic iceberg, and a golden child framed in a sunny Oregon doorway.
What unites the images is an eye for the magic hiding in everyday moments. The next photo contest opens in October — worth keeping in mind for any budding photographers in the club. From the June 2026 issue of Rotary magazine.
Rotary Melbourne marked World Environment Day 2026 with a thoughtful and inspiring luncheon focused on environmental stewardship, youth leadership, practical action and public policy reform.
Robert Fisher has now taken over the Clubs role as Team Leader responsible for the roster of weekly reflection speakers. The relections involve a one-minute piece once or twice every six month period. Robert is inviting members to consider volunteering for this important speaking role. Please contact Robert .
In honour of the late PP Peter McCall, the Canterbury Waverley group invite all members to a special sale of Peter's extensive personal book collection, available exclusively to fellow members. Peter and his wife Kaye had a lifelong love of literature — so much so that during Peter's time as Mayor, they donated his entire mayoral wage to purchasing books for local government schools.
Barbara Yerondais, chair of the Rotary Melbourne 2026 Environmental Sustainability Award presented the awards at the luncheon which celebrated young environmental leaders.
This month ESRAG celebrates World Environment Day (June 5) and World Oceans Day (June 8). Azerbaijan hosts this year's Environment Day with a focus on climate change, while World Oceans Day carries the theme Reimagine — a new relationship with our ocean.
From the field: the Adopt the Nile project in Assiout, Egypt is combining new fishing boats, a childcare centre, and a plastic-collection incentive scheme to simultaneously clean the river and lift community livelihoods. In Nepal, a Zero Waste Exhibition drew over 600 visitors. In Canada, the Rotary Club of Canmore ran the country's first Rotary-led Vegan Chef Challenge — 14 restaurants signed up, and social media posts surpassed 10,000 views. To read more click ESRAG_Issue_6_Volume_16-3_1.pdf
One lunch. One extraordinary speaker. Three premium wines. Two outstanding charities.
On Wednesday 3 June, Rotary Melbourne’s World Environment Day Luncheon at the Sofitel on Collins will feature one of Australia’s foremost environmental reformers, Professor Graeme Samuel AC.
Advance to Zero now operates in 9 Melbourne communities - with more LGAs to be announced soon - and has supported more than 745 people into stable housingso far.
Independent economic modelling commissioned by Launch Housing shows aVictoria-wide roll out of the approach would save $88 million by 2035 across health, justice and homelessness systems.
A highlight of the meeting was the presentation of the 2026 Cynthia Edgell Empowerment Opportunity Gift, introduced by Past President Kevin Sheehan. Kevin recalled Cynthia Edgell as a distinguished Rotary Melbourne member of more than 15 years, a certified life coach, mentor and passionate supporter of young women.
ROMAC provides surgical treatment for children in Australia and New Zealand from developing countries from our Pacific Region in the form of Life Giving and/or dignity restoring surgery not accessible to them in their home country.
If you would like to read the latest ROMAC articles on successful medical cases for May 2026 please click read more below.
This month's Australian Rotary Health newsletter, written by CEO Yvonne Keane AM, reflects on more than 40 years of Rotarian investment in research, prevention and opportunity — and the quietly profound effect it has had on individuals, families and communities across Australia. From early childhood anxiety programs to rural healthcare pipelines and the next generation of researchers, the letter makes the case that strengthening communities is the real, cumulative legacy of this work. With the end of the financial year approaching, it's a timely reminder of what sustained belief in people can build.
Thank you to Ruth Carlos-Martinez for last week's reflection on Wednesday 27 May 2026.
Rotary Melbourne proudly congratulates the 2026 Young Achiever Award recipients -Mahsa Nabizada, Jack Benci, Joel Moffet and Mary Nguyen— who were honoured by Nick Pearce, Co-Founder & former CEO of one of Australia’s leading social enterprises, HoMie at a special ceremony held on Wednesday 20 May 2026 at the Sofitel on Collins. These inspiring young leaders are already making a significant impact in their fields and communities, continuing the strong legacy of the Award.
Membership Anniversary Jan Moffatt (20).
Happy Birthday Ron Cullen, Ian Ross, Dimitrios Salampasis, Rodney Smith, Arjang Taylor
Club Guests: Peter Shepheard, Graeme Hope, Graeme Samuel, Schools - Loan Pham, Jennifer Lai, Alaska McKee, Lisa Reynders, Josie Dilettoso, Gwyn Van der Kamp, Finn McCallum, Jarren Nola.
Visiting Rotarians: Julie Mulhauser (Balwyn), Patricia Armstrong (Manningham City), Ross McDonald (Eltham), Leonard Levy, Pamela Dittmer (Port Phillip).
Guests of Members: Greg Clayton, Freya Carkeek, Nick Miller (Anthony Austin), Zoy Yerondais, Lia Zaparas (Barbara Yerondais), David Norman, Charles Rendigs (Carol Bond), Janet Wang (Chris Wang), Kerralie Shaw, Xavier Korbel (John Shaw), Megan Vassarotti, Bruce Abernethy, Lucinda Garrido (Peter Dakin), Maggie McDonell, Hamish McDonell, Simone Carson, Daniel Moorfield, Rob Gell, Mattheew Weller, Andrew Mahar, Clive Scott (Reg Smith), Janet Huynh (Yidan Xi).
