Who says Rotary Melbourne doesn’t try to do things differently?
Some 20 members and guests met on Thursday for an evening ‘meeting’ at the Paris Cat Jazz Club in the city.
Five years in, Rotary's malaria mission in Zambia is delivering results.
What began in 2021 as a $6 million partnership between the Rotary Foundation, the Gates Foundation, and World Vision has grown into one of Rotary's most compelling public health success stories. Over 2,500 community health workers were trained to test and treat malaria closer to people's homes - reaching more than 1.25 million people and achieving a remarkable 94% retention rate among health workers. Community health workers now detect 60% of malaria cases in the target districts - cases that would otherwise have been missed or caught only at a severe stage.
Fighting polio one conversation at a time.
Diana Maria Pirga's Rotary journey began in Romania, when a Rotaract social media post led to a donation and then a career. Today she works as a digital community engagement specialist for UNICEF Pakistan, where her mission is tackling vaccine hesitancy around polio. Most parents vaccinate willingly, but a small group carries real concerns about side effects or the need for repeated doses - and when those concerns go unaddressed, hesitancy can take root.
Thank you to Barbara Yerondais for reflection for last week's reflection on Wednesday 1 April 26.
For 95 years, the spirit of giving has illuminated Melbourne through the extraordinary tradition of the Good Friday Appeal—a moment where a city unites, not just in generosity, but in purpose. At the heart of this enduring legacy stands Rotary Melbourne, a community bound by action and defined by its unwavering commitment to Service Above Self.
For the 9th edition of District 9800 March 26 Networker for 2025-2026, please click on Read More below. In this issue there is an article on A “Love Letter” to the Unite for Good Multi-District Summit
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At the opening reception for the Multi-District Summit 26 in Horsham Sana Malik was presented with the District 9800 EnviroClub Award - Gold for continued achievement in enviroment and sustainability, covering the following projects The Melbourne Arboretum, Growing Futures in Timor-Leste, Carbon Social Certification, Sustainability Awards, Environment and Sustainability Lunches, World Environment Day raffle, SecondBite volunteering and 5000 Acts of Kindness indigenous seedling project.
Rotary Melbourne is running out of Club History Books and until we decide whether to reprint them if members no longer want their copies could you please bring them to a Rotary Melbourne meeting luncheon and pass them to Jo.
On 20 March 26 David Kram visit Rotary Todi, Province of Perugia, Italy and exchanged banners.
Warm congratulations to Jim Orchard who on Tuesday 24 March 26 was presented with a PHF level 8 from a grateful District for his service to DIK. PRIP Jennifer Jones and Rotary Foundation Director Dennis Shore were at DIK to make the presentation. The award was in in recognition of Jim's dedicated service to DIK over many years.
Rotary Melbourne has been supporting the five Black Rhinos basketball teams in various ways over the past four years. They were founded in 2007 by Afri-Aus Care and have been coached by Ryan Rooney.
Australian researchers have developed a new approach to make seawater evaporate faster than freshwater, which could represent a significant breakthrough in addressing water scarcity.
Have you ever thought about the great network that you could advertise your company to. Rotary Melbourne is currently seeking advertisers for the next edition of the members Directory 2026-27. The cost to advertise is $900 for colour and $450 for B&W full page advert. Contact Jo at the office if you are interested.
An email has been sent to all Rotary Melbourne members to check their online Directory data in preparation of the 2026-2027 printed Directory. Please ensure you have checked both the hardcopy and online directory and advise any changes including updated photos. Please send your updates to the Directory Editor directory@rotarymelbourne.org.au
MITS (Melbourne Indigenous Transition School) has shared their latest newsletter. The CEO emphasized “One MITS”, a commitment across students, staff, families, and community partners to ensure consistent high expectations, wellbeing support, and a strong sense of connection. Term 1 achievements were celebrated, including 100% attendance for 23 students, and staff updates were shared, such as the farewell of Teacher Tash Gaffney and parental leave for Head of School Michael Barnhoorn, with Taylor Culpepper stepping in as acting Head.
After welcoming members and guests, President Philip Cornish outlined a membership-focused meeting featuring: Dr Dimitrios Salampasis on Davos 2026; Past President Mary Barry on the “For a Meal” volunteering program; Patricia Matuschka reflecting on her first year of membership; and Past President Reg Smith with an update on the Melbourne Arboretum, where he serves as Board Chair.
Visiting International Rotarians: Dores Schembri (Kensington & Chelsea, UK), Jon Sucich (Waiheke Island New Zealand), Margaret Hillary-Smith (Tusckentiam upon Thomes).
Visiting Australian Rotarians: Francis Harman (Australian Rotary Nomads), Jo Kwok (Brighton).
Membership Anniversary Peter Hollingworth, Amanda Wendt.
Happy Birthday Catherine Baxter, Kenza Dairi, Joseph Ebbage, Chris Sotiropoulos, Robin Syme.
On Duty: Rosemary Nixon, Karen Gornalle (Reception), Trevor Nink (Raffle), Peter Dakin (MC), Cheryl Lacey (Reflection), John Peberdy (Photos).
Sambun Sambath, a Cambodian scholar supported by Rotary Melbourne and Member of Rotaract Club of Siem Reap, has provided a March 26 update where he completed his first foundation-year subject, Cultural Anthropology. He sincerely appreciates you taking the time to read his update and for the continued support of Rotary Melbourne.
Club Guests: PRIP Jennifer Jones (Speaker), Dr Nick Krayacich, Manon Beauchamp-Tardieu (Inductee), Jasmine Cott, Nick Goldstein.
Visiting International Rotarians: Margaret & John Gilroy-Smith (Twickenham upon Thames), Markus Hauser (St.Moritz), Santiago Parsons-Aubone (Buenos Aires), Shinji Higuchi (Osaka).
Visiting Australian Rotarians: Emily Coltraine (Southbank Elsternwick), Sue Moses-Chritchley (Fitzroy), Graeme Woolacott (Monash Glen Waverley), James & Belinda Allen (Sydney), Emma Davis (Moreland / DG9790), Jennifer Foster ( e-Club of Change Makers), Peter Shepheard (Altona), Dennis Shore (Hawthorn), Ian Knight (Werribee), Murray Verso (Williamstown), Michael Lapina .
Guests of Members: Millicent Nink (Trevor Nink), Tori Grimes, Helen Chaudhuri, Caroline Pilot (Deb Yin Foo), Harvey Cohen (Irena Bauer), Lina Scalzo (Quin Scalzo), Marian Shaw (John Shaw), Anke Timm, Grant Bayldon, Misha Coleman (Peter Rogers).
On 25 March 26 Rotary Melbourne proudly recognise and celebrated Trevor Nink—an outstanding Rotarian whose dedication, leadership, and enduring commitment to Service Above Self have made a lasting impact on our Club, our community, and the wider Rotary world. It is with great pleasure that we elevate Trevor to Paul Harris Fellow Double Sapphire.
Wednesday 3 June 2026 is the date scheduled for Rotary Melbourne’s 6th Annual World Environment Day Lunch.
Our confirmed guest speaker will be Professor Graeme Samuel AC, and his topic will be “Developing a Fit for Purpose Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act – A 7 year project.”
The Multi-District Impact Summit took place over the weekend in the Wimmera Region city of Horsham. It brought together some 400 people from Districts 9800 (ours), 9510 and 9780. Six of those present were associated with Rotary Melbourne. At the opening reception Sana Malik was presented with the District 9800 EnviroClub Award - Gold for continued achievement in enviroment and sustainability, covering the following projects The Melbourne Arboretum, Growing Futures in Timor-Leste, Carbon Social Certification, Sustainability Awards, Environment and Sustainability Lunches, World Environment Day raffle, SecondBite volunteering and 5000 Acts of Kindness indigenous seedling project.
