At our Annual AFL Grand Final Lunch, David Parkin OAM shared career insights in a lively discussion moderated by Philip Endersbee. Highlights included the annual footy quiz, AFL tipping winners, and other prize winners, including best dressed!
A patch of cement was a launchpad for a Rotarian who brought women’s soccer to Palestine. Honey Thaljieh and a handful of young women played on the makeshift pitch more than two decades ago in college in the West Bank. The effort led eventually to a national women’s team that she captained for years. Thaljieh ascended to a job at FIFA, the international soccer governing body, spreading the message that the sport is for everyone. Click Read More below to read how this soccer pioneer found Rotary.
Thank you to Tony Battaini for your reflection on Wednesday 24 September 2025.
MITS (Melbourne Indigenous Transition School) has shared their latest newsletter. Edward Tudor, Executive Director noted 'TMITS students returned home last week for a well-earned Term 3 break, reuniting with their families across the NT and Victoria. Term 3 was packed with highlights, including the vibrant Celebration of the Arts and multiple premiership wins in the Yarra Junior Football League, while our Year 12 students completed their final full term on Wurundjeri Country in Melbourne.' Click on read more to read the newsletter.
Membership Anniversary this week: Shiren Anwar (1), Peter Dakin (37), Stanley Ho (1), John Shaw (29), Barbara Yerondais (15).
Happy Birthday this week: Rob Helme, Stephen Mandie.
On Duty: Bill Pickett (Photos), John Peberdy, Marg Leser (Reception), John Saunders (Raffle), Robert Fisher (Reflection), Carol Bond (MC).
Guests of the Club David Parkin (Speaker).
Guests of Members Mark Forytaz, Anastasia Malishev (Stephen Rando), Michael Watts (Mimie Watts), Conor Weeks (Clive Weeks), David Tenenbaum, James Manger (Peter Manger), Mike Gornalle (Karen Gornalle), Susan Francia (Chris Sotiropoulos), Judy Smith (Bruce Livett).
Mary, Sana, Anthony and Deb attended the WEHI's 2025 Art of Science exhibition on 11 September 2025 on behalf of the Rotary Melbourne. Our relationship with WEHI involves our participation with Malaria research and the donation of funds for equipment in the laboratory.
This month the Environmental Sustainability Rotarian Action Group (ESRAG) newsletter ESRAG September 2025 Volume 10 Issue 3 features an article titled 'Pollution is personal, preventable, and solvable'. Click on read more below.
Thank you to Robert Fisher for your reflection on Wednesday 17 September 25.
The SecondBite team was excited to be part of the Fine Food Australia show in Sydney last week, strengthening our ties with the food industry and exploring new opportunities.
Robert attended the 'Gon-Bae!' [Cheers!] Korean Festival on Thursday 18 September 25 at the Immigration Museum, celebrating 75 years of friendship between Korea and Australia.
Click Read More below for the first District 9800 Foundation Newsletter for the 2025-2026 year.by the District Foundation Chair and the Foundation Committee Don't forget to sponsor Rotary Melbourne member Robert Fisher who is participating in 'Walk with us 25' in support of the End Polio Now Campaign.
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.
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).
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!
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.
