Rotary Melbourne member Rob McGuirk wrote the following article on the EndTrachoma Project which was recently published in the Rotary Down Under (RDU) publication.
Club Member Amanda Wendt reflects on her unforgettable time at last month's Rotary International Convention in Calgary - cowgirl boots and all! From leading global teams to sharing fresh membership insights, she found connection, inspiration, and plenty of reasons to be excited for Rotary’s future.
July is Maternal and Child Health Month — Rotary Melbourne supports life-changing projects including immunisations across the Pacific (Give Every Child A Future), training midwives in Timor Leste, mental health research, and abuse prevention through SAFE Families. [Click on Read more below →]
Rotary Melbourne, in partnership with STEM Sisters, is working with regional and rural Rotary Clubs to help deliver Future Me - an engaging comic book series introducing STEM careers to young children, especially in underrepresented and disadvantaged communities.
More than 20 members and guests braved a chilly Melbourne evening on Wednesday 9 July for Rotary Melbourne’s first Evening Conversation of the 2025–26 year. Held at the Imperial Hotel, the meeting featured engaging talks from Global Scholar nominee Alexander Tashevski-Beckwith and Rotary Peace Fellow Ika Trijsburg.
Rotary Melbourne’s annual Vocational Service Award recognises significant vocational service of community leaders in the community who have achieved distinction in their chosen career and have demonstrably used their vocational skills to selflessly make significant contributions to the community.
This month the Environmental Sustainability Rotarian Action Group (ESRAG) newsletter ESRAG July 2025 Volume 10 Issue 1 features an article titled 'Clean Energy and ESRAG’s Vision for the New Rotary Year'. Click on read more below.
We are saddened by the death of former member Dr Robert “Bob” Winstanley Barnes. Robert was an active member of 28 years having resigned in 2018 and he will be well known by longer serving members.
A funeral service will be held at St Peter's Eastern Hill, East Melbourne, 1.30pm, Saturday, 16 August 2025.
It is with great pleasure that we invite Rotary Melbourne members to celebrate with us the 2024-2025 changeover and the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the club. I believe that our anniversary is of special significance to the Rotary Club of Melbourne, as I understand that your club has chartered ours, therefore we owe a particular sense of historical gratitude to the Rotary Club of Melbourne. It would be amazing to share this celebration with some officials or members of our charter club. Dr Áron Perényi, President (2024-2025), Rotary Club of Carlton (https://www.carltonrotary.org) Rotary email: aron.rotary@gmail.com
For 33 years, the Rotary Melbourne has conferred Young Achiever Awards to high achieving young people to encourage their career development and endorse their commitment to community service. In our current social media age of ‘selfies’ and ‘self-centeredness’, all the participants in this year’s Young Achiever Award program deserve sincere commendation. However, we can only give three Young Achiever Awards each year.
Guests of the Club: Coco Ma (Speaker), Harry Baugh.
Visiting Rotarians: Shinji Higuchi (Osaka), Bill Singh (Singapore).
Guests of Rotarians: Amanda Battaini (Tony Battaini), Kat Sayers (Bernie McIntosh), Michael Li (Yidan Xi).
Membership Anniversary this week: Peter Clements (17), Malcolm Simpson (52).
Happy Birthday this week: Bob Fels, Karen Kim, Patricia von Matuschka, Trevor Nink (TODAY!).
Rotary Melbourne has proudly supported The Smith Family’s Learning for Life program for nearly 20 years — and now it’s your chance to be part of something special! Join us for a fun, social, and feel-good morning at the 2025 Melbourne Marathon on Sunday 12 October 25, as we staff a drink station in vibrant Elwood (corner of Point Ormond Rd and Marine Parade).
We are delighted to welcome back Professor Jeremy Oats AM, a distinguished Rotarian and maternal health advocate. Now retired, Jeremy brings with him 29 years of Rotary service, global impact in Timor Leste, and a deep commitment to “Service Above Self.” Peter Rogers has already commandeered him to help with a new Pacific project. Welcome home, Jeremy!
Membership Anniversary this week: Gerald Ashman (40), Alan Finkel (8), Trevor Nink (19), Michael Selth (20).
Happy Birthday this week: Joe Balci.
On Duty: Carol Bond (MC), Joseph Ebbage (Photos), Peter Dakin (Reflection), Tony Battaini (Reception), Bruce Davidson (Raffle).
Thank you to Tony Battaini for your reflection on Wednesday 2 July 2025.
Guests of the Club: Christos Papadimitirou (Speaker).
Visiting Rotarians: James Allen (Sydney).
Guests of Rotarians: Jeremy Oats (Peter Rogers), Catherine Stace (Richard Dent), Surjeet Dhanji (Karen Kim), Chrysanthe Pragastis (Sue McDonald), Mike Gornalle (Karen Gornalle).
Rotary Melbourne has received a carbon social certificate for offsetting our club’s carbon emissions for 2023-24 which were calculated as 14 tonnes of CO2e. This is signed by the President Jose Ramos-Hota. The Certificate, signed by the President Jose Ramos-Hota symbolises “ …. not only your (organisation’s) climate leadership, but also your support for local communities (in Timor Lesté) working to restore their forests and livelihoods.”
The Rotary Club of Bendigo proudly celebrates its centenary in 2025, marking 100 years since its founding meeting on 23 August 1925, when representatives from the Rotary Club of Melbourne - Acting President Mr. G.E. Emery and Honorary Secretary Mr. W.A. Drummond - joined Bendigo’s Mayor, Councillor E.M. Vains, to officially establish the club. President Philip Cornish will attend the special centenary celebration on Saturday 23 August 2025, and you are welcome to join him.
Rotary Melbourne’s support is driving impact in PNG, funding Dr Arabella Koliwan’s community awareness campaign and Kate Datson’s clinical training in Central Province. St John’s next goal - supported by Rotary Melbourne - is a dedicated retrieval ambulance to deliver antivenom to remote areas.
This week marks one year since SecondBite and FareShare officially joined forces — a milestone that reminds us just how much more we can do together. In that time, we’ve increased the amount of food we’re able to rescue, grow, cook and share. You can read more about the anniversary in this news story.
For the Special edition of District 9800 June 25 Networker for 2024-2025, please click on Read More below. In this issue they cover articles from District 9800 including DG Michael's monthly musing which reflected on 'As this Rotary year draws to a close, I find myself filled with immense gratitude. It has truly been an honour to serve as your District Governor, and I want to sincerely thank each and every one of you for making this year Simply Irresistible and truly Magical.'
Our first meeting of the Rotary year featured an update on breakthrough neuroscience from Dr Christos Papadimitriou and welcomed back long-time member Professor Jeremy Oats AM. Click read more to catch up on photos, key moments, guest insights and full presentation links inside the bulletin.
This weekend, Rotary Melbourne was presented with a special International Service Recognition by District 9800 Governor Michael Lapina for our ongoing work on our Papua New Guinea Snakebite Project. Project Champion Tony Battaini was on hand to accept this special presentation.
