Stay connected with Rotary Melbourne across our different platforms.
For the 8th edition of District 9800 February 26 Networker for 2025-2026, please click on Read More below. In this issue there is an article on Rotary Melbourne's Sustainable Alliance Gives Life (and Water) in Philippines.
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Lesley McCarthy, Donations in Kind, is asking for Rotary Melbourne's assistance with a couple of different projects, including an Indigenous Op Shop Project and collecting tools to assist with the recent bushfires in Victoria.
On Sunday 8 March 26 we loaded founder Simone Carson’s Tesla to the gunnels at Prahran Market! Her she is with volunteer Victoria, a student from Melbourne Girls College. We’re always after additional help, so anyone willing to give a couple of hours on an occasional Sunday afternoon please contact Robert on robertwfisher1@outlook.com
The following information has been received from District 9800.
Hi, my name is Ross. I am retired and living in Melbourne. I recently decided to volunteer for BlazeAid, after seeing the news and discovering the enormity of the task, facing the farming & community of this region, after the recent Longwood/Euroa fires.
Parents and carers often spend extended periods at RCH and need somewhere to relax, make a cup of tea, feed the baby, catch up on emails, seek information, find activities for the other kids, or just read a book. The Hub https://www.rch.org.au/frc/ is a home away from home for families and visitors to the hospital. Amanda Battaini has volunteered at the Hub since its inception 23 years ago.
Several members of Rotary Melbourne attended the Bionics Insitute Preview Event on research into Women’s health — focused on treating perimenopausal brain fog, endometriosis and chronic pain.
We need you! - Signup and Make a Real Difference
At Donations in Kind in West Footscray – One day only
We are looking for volunteers to join the Club roster to assist in the RIMERN Warehouse as the club takes on a monthly Monday slot.
Duties can include meeting with clients, sorting, admin, deliveries, cleaning of donated items, folding etc. It is all dependent on you.
Contact John Peberdy to find out more and click READ MORE for the current RIMERN newsletter.
On February 23 1905, Rotary was founded in Chicago. We asked AI what would our founders look like today and who would they be if they were founding Rotary at the same age in 2026.
This Sunday’s SecondBite collection at Prahran Market was another special experience. Robert Fisher and Trevor Nink providing hands on assistance collecting surplus food from the Market’s generous vendors for delivery to the Salvation Army at 69 Bourke Street, Melbourne.
Rotary Melbourne Honorary member Dr Alan Finkel AC was honoured on 11 February 26 with a Monash building named after him at their Clayton Campus. Monash University Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Sharon Pickering today announced the Alan Finkel Building for Technology and Design as the new name of Building 94, alongside Chancellor Megan Clark AC at an unveiling on the Clayton campus.
The Rotary Club of Melbourne Young Achievers awards recognise and honour annually up to three outstanding young Victorians with an award of $1,500 each. Nominations are now open.
President Philip Cornish gives a special message of peace and goodwill following the recent events at Bondi Beach.
This Sunday’s SecondBite collection at Prahran Market was another special experience. Reg & Sue Smith, Gertrude Matshe and Trevor Nink providing hands on assistance collecting surplus food from the Market’s generous vendors for delivery to the Salvation Army at 69 Bourke Street, Melbourne.
Help Rotary Melbourne Support The Smith Family’s Learning for Life Program in this year's Raffle
Rotary Melbourne invites members and friends to take part in a simple but powerful act of kindness -and perhaps be rewarded with a very special Christmas present for the winner, their kids/grandkids, and maybe special friends.
The Paul Harris Fellow (PHF) recognition is one of the highest honours Rotary can bestow upon a member or friend of Rotary. It is named after Rotary's founder, Paul Harris, and celebrates those who have made outstanding contributions to the ideals and work of Rotary — whether through generous financial support or through exceptional service.
Rotary members are an imaginative bunch when it comes to making a difference on World Polio Day, observed last week on 24 October. A Missouri member rides his rickshaw bicycle in parades and at different clubs’ meetings, talking with passengers about polio eradication and Rotary. Italian members collaborate with city leaders to illuminate the Leaning Tower of Pisa with red floodlights.
Rotary's World Polio Day is on October 24th, a day dedicated to raising awareness and funds for polio eradication efforts. Rotary and its partners, including health organizations, host events to highlight the progress made in fighting the disease and the urgent need for continued global commitment to eradicate it completely
Congratulations to Andrew Mahar AM, recipient of the Rotary Melbourne Vocational Service Award 2025–26. A visionary social entrepreneur, Andrew has dedicated over three decades to advancing digital inclusion, environmental sustainability, and community empowerment across Australia and Timor-Leste. His leadership in founding more than 15 social enterprises and his lifelong commitment to social justice and innovation truly embody Rotary’s ideal of Service Above Self.
Our club's International Service Committee met following last week's lunch, continuing to build on our existing and upcoming projects impacting peace, education, health, water & sanitation, and the environment, focusing especially on our South East Asian and Pacific neighbours.
President Philip was in Osaka, Japan last week visiting our Sister Club, the Rotary Club of Osaka. He attended a club meeting and also met with Osaka President, Yoshihiko Sano to extend our sister club relationship.
On 1 October 2025, the world lost Dr. Jane Goodall, pioneering primatologist, conservationist, and advocate for peace. Rotary remembers her not only for her groundbreaking work with chimpanzees but also for her keynote at the 2009 Rotary International Convention, where she urged members to make a positive daily impact. Click on Read More below for her Q&A, first published in The Rotarian, that captures her wisdom, humor, and enduring call to action.
Rotary Melbourne is backing RIMERN’s Spring Cleaning with RIMERN campaign to raise $5,000 by 30 Nov 2025.
RIMERN provides essential furniture and household goods to families starting over after crisis. Some items - like basic cleaning kits - must be purchased new to meet our quality standards.
A $50 gift sponsors a complete kit, but every dollar helps us deliver 10+ kits each week. Click read more below to change lives, one household at a time.
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.
