Please let Christina know what dates you are available. Thank you!
CLUB MEETINGS
CLUB MEETING SCHEDULE
MONDAY 20th APRIL - Meeting
GUEST SPEAKER:
JIM FINLAYSON
TIMOR LESTE
MONDAY 4th MAY-Meeting
GUEST SPEAKER:
ANNA VERMOOTEN
BATTLE OF THE BANDS
MONDAY 18th May-Meeting
MONDAY 15th June - CHANGEOVER
President's Message
Wendy Stirling
March is dedicated as Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Month in the Rotary calendar. During this month, Rotary clubs globally focus on promoting clean water access, proper sanitation facilities, and hygiene education to improve community health, enhance education, and support sustainable development.
Key aspects of the March Rotary theme:
Focus on WASH: Activities centre on providing sustainable water solutions, hygiene education, and sanitation facilities.
Global Impact: Efforts aim to reduce diseases caused by unsafe water, as over 2.5 billion people lack adequate sanitation.
People of Action: Members engage in local initiatives like installing water filters or organizing hygiene kits, as well as supporting international projects.
Goal: To turn compassion into action, strengthening communities through better health and dignity.
An example of an ablutions space in Cambodia
For the 2025–2026 year, this focus falls under the broader, overarching theme of "Unite for Good".
INDIGENOUS OP SHOP PROJECT
DIK approached the Port Phillip Rotary Club amongst others for sponsorship of $500 per club to transport a large quantity of goods suitable for sale in a remote community. The board agreed to sponsor the op shop request and soon the goods will be on their way for a very worthwhile cause.
DONATIONS IN KIND ARE COLLECTING
DiK is collecting tools: wheelbarrows, shovels, rakes, hammers, blowers, forks, gardening and fencing equipment, electrical leads and other items suitable to help the bushfire affected communities clean up and regain their lives.
An example of what has been collected is shown.
Items can be delivered to DiK on Tuesday and Thursday between 10-3. RSVP to whatsnew@rotrydik.org.
Sue Foley and Alison Jones have done it again! What festival! Each year is bigger and better Congratulations Sue, Alison and the team that support you.
Hello Sue and members of the Rotary Club of Port Phillip I hope you have a wonderful day and stay healthy! I’m excited to update you on the activities I have done this month. I have experienced both good and a few bad things this month, but I would like to share only three with you.
2025 was a year we empowered youth, supported education, uplifted families and amplified our collective reach across rural Cambodia and as far as Myanmar. Jessica Palti and Aviv Palti from the Rotary Passport Club of Melbourne shared some our collaborative impact and we heard from our sponsored student, Sreypich.
The past three months have come and gone so quickly.
With your support, we are making a difference in the lives of so many village families. Let me share some of the highlights.
In December, an immersion in Trapeang Svay Village by students from St Peters Lutheran College (Brisbane). 59 students helped with 10 Washroom Toilets.
Eugenia Mitrakas (Legal Mentor for students) and Rehana Ziyad ( our amazing Interact staff representative)
UN Women Australia’s International Women’s Day theme for 2026 is “Balance the Scales”, and aims to highlight the urgent need to ensure fair, inclusive, and accessible justice for every woman and girl.
OurMac Robertson Girls' High School's special guest speaker for 2026 is Jenn ten Seldam, an inspirational and transformational leader who has built an executive career in both APAC and global executive roles. Mac.Rob graduates know how to work hard. But in the real world, success is not determined by output alone. Jenn challenged the myth of meritocracy and explored how applying marketing thinking to your professional interactions can vastly enhance your influence and catapult careers. Jenn is a former Mac.Robbian (1992-1995), and a 2024 inductee to the Mac.Rob Portrait Gallery.
Ms Fathima Ziyad (Mac Rob's teacher rep), the INTERACT board, Mr Des O'Shanassy (District Chair)
What an exciting event it was to attend the orientation day of the Interact Club at Mac Robinson Girls’ High school. There was a huge buzz in the air as about 100 girls attended the event, chattering and eating their lunches. The club meets weekly over lunchtime and there is always an activity to do. Some of the girls join by Zoom but still are involved in creating various items used, for example, Teachers’ Day.
Interact Clubs are Rotary International’s service club for young people ages 12 to 18. years of age. Interact clubs are sponsored by individual Rotary clubs, which provide support and guidance, but they are self-governing and self-supporting.’ Friday the 1st April was a very significant day for Melbourne High School. I attended a meeting at the high school with Des O’Shannassy (9800 Youth Chair), Ray from Box Hill Rotary, Adrick (assistant principal) along with students. It was announced that the Rotary Club of Melbourne was prepared to sponsor the Interact club, a brand new club at the school. Jet and Eki have already volunteered to be the school’s representatives on the Multi District Interact Council.
We are excited to share that entries for the Linden Postcard Show 2026 are now open! Now in its 36th year, the Postcard Show is a much-loved annual highlight of Linden's program, and this year it runs from 6 June to 1 August 2026.
We are already getting some lovely feedback from people...here is something from Susie:
"I feel I already have learnt SO much - it is wonderful. I am inspired and I’ve only done the first two segments! I love how it is all written too - the pages exude Emma's enthusiasm. And the videos! SO GOOD.”
Volunteer Drivers Needed – Drive & Deliver
