29th August - Lunch for Malaysian school teachers. See flyer below
30th August -Federation Picnic.
5th September 2026 - Polio Plus afternoon tea. See details below
27 - 31 May 2027 - Rotary Barham Weekend, Barham Caravan Park. See Kevin Reade for more details.
Welcome to Issue 5 (2026-27) of our weekly bulletin. Find out about our upcoming events, our guest speakers, what we covered during the last meeting and more!
Can't make our meeting in person please join us via Zoom:
Opportunities to volunteer -for non-Rotarian friends and volunteers:
* Upcoming BBQs - Contact Kevin - 0428 996 619
Week 2
12-Aug
19-Aug
26-Aug
2-Sept
Speaker
Andrew Crocket (via Zoom)
The Four Way Test
Club Morning
Janette Etherington (via zoom)
Interplast
Aviv Palti & Maria Hicks
Rotary Passport Club of Melbourne
Meeting Location
Peppergreen Farm
Peppergreen Farm
Peppergreen Farm
Peppergreen Farm
Chair
Stan Hendy
Doug Lougoon
Linda Barrow
Rob Rosaia
Computer
Cathie Miller
Allie Lyall
Doug Lougoon
Allie Lyall
Set-Up 6.45am & pack up
John Harkin
Phil Harris
Paul Kirkpatrick
Doug Lougoon
Welcome, raffle & roaming microphone
Toni West
Phil Britton
Toni West
John Cannon
PRESIDENT REPORT for 5th August 2026
August is Rotary Membership and New Club Development Month. An important part of attracting new members is being able to share inspiring stories about what Rotary members and their clubs can achieve. The link "read stories of inspiring Rotary members" provides some excellent examples of projects and initiatives undertaken by Rotary clubs around the world that have inspired both communities and prospective members. Happy reading!
A huge thank you to Kathryn and her Fellowship Team for organising last Tuesday's dinner at the Rising Sun. We enjoyed an excellent turnout, with plenty of good spirits, great conversation, and lots of fun. Another big thank you goes to Pat Sheehan for accommodating such a lively and enthusiastic crowd.
An update on the visit of the four Malaysian Special Education teachers who will be spending four weeks in Bendigo: they arrive on Saturday, 8 August, and depart on Wednesday, 2 September. Two of the teachers will be hosted by Graeme and Merrinn Lynas, and we extend our sincere thanks to them for their generous hospitality. On Wednesday, 19 August, Graeme will bring the Malaysian teachers to our club meeting for an introduction and an opportunity for members to ask questions about their experiences and work. We look forward to welcoming them and learning more about their educational programs.
Another update relates to our discussions with Street Peace. Phil Britton, John Cannon, and Graeme Lynas have been working diligently behind the scenes to identify an effective and sustainable way for our club to support Street Peace's request for assistance with its fortnightly meal program. Progress has been very encouraging, and we hope to be able to confirm a way forward at next week's meeting.
In other news, District Governor Graeme Hope has confirmed that he will attend our meeting on Wednesday, 4 November. This will be an important occasion for our club, and we will be aiming for a strong attendance, so please mark the date in your diaries.
As part of our objective to increase visits to fellow Rotary clubs in our region, I attended the Rotary Club of Bendigo's luncheon meeting last Tuesday. Interestingly, the guest speaker was Brian Coman, whom you may recall addressed our club about six weeks ago on The History of Rabbits in Australia and Beyond. This time, however, rabbits received no mention! Instead, Brian explored the growing emphasis on science relative to philosophy in our schools and universities, driven by the demand for graduate employment outcomes in an increasingly technology-focused world. His breadth of knowledge across such diverse subjects is remarkable. He is truly a wonderful speaker, and I thank the Rotary Club of Bendigo for hosting such an engaging presentation.
Inspired by Brian Coman, here is my philosophical quote of the week:
"It's not true that people stop pursuing dreams because they grow old; they grow old because they stop pursuing dreams." Gabriel García Márquez
President Stew
Special guest speaker - Aviv Palti
On September 2 our club will have special guest speaker - Aviv Palti (right).
Aviv will speak in person and will be accompanied by Maria Hicks OAM, the president of the Melbourne Rotary Passport Club.
We are hoping Rotarians from other neaby clubs may be able to join us at our meeting.
Below is some background information about Aviv.
Aviv Palti is the Co-Founder of the Cambodia Rural Students Trust NGO (CRST), Foundation Director of the Rotary Passport Club of Melbourne (RPM), Advisor to the Rotaract Club of Siem Reap (RACSR), and the author of Empowered - A New Generation of Leaders. For more than 15 years, he has dedicated himself to creating opportunities that empower young people and strengthen communities through education, leadership and service.
Working alongside Rotarians and Rotaractors across Australia, New Zealand and Asia, Aviv has helped build sustainable partnerships that create meaningful, long-term impact. He has presented at more than 50 Rotary clubs, district conferences and leadership forums, sharing practical lessons in leadership, service and international collaboration.
Together with more than 30 Rotary clubs and 10 Rotary districts, Aviv has helped develop and deliver humanitarian projects valued at more than A$500,000, impacting over 50,000 community members across Cambodia and Myanmar. These initiatives have included Global Grant WASH projects, education scholarships, bicycles for education, menstrual health programs, SolarBuddy light distributions and studentled leadership initiatives. At the heart of every project is a simple philosophy - sustainable change begins by investing in people, building local leadership and creating genuine partnerships.
Drawing on his experience in humanitarian leadership and community development, Aviv brings a practical, authentic and people-focused perspective to every presentation. Through compelling stories from the field and the leadership principles explored in Empowered - A New Generation of Leaders, he inspires audiences to think differently about service, leadership and the extraordinary impact that ordinary people can create when they work together.
What Audiences Can Expect
Aviv's presentations are engaging, practical and inspiring. Rather than simply showcasing projects, he shares the leadership principles that make sustainable impact possible - building trust, empowering others, developing future leaders and creating partnerships that endure. Audiences leave with practical ideas they can apply within their own Rotary clubs and communities, together with a renewed belief that lasting change is created by investing in people first.
Rotary & Community Leadership
• Past President 2022-2024 - Rotary Passport Club of Melbourne (RPM) • Foundation Director 2024-2027 - Rotary Passport Club of Melbourne (RPM) • Advisor 2022-2027 - Rotaract Club of Siem Reap (RACSR) • Co-Founder - Cambodia Rural Students Trust NGO (CRST) • Author - Empowered - A New Generation of Leaders • Speaker at more than 50 Rotary clubs, district conferences and leadership forums.
Friday, 30 October - Sunday ,1 November
Rotary South Pacific 2026 is where regional leadership gathers, ideas ignite and momentum builds. Under the bold theme People. Planet. Peace., this Conference brings together Rotary leaders, changemakers and members from across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific to shape the future of our organisation. Convened by Rotary International Director Jennifer Scott AM and chaired by PDG Tony Monley OAM, Melbourne 2026 will connect global vision with regional action. From international keynote addresses and leadership streams to fellowship, collaboration and community impact, this is more than a conference — it is a movement for regional impact.
