Well. April has come and gone, while the activities of the Rotary Club of Melville have been ongoing, in between members leaving and returning from holidays, both within Australia and overseas.
Several club members attended the conference in Margaret River, and gained a lot of Rotary information from it. There is an article written by one of our newer members, Louise Tomlin, on conference. In addition, the club has been busy with speakers at our regular Monday meetings in April, one of whom was
Connor Nicholas who was sailed in the Olympics in France, and another being
Pia Finn,
who was a participant at RYLA at the beginning of this year.
We were also involved in Cruising Butterflies on Sunday 13th April, and the event was a huge success. By being involved, we actually met some of the key priorities of Rotary International and the Rotary Club of Melville for 2025-2026 in that we expanded our Reach, by connecting with more people and the community. We demonstrated our Engagement through several members’ participation at the tee shirt and hat distribution desk, and some even joining families out on boats for a couple of hours. Many thanks to Trevor Ridgwell, James Morris, Carolyn Cook, David Porter and David Barton who were all up early to assist both at the desk and in other areas of the event. We also had our local politician, Kim Giddens, MLA who came along to assist at the desk, and who not only donated $2,000.00 for her personal account, but also $5,000.00 from government funds.
The Rotary Club of Melville has also made a donation to the Rotary appeal for funds to help rebuild after the devastating floods in Queensland, from the Rotary Districts there. Although the Board had agreed to make a donation of around $5,000.00, it was decided that we should also let the community know that we are doing so they get to know, more and more what we do and what we stand for, as a club.
Therefore on Sunday 27th April, the Markets advertised that we were donating all takings, both from the sellers and the spinners, to the Rotary appeal. Notices about the event went into the District newsletter and announcements were made on the Community radio, 101.7 at Wireless Hill, as well as signs to that effect erected at the markets on the day.
This advertising has also met some of our key priorities, by demonstrating our Impact, in that we, as a club, are making a difference, and that we have expanded our Reach by connecting with people and the community, as well as increasing our ability to Adapt to new challenges and opportunities.
Although summer is officially over this weekend, tree watering is still underway every second Saturday morning at Point Walter, and volunteers are still needed to assist in watering the seedlings. Please contact David Hewitt or Murray Meaton for further information.
The programme of speakers for the Monday meetings in May 2025 are as follows, and we hope to see as many as possible to hear the guest speakers.
- Monday 12th May, 2025: Jeff Sander and the Musketeers (a group of dedicated, retired volunteers who bring old computers back to life for distribution to needy groups.
- Monday 26th May, 2025: Cancelled and replaced by an evening meeting, on Wednesday 28th May, 2025 at the South of Perth Yacht Club, organised by Robert Willis with a guest speaker on the topic “Water To Save Lives”.
PDG Marilyn Barton
President: Rotary Club of Melville 2024-25
Margaret River Conference March 2025
The Rotary District 9423 Conference held in Margaret River at the end of March brought together Rotarians from across Western Australia for a three-day event filled with impactful discussions and innovative solutions to pressing global and local challenges. Friday’s activities, including a golf tournament, bushwalk, and welcome drinks, set a warm and engaging tone for the weekend. On Saturday, the Riversong Community Choir opened the day with uplifting performances before attendees delved into thought-provoking presentations.
Key topics included homelessness and disaster relief, where WA Rotary Relief and Disaster Response highlighted projects such as mobile toolsheds for disaster-affected areas and ShelterBox’s customized tents for global emergencies. Healthcare in developing countries was also addressed, with initiatives like Wheelchairs for Kids providing life-changing mobility devices and Interplast offering surgeries and training to local medical professionals.
Lorraine Finlay, Human Rights Commissioner, discussed Australia’s Anti-Modern Slavery Act 2018 and Our Rescue, emphasizing the need for stronger actionable measures to combat youth sex trafficking. Mental health solutions were explored through programs like Lights Out, which tackles sleep deprivation in children, and Think and Be Me, which teaches emotional regulation using engaging characters.
Environmental sustainability was showcased through Bicycles for Humanity WA’s efforts to refurbish old bicycles for disadvantaged communities and Precious Plastics’ innovative approach to upcycling plastic waste. Planning for climate change and population growth was accentuated by insights from the Bureau of Meteorology and the Planning Commission.
The conference concluded with a call to action: addressing "wicked problems" requires a collective effort, financial support, and Rotary's expertise in project management. Attendees left inspired to ‘enable global good’ and contribute to Rotary’s seven areas of focus, fostering impactful change locally and globally. If you’d like to learn more about the topics discussed, reach out to Louise Tomlin in the Melville Vocational Committee.
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Kind regards,
Louise Tomlin
Melville Rotary
