PDG Marilyn Barton
Welcome to the new year and the second half of the Rotary year 2025-26. During January, all committees met, and culminated in the Board meeting on the 23rd January. January is also Vocational Service month, and within our club, Greg and his team have worked hard to bring Vocational Service to the fore. Well done to Greg and his committee.
During January, we heard a really interesting talk by a member of our club, Em Charlton, about her volunteer project, a project about which she is very passionate. Not only did we find out what Bottle Top Hill is and does, we all also learnt a lot more about the latest in recycling.
Our second guest speaker was John Cahill, the President of the Rotary Club of Como, and his project, Mobile Dental Van for the Homeless, which he is very passionate about. I have sent out an email to members, asking for feedback from members about supporting this project financially.
The RYLA camp was held during the week 11th-17th January, 2026, and some of us went up to the Serpentine Campsite for dinner on the Wednesday of the camp to see how the young ladies who our club sponsored were going. It was a great experience to see and hear what was happening at the camp. We will be hearing more about the camp from the participants in the near future.
I am still in the process of collecting information about the number of volunteer activities and hours that our members are involved in, both within Rotary and external to rotary. We are a group of people who, selflessly, want to give back to the community and it is a way of showing the public through social media what Rotarians do. Local politicians and the City of Melville are also keen to see the breadth of volunteering and the number of hours put in by members of the community, including Rotarians.
Graham Wheeler has organised some excellent future speakers for our Wednesday meetings.
- Wednesday 11th February, 2026: Daniel Holland: Fremantle Prison History
- Wednesday 25th February, 2026: Amanda Bryce: Update on Diabetes Research
- Wednesday 11th March, 2026: Graham Jenke: Friends of Wireless Hill (TBC)
- Wednesday 25th March, 2026: Bec Saraceni: Thumbnail
A reminder that we are still looking for a President Elect, and so, if you feel you would like to assist the club in that role, please let myself, or the current President Elect/Secretary, Dale Cole know.
Regards
Marilyn Barton
President 2024 - 2026
Mobile Dental Clinic by John Cahill
The guest speaker on the 28th January, 2026 was John Cahill, President of the Rotary Club of Como. The Rotary Community Group 1, of which the RC of Como is a member, along with the RC of Melville and eleven other clubs, were keen to develop a project that would assist the plight of the homeless.
After several other ideas had been presented to the clubs in the group, but had been rejected for one reason or another, John presented the idea of a mobile Dental Clinic, similar to the one in the Kimberley, which has been operating for a number of years. John has been working on this project for around twelve months, trying to come up with the best version of the project that he could, that was viable and could also make a difference.
John talked about why a mobile van was important (the homeless generally don’t move around much, as it is too hard for them to move all their belongings, so taking a van to where they are located, would be beneficial. John also talked about how dental problems are one of the biggest issues for the homeless.
After months of investigation, a fully equipped dental van has become available. As with all rotary projects from now and in the future, it is important that we show the community the work that we, as Rotary, do, and so the van will be sign written with several signs, including “Rotary Smiles”. It will also have the “Uniting Church Smiles” logo as the Uniting Church will be overseeing the project. The Kimberley Dental Van will also lend their expertise. The timeline for the project is to have it up and running in October 2026. John is looking for funds from Rotary clubs to buy the van and already has monies from a number of clubs within the Rotary Community Group 1 clubs and is keen for the Rotary Club of Melville to also donate money to the project.
RYLA 2026
One of the key activities of the Youth Services Committee is the sponsorship of candidates to attend the Annual District 9423 Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA). During 2025, Melville Rotary were able to sponsor two attendees, Nilofer (Nilly) whose extended family live in Iran, and Ana (who is new to Australia). Little did we realise that global affairs and doing good would meet at a camp in Serpentine.
Marilyn and David Barton, Trevor Ridgwell and Phillip Draber attended the RYLA dinner on 14 January 2026, to meet our future leaders. Upon arrival, due to the impact of the current uprisings in Iran, Nilly had to withdraw from the camp, and considering the circumstances, Nilly will be able to attend the next RYLA. The camp leaders and peers spoke glowingly of her brave decision to withdraw, and her willingness to engage in activities.
Over dinner, Trevor and Phillip were able to meet Ana, a 21-year-old Cyril Jackson Senior Campus student who has completed her Intensive English Language course. Ana, pictured with the Melville attendees, is about to commence year 11 at Cyril Jackson. Over dinner, Ana expressed her gratitude for being given such an opportunity and commented that RYLA was the first time she really felt at home in Australia. It was evident that the participants all hold Ana in high regard. Ana's life story and aims inspired the attendees and camp leaders to realise that every little thing that can be done to make someone’s life better will make the world a better place - a fundamental Rotary goal. Ana is looking forward to meeting the members at a Rotary meeting when she addresses the club.
RYLA 2026 was memorable for the members who attended as it contextualised doing good in broader global affairs, and why Rotary Creates Hope in the World.
Rotary Tree Watering
Volunteers socialising after the watering. All welcome.
