Welcome to the March issue of our Rotary District 9800 Networker. We really do want to hear and see your Club projects and events. Tell your fellow Rotarians how successful your recent fundraiser was or the progress on a local or overseas project.
With three-quarters of the Rotary year already behind us, it’s inspiring to see the energy, passion, and commitment of Rotarians across our District. Your dedication to service continues to create an impact both locally and internationally.
Rotary’s Council on Resolutions and Council on Legislation give Rotary members a voice in how our organisation is governed. Each Rotary district chooses a representative for a three-year term. They represent their districts at three meetings of the Council on Resolutions and at the Council on Legislation during their term.
Applications for 2026 Rotary Peace Fellowships are now open until May 15, 2025.
District 9800 has produced one or more peace fellows every year, except one, since the program began in 2002. We invite you and your fellow club members to find qualified candidates so that our district’s world beating record can be maintained. This year, The Rotary Foundation will award up to 50 fellowships for master’s degrees and up to 80 fellowships for professional development certificates at premier universities — including at our newest Rotary Peace Centre in Istanbul.
Rotary is great at attracting new members, but keeping them engaged is another challenge. District Governor Michael Lapiña's vision for 2024-25 is to make Rotary an irresistible experience, ensuring new and existing members feel a deep sense of belonging.
The Challenge:
While service projects attract members, many leave due to a lack of personal connection. Club Service plays a crucial role in fostering friendships, professional growth, and fun—all key to retention.
It is with great pleasure that I announce the formal appointment of Claire Davison as District Governor for Rotary District 9800 in 2027-2028. Claire’s passion for service, strategic mindset, and dedication to making a lasting impact—both locally and globally—make her an outstanding choice for this role.
District 9800 is proud to launch an exciting new initiative aimed at fostering peace, strengthening relationships with schools and councils, and increasing Rotary’s visibility in our communities.
This initiative will support clubs in installing Peace Poles in prominent community locations such as schools, parks, and council spaces—helping to spread the message of peace and build meaningful partnerships.
Exciting news! Registration for the Multi District Impact Summit are now LIVE, and you won’t want to miss out! This event is set to be an inspiring gathering of Rotary minds, all coming together to make a greater impact. Secure your spot today at rotaryimpactsummit.org!
“Perfect in every way" is how Rochester’s ‘Songs at the Silos’ is being described. Perfect weather, perfect location and perfect performers. Over 500 people enjoyed a wonderful night of opera and musical theatre performed by artists from Opera Australia and a local talent, Evie Scoble. Rochester was thrilled and privileged to enjoy the talents of Adam Millar, Eleanor Blythman, Karen van Spall and DG Michael Lapina: Alex and Mikey Lapina also sang in the encore and Kew Rotarian, Jonathan Shepherd was the MC.
District 9800 is proud to be a valued partner and sponsor of Victoria RESCA and happy to advise that the 2025 Award nominations are now open. The organisers are keen to promote the event as widely as possible to encourage and invite as many nominations from all the emergency services agencies as possible.
If you missed the Rotary SAFE Families Mega-Meeting via Zoom on 7 March, you missed a great presentation from speakers highlighting the issue of family violence. Fortunately, the Mega-Meeting was recorded and Rotary SAFE Families is happy to share the event via the YouTube link below. The hour-long broadcast attracted some 200 people from 48 countries.
On 22 February, the Rotary Club of Chadstone/East Malvern once again provided the catering for the Melbourne Henley Regatta. Despite the sweltering heat, 18 members of the Club turned up to load the equipment, set up the marquees, tables, BBQs and cook up a storm for the participants and onlookers at this amazing event.
In November 2024, the Rotary Club of Chadstone/East Malvern held its third “Sleeping Out Rough for the Homeless” event. Past President, Michele Kennedy, once again organised this event and each year we have managed to raise more money than the previous year.. Thanks to our sponsors – and the adventurous sleepers and their sponsors we raised a record $35,681.00. At a special dinner on 26 February, the proceeds from the event were donated to South Port Housing (SPHG).
Hosted by Australian National University and University of Queensland, assisted by Rotary Australia, the NYSF is a science and technology chance of a lifetime for 460 young people from across Australia who are immersed in STEM, the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. Simeon, a student at Mount Alexander College in Flemington travelled to the Canberra event representing Rotary Flemington Kensington and Charlotte, a student at Penleigh and Essendon Grammar chose to travel to Brisbane where she was most interested in the biology sessions.
Following a meeting between the Sri Lankan Minister for Health, Senake Ameresinghe and Pubudu De Goysa from Rotary Colombo, Dr Harsha Gunasekara, President of the National Stroke Association, and PP Peter Cribb of Flemington Kensington Rotary, a partnership project was planned, with the assistance of RARE SA and Rotary Donations in Kind, to deliver medical equipment to fit-out stroke units in nine Sri Lankan hospitals.
Atop the 100 Steps of Federation at Truganina Park, watched over by the “Time Beacon” artwork (Cameron Robbins), Rotary Altona City’s Hobsons Bay Millennium Time Capsule lay buried for 25 years, safely holding the messages from over 12,000 people. The Time Capsule will be exhibited during the Hobsons Bay Heritage Festival, which has the theme “Unearthed.”
In this special Reimagining Belonging podcast episode, released for International Women's Day, host Rana Ebrahimi and guest Sue Vincent explore gender equity, diversity, and inclusion within Rotary and society. They reflect on the evolving role of women in Rotary, acknowledging that women were only officially allowed to join in 1989, and emphasize the need to continue challenging inequity and bias.
Rotary’s Council on Resolutions and Council on Legislation give Rotary members a voice in how our organisation is governed. Each Rotary district chooses a representative for a three-year term. They represent their districts at three meetings of the Council on Resolutions and at the Council on Legislation during their term.
Applications for 2026 Rotary Peace Fellowships are now open until May 15, 2025.
Rotary is great at attracting new members, but keeping them engaged is another challenge. District Governor Michael Lapiña's vision for 2024-25 is to make Rotary an irresistible experience, ensuring new and existing members feel a deep sense of belonging.
It is with great pleasure that I announce the formal appointment of Claire Davison as District Governor for Rotary District 9800 in 2027-2028. Claire’s passion for service, strategic mindset, and dedication to making a lasting impact—both locally and globally—make her an outstanding choice for this role.
District 9800 is proud to launch an exciting new initiative aimed at fostering peace, strengthening relationships with schools and councils, and increasing Rotary’s visibility in our communities. 
Exciting news! Registration for the Multi District Impact Summit are now 
“Perfect in every way" is how Rochester’s ‘Songs at the Silos’ is being described. Perfect weather, perfect location and perfect performers. Over 500 people enjoyed a wonderful night of opera and musical theatre performed by artists from Opera Australia and a local talent, Evie Scoble. Rochester was thrilled and privileged to enjoy the talents of Adam Millar, Eleanor Blythman, Karen van Spall and DG Michael Lapina: Alex and Mikey Lapina also sang in the encore and Kew Rotarian, Jonathan Shepherd was the MC.
District 9800 is proud to be a valued partner and sponsor of Victoria RESCA and happy to advise that the 2025 Award nominations are now open. The organisers are keen to promote the event as widely as possible to encourage and invite as many nominations from all the emergency services agencies as possible.
If you missed the Rotary SAFE Families Mega-Meeting via Zoom on 7 March, you missed a great presentation from speakers highlighting the issue of family violence. Fortunately, the Mega-Meeting was recorded and Rotary SAFE Families is happy to share the event via the YouTube link below. The hour-long broadcast attracted some 200 people from 48 countries.
On 22 February, the Rotary Club of Chadstone/East Malvern once again provided the catering for the Melbourne Henley Regatta. Despite the sweltering heat, 18 members of the Club turned up to load the equipment, set up the marquees, tables, BBQs and cook up a storm for the participants and onlookers at this amazing event.
In November 2024, the Rotary Club of Chadstone/East Malvern held its third “Sleeping Out Rough for the Homeless” event. Past President, Michele Kennedy, once again organised this event and each year we have managed to raise more money than the previous year.. Thanks to our sponsors – and the adventurous sleepers and their sponsors we raised a record $35,681.00. At a special dinner on 26 February, the proceeds from the event were donated to South Port Housing (SPHG).
Hosted by Australian National University and University of Queensland, assisted by Rotary Australia, the NYSF is a science and technology chance of a lifetime for 460 young people from across Australia who are immersed in STEM, the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. Simeon, a student at Mount Alexander College in Flemington travelled to the Canberra event representing Rotary Flemington Kensington and Charlotte, a student at Penleigh and Essendon Grammar chose to travel to Brisbane where she was most interested in the biology sessions.
Following a meeting between the Sri Lankan Minister for Health, Senake Ameresinghe and Pubudu De Goysa from Rotary Colombo, Dr Harsha Gunasekara, President of the National Stroke Association, and PP Peter Cribb of Flemington Kensington Rotary, a partnership project was planned, with the assistance of RARE SA and Rotary Donations in Kind, to deliver medical equipment to fit-out stroke units in nine Sri Lankan hospitals.
In this special Reimagining Belonging podcast episode, released for International Women's Day, host Rana Ebrahimi and guest Sue Vincent explore gender equity, diversity, and inclusion within Rotary and society. They reflect on the evolving role of women in Rotary, acknowledging that women were only officially allowed to join in 1989, and emphasize the need to continue challenging inequity and bias.