NORMAL MORNING MEETING THIS WEEK
Meeting This Week - we are at Cilantro 7am for 7.10am start
For full location details, please refer here.
The meeting will also be available on Zoom - details here
Edition 248
Monday, 9th February 2026
Last week’s meeting was our first for the new calendar year at Cilantro, while the last two meetings had been pleasant it was good to be back at our usual venue. Members should note that there has been a change in the cost for breakfast, this really only affects the people who want a cup of coffee before breakfast. The cost for breakfast is $25, it is an extra $5 for coffee, that is $30. Tea and filter coffee will still be served with breakfast.
Last week’s was about the role of the South East Centre Against Sexual Assault (SECASA), which is part of Monash Health. There were two presenters - Vanessa Jones, who is the acting manager of SECASA and mental health counsellor/educator Peta de Burgh.
This week’s speaker is Trudi Sheppard, pictured at right, the President of the Board of the Australian Animal Protection Society (AAPS), this is a not for profit animal rescue charity based in Keysborough. Trudi will speak about the work of the society in caring for and re-homing abused or abandoned animals. Trudi has a previous involvement with Rotary as she was an exchange student to Canada in 1997.
Club President, 2025-26,
Grant Perry
BOARD MINUTES
A reminder to members that Board Minutes are available for viewing from the Club's website. Note that you must be logged in as a Member in order to gain access.
Access to all documents including Board Minutes can gained here.
The last published Board Minutes were the meeting of November 11, 2025 - HERE.
Ian Ballantine
Roster for the next 2 weeks
Note Market start time is 6.15am
Click on See all Rosters at right for future weeks. Members click here to see your own roster.
Meetings
Meeting February 11 2026
Chairperson Stone, Jennifer
Cashier Ballantine, Ian
Cashier Gartly, Geoff
Meeting February 18 2026
Chairperson Oliver, Barry
Cashier Green, Larry
Cashier Kruss, Neville
Market February 15th 2026
Leader Reid, Julie
Assistant Magee, James
Assistant Carruthers, Kellie
Market 22nd February 2026
Leader O'Shea, Greg
Assistant Gaddie, Jules
Assistant
This week's speaker / event
we are at Cilantro
Our speaker will be
Trudi Sheppard President of AAPS (Australian Animal Protection Society) - details and Registration HERE
Please check the upcoming events on the Club website here
Wheelchairs for Kids always need blankets/rugs to give away with their wheelchairs.
Member Linda O'Brien is inviting any members or friends of our Club who would like to help in this project.
Please contact Linda for more information.
Alannah & Madeline Foundation
Looking for support to provide Buddy Bags for children who have experienced extreme violence HERE
Link to photos from District Changeover July 2025 here
Link to photos from 2025 Conference here
Link to photos from 2024 Conference here
Market report for Sunday 08/02/2026.
Leader: Ian Ballantine
BMC: Tim Lynch, Ron Brownlees (half), Jo Impey (half)
Moorabbin: Andrew Kenny / Lynne Hobbs
Holland Foundation: Rowan and Joshua
Visitors: Kevin Egan,
Cars in the Queue: 5
Overnight Parkers: 1
Pedestrian Count: 1139
Market Report: Very warm with rain threatening later in the day. Northerly breeze.
Busy morning for racks and tables – total of 34 items. All mini stalls sold (12). Market looked very busy.
A number of minor issues as usual but all resolved.
A big thank you to Tim, Ron and Jo for their attendance and help.
Ian Ballantine
Important message to Market Leaders: New Computer
The iPad is NO LONGER. Entry of Market Report and Try Booking access is now done via new computer in the office. The procedure for its use is in the office.
Note there is a separate story about the defib at the Market here.
Rotary’s flagship inclusion project in New Caledonia is taking flight – literally and figuratively – through Rêves de Gosse (Childhood Dreams), an initiative that brings children of all abilities together for shared learning, friendship and an unforgettable first experience in the air.
WORDS Jean-Michel Blaise Rotary Club Nouméa Ouen Toro
As part of Rotary’s Growth Plan for the French Pacific, the Rêves de Gosse project is strengthening collaboration between clubs while building Rotary’s reputation as a trusted partner in education, inclusion, environmental responsibility and community service.
As a child during Sri Lanka’s 26-year civil war, Pushpi Weerakoon planned to become a lawyer. “I was born into a civil conflict, walked minutes away from bomb blasts, and saw parents of my schoolmates killed,” Weerakoon said. “From a very early stage, I understood the cost of conflict, and I knew I had to do something about it.”
In 1999, with Sri Lanka a member of the British Commonwealth, Weerakoon headed to the University of Buckingham in the UK. There she earned a bachelor of law and a postgraduate diploma in international and commercial law.
Kellie was our chairperson for today's club meeting which was back at Cilantro for the first time this year. Wonderful!.
CLUB ANNOUNCEMENTS
Market Operations - Grant mentioned an issue with our Try booking ticketing system when a stall holder used Google Wallet for payment. One payment processed (as it should), but the confirmation the stall holder receives lists 3 stalls (or something similar). . Hopefully this will be sorted soon.
Words. Joy Gillett OAM CEO, Australian Rotary Health
At the meeting of the ARH Research Committee held in October, more than 100 applications for funding commencing in February 2026 and for up to three years were assessed. The committee selected and recommended to the board of Australian Rotary Health 11 projects to be funded. These projects, all in the area of ‘Improving the Mental Health of 0-12 year olds’ were approved for funding.
As the first former Rotaractor to rise to the role of Rotary International president, Yinka Babalola sparked a powerful conversation with under-45s about shaping Rotary’s future.
WORDS Rebecca Fry. President Rotary Oceania RYLA Alumni Association Rotary Club of Social Impact Network
PHOTOS @rhysmartinphotographer
At the 2025 Rotary Zone 8 Conference, held on the Gold Coast 31 October to 2 November, something truly special happened. Rotary International President-elect Yinka Babalola asked a simple question: “Do you think we can bring all of the under 45s together for a conversation?” Of course, the answer was yes, and less than 24 hours later, around 25 Rotaractors and young Rotarians were in a room with Yinka for an inspiring hour-long conversation.
Once again, because Cilantro is still closed, the Club met for an evening of fellowship at the Bentleigh RSL. About 24 members and guests were in attendance and all enjoyed an excellent meal. I'm sure we will be going there again! Thanks Linda for organising venue.
I'm sorry I forgot to take photos until most had left - we were all enjoying each other's company so much (click Read More for a few pics).
Don't forget we are back at Cilantro this week - details and registration HERE.
This was our first getting together after the holiday break.
As Cilantro is still closed, we tried the Boho Lounge in Jasper Road on the recommendation of Larry Green.
This was a very interesting place as evidenced by the photos. Owner, Zally looked after us. There were about 22 of us in total including member Charles Rener.
We were also joined, once again, by friend of Gabriela, Lisa Monique Lee. Also another new face - at least to our Club, Rotarian Micheal Jasom. Michael has recently returned to Australia (Bentleigh) from the Isle of Man in the UK where he is a member of the Douglas Rotary Club
We had a very relaxed morning of fellowship and look forward to catching up again next Wednesday evening at the Bentleigh RSL - details HERE
Indian developer donates US$50 million to The Rotary Foundation
Declaring that “giving is a duty,” longtime Rotary member Ravishankar Dakoju pledged that he and his wife and fellow club member, Paola Dakoju, would donate approximately US$50 million (4.5 billion Indian rupees) to The Rotary Foundation. Dakoju announced the gift at Rotary’s International Assembly in Orlando, Florida, USA, on 13 January. “Years ago, Paola and I shared a dream: that one day, when we had enough to live with dignity, we would return 85% of our wealth back to society,” said Dakoju, a member of the Rotary Club of Bangalore, Karnataka, India. “My friends, that day has arrived.” Dakoju, who serves as The Rotary Foundation Arch Klumph Society ambassador for Asia, spoke about his belief that philanthropy is a personal responsibility and explained his and Paola’s determination to give away their surplus wealth. “What we keep may serve only our family, nothing beyond that. What we give The Rotary Foundation will serve humanity,” he said.
WORDS Avneet Kaur Bhasin. Rotary Foundation Donor Services Specialist.
It’s all set up online, it’s super easy. And though we don’t see it, we know it’s going to do good.”
In a world full of causes, The Rotary Foundation stands out – not just for what it does, but for how deeply it changes lives. From eradicating polio to empowering women, from building peace to providing clean water, the Foundation’s work touches every corner of the globe.
But behind every successful project is a donor who believed in the power of service – and gave.
Once again we gathered at the Sandringham Yacht Club for a dinner to celebrate the festive season.
Everyone who attended, some 28 members and guests, enjoyed the sumptuous meal and great fellowship. Thanks to Linda who helped organise and provided the beautiful table decorations.
As Editor of the Bulletin and responsible for the Club's website I am asking members to please consider sending me any news about events they may have attended on behalf of the Club or any project that is being undertaken by the Club.
I am very happy to convert your news into a story which will then appear in the Bulletin, but, more importantly, appear on our Website.
This will show any people coming to our Website what our Club is involved in and the projects we support.
So, please take some photographs and put together some words - I will do the rest. Please send me your photos in the highest resolution possible via email or WhatsApp. I will do the cropping etc. Please DO NOT send pics via SMS (MMS). These are next to useless.
Also, don't bother creating the article in Word or similar-just adds work. Just send the words and a few pics. I will do the rest.
This article is intended to help members register themselves and/or a guest to a Club event. Note, your are also expected to register your intention NOT to attend.
If an event is inviting members to register there will be a button with the word: "Members" below "Online Registration". refer image at left.
Note that you need to be already logged in as a member. As venues need to be advised of numbers PRIOR to the event, please register by noon on the day prior unless otherwise stated. If you are not a member, this page will not be of any help. It may still be possible to register for an event as a non member if the event is open to the public.
From the Calendar page here you can subscribe to the Club's event calendar.
This will result in the Club's calendar being added to your existing calendar subscriptions, thus ensuring that as an event is added (or modified) to the Club's calendar, it will appear on your phone, tablet etc. Calendars supported are Outlook, Google and Apple.
Take the link, Subscribe to Calendar, from the Calendar Page.
A point regarding the submission of images for the Bulletin and Website: Members are reminded that images have to meet a minimum size requirement, as has been specified for some time in the section at the bottom of this Bulletin. 820 pixels is the minimum size required with larger being better as this allows for cropping. The submission of images via MMS is NOT preferred as they are too small and of inferior quality. Email or Whatsapp is far superior.
Would any member like to take responsibility for the updating of the Club's Event Calendar? I have created a page of instructions here so it is very easy to take over.
Thank you, Ian Ballantine
I remind members that you are responsible for the information contained in the Club's database. This includes, birthdays, phone numbers, addresses etc etc. Even your own photo. You maintain this via this link.
Additionally, member's birthdays and anniversaries will no longer be listed in the Club Bulletin. This is to protect the privacy of members. This information is still available to members here.
Ian Ballantine
A reminder to members to keep checking the calendar of upcoming events for evening and perhaps, one day, daytime events.
Thank you for being a subscriber to our Weekly Club Bulletin. I try to have it published each week by Tuesday morning.
If you would like to have something included please contact me at editor@rotarybmc.org.au and attach, as separate files, the words and any images (jpg files are fine, minimum width 820 pixels). Please DO NOT send information as pdf files.
Ian Ballantine, Editor.
This Bulletin is sent to:
all current members (both active and honorary) of our Club.
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This week’s speaker is Trudi Sheppard, pictured at right, the President of the Board of the Australian Animal Protection Society (AAPS), this is a not for profit animal rescue charity based in Keysborough. Trudi will speak about the work of the society in caring for and re-homing abused or abandoned animals. Trudi has a previous involvement with Rotary as she was an exchange student to Canada in 1997.
This week's speaker / event
Rêves de Gosse lands in Nouméa
Rotary’s alumni honoree works to transform mindsets in peacebuilding efforts
New research project grants approved
A turning point for Rotary’s future
Once again, because Cilantro is still closed, the Club met for an evening of fellowship at the Bentleigh RSL.
This was our first getting together after the holiday break.
Taken from the RI website 
Taken from Rotary Down Under 
Once again we gathered at the Sandringham Yacht Club for a dinner to celebrate the festive season.
As Editor of the Bulletin and responsible for the Club's website I am asking members to please consider sending me any news about events they may have attended on behalf of the Club or any project that is being undertaken by the Club.
