Meeting WILL NOT be at Cilantro - We are meeting at the Boho Lounge & Boutique 7am
171 Jasper Rd
Bentleigh, VIC 3204 Note that registration is required.
Details here
The Meeting will NOT be available via Zoom this week
Edition 245
Monday, 19th January 2026
As I sit at the keyboard contemplating on what to write for the first bulletin of the new calendar year I am struck by how much has happened both domestically and internationally at a time of the year that is usually a time of celebration. At home there were the attack on Hanukkah celebrations in Sydney, bush fires in Victoria, Cyclone and floods in Queensland and the recent floods along the Great Ocean Road in Victoria. Internationally the Russia/Ukraine war continues, anti-government demonstrations or insurrections in many countries and the threats to national sovereignty of countries such as Greenland and Canada. What is apparent is the people have come together to help or support each other, not governments or politicians, but ordinary people. This brings me to the Presidential Message – Unite For Good. This what ordinary people across the world are doing either as communities pulling together or volunteering with organisations such as the CFA or SES. Whenever this message is used perhaps think about people who have come together to help each other, sometimes in difficult or dangerous situations.
I would like to acknowledge the contribution that Roy Kaplan contributed to the club. Roy passed away on the 12th December last year. The funeral was held at the MCK Lyndhurst Cemetery on the 14th of December, Karin, Gary and myself attended, representing the club. Geof Gartly was also present, but representing the Scouts. The scouting movement was massively represented with people from many groups. Roy was a senior Scout leader in Victoria.
Our last meeting for 2025 was on the 10th of December. This was a fellowship breakfast meeting with games and treats all organised by Linda. We also had a visit by Santa, this was organised by Tim lynch, who knew he had such high level contacts.
The very last function for 2025 was the Christmas party at the Sandringham Yacht Club on the 13th of December, organised by Ian with the table decorations put together by Linda.
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 January 21 2026
Chairperson Soster, Karin
Cashier Kempton, Alan
Cashier Lucas, Margaret
Meeting January 28 2026
Fellowship evening
Market January 25th 2026
Leader Moran, Tim
Assistant Burrows, Chris
Assistant Nodrum, Helen
Market February 1st 2026
Leader Mahajan, Vishal
Asssistant O'Brien, Peter
Assistant Stone, Jennifer
This week's speaker / event
This week is fellowship breakfast at Boho - details 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 14/12/2025.
Leader: Tim Moran
BMC: Neville, Jo, Tim, Peter O
Moorabbin: Jenny, Mario
Holland Foundation: Josh and Byron
Visitors: Sam L and Charles R
Cars in the Queue: Nil
Overnight Parkers: Nil
Pedestrian Count: 1100
Market Report: Early to mid 20’s with some wind
Nil overnight parkers, nine in the queue plus another three late comers, about 12 enquiries for stalls. Racks sold out and Tables cam close. Just three empty stalls. Thanks to Peter for covering Tim to attend his son’s Little Athletics State Final.
Market report for Sunday 21/12/2025.
Leader: Tim M
BMC: Chris, Tim M
Moorabbin: George, Esta
Holland Foundation: Cheng
Visitors: Barry, Chrles R and Karyn and
Cars in the Queue: 3
Overnight Parkers: 1
Pedestrian Count: 948
Market Report: Cloudy. Very high chance of rain, becoming less likely at night. A thunderstorm likely in the afternoon. Light winds becoming southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the early afternoon then turning southwesterly 20 to 30 km/h in the late afternoon.
A good start to the day. 1 car parked before market with 3 people in the queue. A pleasant morning with sun shining from 9am Perfect market conditions. A few latecomers were accommodated into stalls near the entrances. A young child was conducting a fundraiser by playing music, A number of studenst joined in bring a lrage number of parents. I have asked that they coordinate with market team in future to ensure improved taffic flow. Light rain hit just before 12. Merry Christmas everyone!!!!
Market report for Sunday 28/12/2025.
Leader: Tim M/ Ron
BMC: Margaret T, Margaret L, Jenny, Tim M and Ron
Moorabbin: Jothi, Intha
Holland Foundation: Did not turn up
Other Helpers: nil
Visitors: Charles Rener
Cars in the Queue: 2
Overnight Parkers: Nil
Pedestrian Count: 1130
Market Report: 12 to 23 and Sunny
A perfect day for a market. No wind, no cloud, with midday temperatures reaching 23 degrees plus. Very good team under circumstances, few stragglers at the end, only 28 tables in store for hire.
Market report for Sunday 04/01/2026.
Leader: Grant Perry
BMC: Jim Magee and Terry Kane.
Moorabbin: Lloyd Bayros and Lynne Hobbs.
Holland Foundation: No one from the Holland Foundation.
Other Helpers: Ron Brownlees
Visitors: Margaret Toyas
Cars in the Queue: 1
Overnight Parkers: Nil
Pedestrian Count: 985
Market Report: Cloudy but warm. The wind began to increase from about 1100 onwards.
Very quiet early on but pedestrian traffic picked up after 10:00.
Market report for Sunday 11/01/2026.
Leader: Paul Ferguson
BMC: Margaret T, Helen N, Alan K
Moorabbin: Kurt, jenny
Holland Foundation: changwei C
Other Helpers: nil
Visitors: nil
Cars in the Queue: Nil
Overnight Parkers: Nil
Pedestrian Count: 950
Market Report: mild, generally clear. No rain.
pleasant day after the heat of the prior week. Good average crowd numbers for the school holidays.
Market report for Sunday 18/01/2026.
Leader: Geoff Gledhill
BMC: Karin S, Kevin E.
Moorabbin: Gerard D, Anita B,
Holland Foundation: Changwei Cheng.
Visitors: Paul F. Ron B,
Cars in the Queue: Nil
Overnight Parkers: Nil
Pedestrian Count: 980
Market Report: Calm, sunny and warm.
Busy market with racks and tables virtually all out. A few regulars taking time off however casuals have taken up the slack. We need more flyers to give to prospective stallholders, the ones with a market map and booking details. Wayne continues to operate in the laneway.
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.
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.
Ho, ho, ho - what a fun time we had at our last club meeting for the year. Larry chaired the meeting that had a good turnout of club members and partners who enjoyed a lovely breakfast prepared by Tony and his team.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
BOARD MEETING - President Grant advised the board approved the following two club donations at the board meeting on Monday 8/12
People involved were employees, Mark and Ben from GESAC, that set everything up, including the marque, BBQ's (by three), food (gluten free sausages, gluten free vegetable hamburgers), bread (white and whole meal), fresh fruit, trestle tables, eskies ( variety of fruit juices), water for RCBMC and rubbish bags - fantastic.
Whilst from serving of the cook items, that were sausages in bread or hamburgers, along with fresh fruit and or a juice, were club members James Magee, Jenny Stone, Margaret Lucas, Margaret Toya, Karin Soster, and of course Gary, and followed by a teacher from St Joseph Primary as he needed to cook 50 sausages for students from his school.
PDG Ian was our chairperson for today's club meeting at Cilantro. Charles joined the meeting via Zoom, and guests included Mark Davies, Gary Ramage, and Bruno Santi.
CLUB ANNOUNCEMENTS - President Grant and others:
Monday 8 December - BMC Board meeting will be held in the boardroom of Neville's office. Board reports required by Secretary Karin by Friday 5/12 - please.
Wednesday 10 December - will be our last club meeting for this year at Cilantro
A number of members visited the Donations in Kind (website HERE) warehouse in Footscray to collect 3 pallets of Lego for re distribution to some worthy causes.
They were Peter and Linda O'Brien, President Grant Perry and Ian Ballantine.
Recipients were Scouts (Geoff Gartly), Vietnam Womens Assoc (Nicky Chung) and a range of local groups including Emerge, Family Life and Glen Eira Support Services.
It should be noted, of course that the Scouts and Vietnam Womens Association paid for their share but at a fraction of retail value thanks to the Club's membership of DIK.
It was a most rewarding day and we are grateful to Colleen D'Offay of DIK for arranging the pick up. Special thanks to Grant as well for providing his truck!
Rotary Passport Melbourne is helping deliver vital aid and hope to Cambodian families displaced by the border conflict.
WORDS. Maria Hicks OAM. Vice President, Rotary Passport Melbourne, Vic
Rotary Passport Melbourne has been supporting the Rotaract Club of Siem Reap (RACSR) in its collaboration with the Cambodia Rural Students Trust (CRST) to provide humanitarian relief to hundreds of Cambodian families recently displaced by clashes along the Cambodia–Thailand border.
Across Cambodia, thousands of families have been displaced from their homes, left without land, food or access to even the most basic necessities. These are people caught in a cycle of hardship, often overlooked and underserved.
The Rotary Club of Liverpool West and FlyPink joined forces to raise nearly $150,000 for breast cancer research through a record-breaking Pink October Gala fundraiser.
A partnership between the Rotary Club of Liverpool West, NSW, and aviation charity FlyPink has provided a boost for breast cancer research, raising nearly $150,000 for the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF).
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.
subscribers. If you are a subscriber and wish to unsubscribe, please take the Unsubscibe link at the bottom of this email.
If you have found this Bulletin via the website and are not a subscriber but would like to be, please subscribe below.
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Special information about meeting this Week
Taken from Rotary Down Under 
Once again we gathered at the Sandringham Yacht Club for a dinner to celebrate the festive season.
Ho, ho, ho - what a fun time we had at our last club meeting for the year. Larry chaired the meeting that had a good turnout of club members and partners who enjoyed a lovely breakfast prepared by Tony and his team. 
This week we had a very important visitor to the Bentleigh Market.
volved were employees, Mark and Ben from GESAC, that set everything up, including the marque, BBQ's (by three), food (gluten free sausages, gluten free vegetable hamburgers), bread (white and whole meal), fresh fruit, trestle tables, eskies ( variety of fruit juices), water for RCBMC and rubbish bags - fantastic.
PDG Ian was our chairperson for today's club meeting at Cilantro. Charles joined the meeting via Zoom, and guests included Mark Davies, Gary Ramage, and Bruno Santi.
A number of members supported Gabriela's Christmas Ball.
Taken from Rotary Down Under 
Taken from Rotary Down Under 
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.
