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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 251
Monday, 1st March 2026

Last week’s meeting started with me welcoming Michael Josem into the club. For those who haven’t attended for a while, Michael is already a Rotarian. He was a member of the RC of Douglas in the Isle of Man. His club, very reluctantly, agreed to the transfer. As Michael was already a Rotarian the induction ceremony was not performed, instead we performed a modified version in order to formally welcome Michael to our club.
Welcoming Michael wasn’t all that happened at last week’s meeting as we also had Kylie Greer from Artists for Kids Culture (AKC) speaking about the organisation and its programs the help children  from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds  to connect better to themselves and each other
through art.
This week will be about Rotary – its structure and relevance to individual Rotarians. This will be particulary relevant in light of the vote for the new Rotary constitution that will take place this Wednesday. Karin has emailed to all members a copy of the constitution as well as an outline as to why the vote is necessary. Larry will also be giving a talk on the market and its operation.
Finally, a reminder that the next Board Meeting will be on Tuesday, 10th March.
 
 
 
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 December 8, 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 March 4 2026
Chairperson O'Brien, Linda
Cashier Lynch, Tim
Cashier Gaddie, Jules
Meeting March 11 2026
Chairperson Lucas, Margaret
Cashier Soster, Karin
Cashier Ammendola, Gabriela
Market 8th March 2026
Market Leader Perry, Grant
Assistant Burrows, Chris
Assistant Lucas, Margaret
Market 15th March 2026
Market Leader Mahajan, Vishal
Assistant Josem, Michael
Assistant Kane, Terry
This week's speaker / event
At Cilantro - details HERE
This week we will be having a Club Forum  - details and Registration HERE 
Topics for discussion will include a special section for newer members and discussion about the Bentleigh Market
 
Please check the upcoming events on the Club website here
REGISTRATION FOR MEETINGS HELP HERE
Please forward any events you want promoted to the Editor.
For all Club events refer Club Calendar HERE
 

Buffet Dinner at Cilantro

NOTE THURSDAY EVENING

March 19, 2026
Details and Registration HERE

Club Changeover
June 27, 2026
Details and Registration HERE
Knitters / Crochet-ers wanted
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

 
DISTRICT 9815
Click HERE for all Events

District Conference 2026

If you intend coming to Conference, please indicate by 'registering' as a member of our Club

March 2026

More HERE

 
Click on image above for latest issue
 
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 01/03/2026.
Leader: Larry Green
BMC: Nicky Chung, Neville Kruss
Moorabbin: Mario Lazaro, Cheryl White
Holland Foundation: Ryan
Cars in the Queue: 1
Overnight Parkers: 3
Pedestrian Count: 1700
Market Report: muggy and overcast; rain forecast. Wind change and increase at 10.45am
58 stalls sold online, so full. Need to review regular stalls as there appear to be a number not occupied.
 
Larry Green
 
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.
 
 
Care for emotional wounds
Taken from RDU HERE
An Australian husband-and-wife team came up with First Aid for Mental Health on a dog walk. Now, they want you – yes, you – to join this global movement.
WORDS. Betty Kitchener AM. Professor Tony Jorm.

Mental Health First Aid Australia’s story began in 2000, when the first course was delivered to a small group in Canberra, ACT. It has since evolved into a global movement with more than eight million people trained worldwide.

The training session starts with a drawing of a T-shirt on paper. The adult students are asked to write on the front examples of negative assumptions and labels that people use about an imagined co-worker who is experiencing depression, unknown to colleagues.

Read more...
Rotary Peace Fellow

Rotary Peace Fellow leads education in emergencies across the Middle East

Taken from RDU HERE
Australian Rotary Peace Fellow Lucienne Heyworth has dedicated her career to delivering education and humanitarian assistance in some of the world’s most complex conflict zones, transforming the futures of young people across the Middle East and beyond.
WORDS Anne Matthews, D9560 Passport Rotary Club, Qld.
Read more...
Club Meeting February 25 2026
Larry was our chairperson for today's club meeting at Cilantro.  Paul joined the meeting via zoom.  Guests included Gary Ramage, and Kylie Greer and Brenda Cooke from Artists for Kid Culture.   
Read more...
Healing hearts across India
Taken from RDU HERE

Through global collaboration and The Rotary Foundation’s support, the Rotary Club of Wyndham has helped give 10 children in India a healthier future.

When members of the Rotary Club of Wyndham, Vic, learned that children in parts of India were going without lifesaving heart surgery simply because their families could not afford it, they knew they had to act.
Determined to make a tangible difference, Rotarian Rakesh Raizada travelled to India to explore the possibility of a collaborative solution. His visit led him to the Rotary Club of Southend Delhi, where discussions quickly revealed a shared desire to help. The partnership that followed became the cornerstone of the Wyndham Rotary Heart Project.
Read more...
In Lithuania, 'befrienders’ ease loneliness
Taken from RI website HERE

How a nation more than halved its suicide rate with helplines and other community-based approaches

By Marylou Costa 
Taking phone calls from strangers wanting to share their life stories is not part of the typical job description for a nonprofit founder. But for Marius Čiuželis, it’s all in a day’s work. In 2016, he and his wife, Kristina, started Sidabrinė Linija, or Silver Line, an organization that offers free support to isolated older adults in Lithuania through regular phone calls with a “befriender” matched to their interests.
Read more...
Fellowship Dinner Mid Valleys Feb 19 2026
A total of 16 members and partners got together for another really enjoyable evening at Mid Valleys Restaurant in Bay Road, Highett.
This is a favourite dining destination for a number of members, and it's no wonder. The food is delicious. 
Everyone who attended had a great evening. These occasional evening get togethers are a great alternative as they give an opportunity for members who find it difficult to get to our morning meetings to feel part of the Club and enjoy the company of their fellow members.
Thanks to Linda for organising.
Please keep an eye on the Club events calendar HERE for future evening events.
Click on Read More for a few more pics.
Read more...
A new hub for peace and development in Asia

A new hub for peace and development in Asia

Taken from RDU HERE
Rotary and Symbiosis International University have joined forces to launch a new Peace Centre in India, empowering emerging leaders across Asia with advanced training in peacebuilding, conflict transformation and sustainable development.
Applications for Rotary International’s newest Peace Centre, at Symbiosis International University, India, will open on 1 February.
Read more...
Safe water for Timor-Leste

Clear water, clear minds: Safe water for Timor-Leste

Taken from RDU HERE
Rotary Projects Timor-Leste East continues to be a critical program, assuring reliable access to water across Timor-Leste since 2010. Rotarian Max Bird has helped lead a shift to make sure the water is also of the safest quality possible, particularly in schools.
Read more...
Registering for an Event
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.
 
Please refer to this Help article in full.
 
 
Read more...
Subscribe to Calendar
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.
Read more...
Latest Photo Albums
RYDA August 2025
Cilantro Dinner August 2025 SES
Pasta Pizza and Poetry Night August 2025
Club Changeover June 2025
Lautoka May 2025
George Petrou March 5 2025
Bentleigh Market December 2024
Bentleigh Market Nov 2024
RICON 2024 Singapore
Club Changeover 2024
Mentor match evening Mar 2023
BMC at Conference 2023
International Assembly 2023
Bentleigh Market October 2022
Curry Night Aug 28 2022
Inner Wheel Changeover July 2022
RYLA June 28 2022
District 9810 Changeover June 25 2022
Club Changeover June 2022
Note from the Editor re Images and Events
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
 
Club Meeting Feb 25 Kylie Greer
Cilantro Restaurant
Feb. 25, 2026
7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
 
Club Meeting March 4 2026
Cilantro Restaurant
Mar. 04, 2026
7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
 
Club Meeting March 11 2026
Mar. 11, 2026
7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
 
District 9815 Conference
Grand chancellor hotel
Mar. 13, 2026 9:00 a.m. –
Mar. 15, 2026 2:00 p.m.
 
Club Meeting March 19 2026 Fellowship Dinner
Cilantro Restaurant
Mar. 19, 2026
6:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
 
Club Meeting March 25 2026
Cilantro Restaurant
Mar. 25, 2026
7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
 
Club Changeover 2026
Rossdale Golf Club
Jun. 27, 2026
6:30 p.m. – 11:31 p.m.
 
View entire list
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.

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