Recently I was looking through some of the Rotary documents that are passed down from President to President for safekeeping. I came across an old booklet titled ‘Historical Review of Rotary’. In it I learned numerous interesting facts about the personal life of Paul Harris, Rotary’s founder.

Paul Harris was born in Racine, Wisconsin in 1868 and, when he was three years old, he and his older brother were sent to their paternal grandparents in Wallingford, Vermont because their father had ‘fallen on bad times’. 

Rotary’s enduring commitment to peace lies at the heart of its mission, to foster understanding, goodwill, and harmony among all people. Through action both locally and globally, Rotary works to address the root causes of conflict, nurture peace leaders, and support initiatives such as the Rotary Peace Centres, which since 2002 have prepared thousands of professionals dedicated to advancing peace worldwide.

Rotary holds a proud place in history, having contributed to the founding of the United Nations in 1945, and continues that legacy today through active engagement in international climate conferences and global partnerships—recognising that lasting peace and a sustainable planet are inseparable. To mark this shared commitment to peace, in our world, in our communities and in our lives, Glenferrie Rotarians will assemble with students at Loreto Mandeville Hall on Remembrance Day 2025 in a ceremony to dedicate Australian Peace Pole No. 482, joining a global network now exceeding 300,000 peace poles worldwide. Let Peace Grow in our Hearts.

The Annual GeneralMeeting (“AGM”) of the Members of the Rotary Club of Glenferrie ABN 81 037 600 993 (“Club”) will be held on Wednesday 26th November 2025 at 7.00pm AEST by Zoom.

To see the Notice of Meeting: click here

To retrieve the Zoom link:  click here

To read the Annual Report, click on the image at right.

The club board meeting on October 30th focused on operational matters for the most part but did approve a donation of $5,000 to The Boroondara Family Network. The Community Service Committee has proposed a local project to rejuvenate the garden beds at the Salvation Army Camberwell. Problems with transferring money to Sierra Leone have hindered the startup of the new project in Buedu to provide a solar powered pump and water storage and disitribution facility at the Aladura Primary School. A sub-committee led by International Service Director Amelia Anderson and Don Heath has been set up to trace missing money transfers through the banking system - a task which has proven to be quite challenging.

There were changes at the top too, with PP Don Heath taking over the Club Secretary role from PP Carol Benson, effective immediately. PP Thelma Hutchison will assume the Club Treasurer role for another year.

To read a more detailed summary of the October board meeting, click on read more.

Attendance: 127   Members: 44 (of 55) 80%   Guests: 83

Topic: Rotary Club of Glenferrie 50th Anniversary Celebrations

It was the party of the year that will go down in the annals of the Rotary Club of Glenferrie as a wild wild night for those who lasted the distance. With member interviews, reminiscences from the 1970s, good food, good friends, music and mayhem, there will never be another 50th Birthday Party for the club like it! And that's a fact!

For a full report see: The Glenferrie Rotarian-Special 50th Anniversary Edition. For the photos to prove it: Photo Album-50th Anniversary Celebrations

The Sumba Eye Program, coordinated by Foresight Australia, is an International Service project in Indonesia long supported by the Rotary Club of Glenferrie jointly with the Rotary Club of Kew. Led by Glenferrie Rotarian PP Dr. Mark Ellis AM, the visit by the team in October 2025 achieved some major milestones towards establishing a permanent eye clinic at the RSUD Waikabubak Hospital in West Sumba. This achievement will be the culmination of many years of dedicated work in the service of one of the most underserved regions of Indonesia. To read the full trip report - Click here. 

On 29^th September 2025, during our visit to Norway to see my daughter Susie and her Viking family (Dan, Loke 5 and Luna 3), we had the opportunity to revisit SIRC again from our last visit in 2024.

SIRC has about 12 very active members and has a full schedule of local and international activities. They are a busy Club and raise fund through an annual golf day with energy industry support, plus many wine and beer tasting events with invited quests, to name the main activities here.

Dear Joanne and Rotary Club of Glenferrie,

This is Dr Shurong Lu from the University of Melbourne. Thanks for having me at your Rotary club to introduce my research project on empowering multicultural parents to support children with mental health challenges this August. I am excited to share with you that my research project, “Evaluating the Supporting Child Mental Health Training Among Multicultural Parents and Carers,” is now ready for recruiting participants.

I would greatly appreciate it if you could share the recruitment flyer as attached within your Club and networks.