Who can believe that a year has gone by and we are now in a new Rotary Year 2026-27.
It feels like we only inducted Wendy Zhang into the Presidency yesterday, but alas It was me.
I am honoured to be the President of RC Box Hill Central and thank each of you for your trust and support. In my speech last night, I said “As we stand at the threshold of a new chapter, I ask the members to continue their commitment to build on the connections we have already made, foster leadership, take action and strive together to make a tangible difference, locally and internationally for today and for generations to come”.
It was a terrific Changeover event in the “Committee Room” at the MCG. We had 48 members and guests there and I might say, many were very impressed.
Wendy spoke well and delivered an excellent account of the activities of the Club. “Tonight” she said, “I celebrate our team”. Before presenting the annual awards, Wendy shone the spotlight on Brian Martin and Brian McPhail for their unwavering support, mentorship and friendship throughout the year.
The first award Wendy presented, was the Outstanding Service of the Year Award. The members who were recognised were John Elrington, Kath Ronan, Tony Stokes and Malcolm Chiverton. The second award Wendy presented, was the Change Agent of the Year Award which went to a member who challenged us to think differently and the recipient was Bianca Lobo. Next Wendy presented three Paul Harris Fellow recognitions on the evening. All awardees are worthy recipients because of their outstanding service, unwavering commitment and enduring contribution. The recipients were Julian Badenach, Robyn Stokes and Greg Cooper.
With all the exhilaration and excitement of a fantastic year, unfortunately, we have to say goodbye, to Mark Balla, Greg Cooper, Andrew Forgas, Bernie Millane, Tess Brooks, Liz Stinson, Wendy Tomlinson and Andrea McKellar. We wish them all the very best in the next chapter of their life’s journey and thank them profusely for all their Rotary Service.
We haven’t lost Mark and Andrew completely, as Mark will still serve on the “We Can’t Wait” committee and Andrew will become an Honorary member of the Club.
Thank you Wendy for your Leadership throughout the year. Even through your adversity you taught us to keep going with our efforts and trust ourselves in our decisions.
As the new year starts, I welcome working with each and every one of you and don’t be afraid to get onto more than one committee and see what a difference you can make.
As our new International President says, Harness the change within ourselves, to look to the future and to Create Lasting Impact.
A great Changeover enjoyed at the Committee Room Restaurant, MCG. Thankyou Wendy Zhang, President 25/26 & welcome Malcolm Chiverton President 26/27. Learn more and enjoy photos here.
As a new Rotarian, Andrew Munroe speaks of his insight after attending the Rotary D9815 &D9830 Conference in Hobart March 2026, highlighting:
the value of a district conference as it had a comprehensive program with both external and Rotary speakers at a relatively low cost.
the value of connections that Rotarians had in rekindling friendships or making new.
and even though I had a level of casual exposure to Rotary the conference gave me a much greater appreciation how vast both locally and internationally Rotary International is contributing and making a difference.
D9815 Conference 2027: challenge to change 12-14 March 2027 Rydges Hunter Valley Resort NSW
Barcelona, Spain, from 26–30 June 2027 at the Fira de Barcelona.
I, Bianca Lobo, joined the Rotary community as an idealist. I was fresh out of high school, looking for a way to volunteer. Don Kerley, a Rotarian from Glen Waverley RC, helpfully pointed me in the direction of a soon-to-be-chartering Monash Rotaract at the time.
When first joining and in the midst of university, when time was easy to give, and there was a group of young people with similar values for the first time in my life - I thrived. I went from quivering 1-minute speeches at RYLA, to being the MC at a District Conference (knees still shaking at this point), to presenting a breakout at RICON in Melbourne. I went from PD Director, to Club President, to Chair of Rotaract Australia. Rotaract and then Rotary, has grown with me. My involvement has surged when I have more time, and as now, when my priorities lie at home, it has lightened. I’m grateful for the flexibility in that, as my belief in what we do has not changed.
Great to hear from Mark Balla in June, as he reminisced on "Toilet Memories": impact, partnerships, learnings and opportunities in Dehli, Piplantri Rajasthan, Maharastra state and beyond, since joining our club 14 years ago.
Mark has a passion of improving girls access to education in India through improved sanitation infrastructure in schools with accompanying hygiene education. He brought this to our club and the wider Rotary International network with the Rotary Foundation. Our final two TRF Global Grants in India currently in progress.
Thankyou to Grant Radford (L) for presenting at our breakfast meeting on June 10. Grant is CEO and Managing Director of Box Hill Institute (BHI). Also attending was Paul Newnham (R), Executive Director Strategic Engagement (Commercial) at BHI.
Box Hill Central Rotary has a long connection with BHI, with club members John Maddock and Andrew Jackson serving as BHI CEO and Brian McPhail and Christina Chia as BHI Board Directors. Currently the club is supporting the Koorie Student of the Year Award and 3 Koorie Access and Equity Scholarships.
Box Hill Institute is a leading Australian vocational and higher education provider. It offers practical, industry-focused certificates, diplomas, and degrees. Serving roughly 40,000 students, the institute operates across three main local campuses: Box Hill, Lilydale, and Melbourne CBD as well as internationally.
