The Rotary Club of Mt Eliza came together tonight for Club Assembly, providing an opportunity for members to hear updates from across the Club, discuss upcoming initiatives and look at how our various committees are working together to create impact in our community.

There is plenty happening, with a particular focus on supporting young people and creating opportunities that can have a lasting influence.

Rotary is at its best when a good idea travels beyond borders, connects people and continues to create an impact long after the original project has finished.

At a recent Rotary gathering, Jenny Ibbotson, sister of Rotary Club of Mt Eliza member Carol Wallace, shared the story of an inspiring playground project that began several years ago in Cape Town, South Africa.

The Rotary Club of Mt Eliza is delighted to welcome John Anderson as our newest member.

John brings a fascinating life story, a wealth of professional experience and, most importantly, a strong commitment to volunteering and community service.

What happens when you spend eight months living and working in one of the most remote and extreme environments on Earth?

Members and guests of the Rotary Club of Mt Eliza were given a fascinating glimpse into life in Antarctica when Dr Stuart Kininmonth, Winter Station Leader at New Zealand’s Scott Base, joined us virtually from Antarctica.

It was an extraordinary opportunity to hear first-hand about the environment, the science, the wildlife and, perhaps most importantly, the human experience of spending months isolated from the rest of the world.

There are some people whose contribution is measured not by how often they're in the spotlight, but by how much would stop if they weren't there.

For almost twenty years, Rowan Miller has been one of those people.

The Rotary Club of Mt Eliza’s Trivia Night was a fantastic evening of fun, friendship and fundraising, bringing together 80 community members at the beautiful Mornington Yacht Club.

The night was filled with plenty of laughter, friendly competition and some challenging trivia questions as teams battled it out for the coveted title of Trivia Champions. Congratulations to our winning team, Waste of Potential, who showed that their trivia knowledge was anything but a waste!

Beyond the fun and competition, the evening had an important purpose. Funds raised from the event will support Moonah House, helping contribute towards their ongoing work in our community.

The success of the night was made possible thanks to everyone who attended, our volunteers who helped organise and run the event, and those who contributed to creating such a wonderful atmosphere.

Events like our Trivia Night highlight the power of community connection. By coming together, sharing a few laughs and enjoying a great evening, we can create meaningful impact and support organisations making a difference locally.

The Rotary Club of Mt Eliza thanks everyone who joined us and helped make the evening such a success. We look forward to hosting more community events that bring people together while supporting important causes.

Rotary Club of Mt Eliza – Connecting our community through fun, friendship and service.

#RotaryClubMtEliza #RotaryDistrict9815 #PeopleOfAction #MoonahHouse #CommunityImpact #ServiceAboveSelf #MorningtonPeninsula

Sometimes, the simplest gifts can make the greatest difference.

At this week's Rotary Club of Mt Eliza meeting, member Pauline McFarlane shared her heartfelt passion for supporting children in foster and kinship care through handmade knitted blankets for A Better Life for Foster Kids.

The Rotary Club of Mount Eliza is proud to have funded the installation of a new shelter at the Cobb Road Dog Park, providing a practical and lasting improvement for one of Mount Eliza's popular community spaces.

Cobb Road Dog Park offers a secure, fenced off-leash area where dogs can exercise, play and socialise safely. It has become a regular meeting place for local residents, with many owners visiting daily to enjoy the open space and connect with other members of the community.

Until now, one of the park's greatest limitations was the lack of weather protection. The new shelter provides welcome shade during summer, shelter from rain in winter and a comfortable place to sit while watching dogs enjoy the park.

This project reflects Rotary's commitment to investing in facilities that improve everyday life for local residents. Sometimes the most valuable community projects are not the largest, but the ones that are used every single day.

The shelter has been made possible through funds raised by the Rotary Club of Mount Eliza's dedicated volunteers. As an entirely volunteer organisation, 100% of the funds we distribute are returned directly to charitable and community projects, ensuring every fundraising dollar creates lasting benefit.

Whether you're a regular visitor to Cobb Road Dog Park or discovering it for the first time, we hope the new shelter makes your visit just that little bit more enjoyable.

At Rotary, we believe that creating stronger communities starts with creating places where people can gather, connect and enjoy the outdoors together.

The Rotary Club of Mount Eliza recently celebrated a number of exceptional community members and organisations through its annual awards program, recognising those who consistently demonstrate service, leadership, inclusion and community spirit.

The evening highlighted the many ways individuals can make a difference, whether through environmental stewardship, creating welcoming community spaces, supporting people of differing abilities or providing opportunities for young people to thrive.

The Rotary Club of Mount Eliza recently held a comprehensive club assembly, providing members with updates across Community Service, Youth, International, Environment and Vocational committees.

The evening highlighted the remarkable range of projects and partnerships currently being delivered by club members across the Mornington Peninsula and beyond.

The Story of Trish Stamp Travel Founder - Rotarian Trish Stamp

Sometimes the best careers begin completely by accident — although in Trish Stamp’s case, determination, intelligence and a sense of adventure were already shaping her path long before she entered the travel industry.

The Rotary Club of Mount Eliza is proud to have partnered with The Rotary Foundation and Mornington Peninsula Shire Council to deliver a fully funded commercial kitchen upgrade for the Mount Eliza 55+ Club.

This significant project combined structural improvements with a complete re-equipment of the kitchen, ensuring the space is modern, functional, and ready to support the growing needs of the community. The Rotary Club of Mount Eliza contributed specifically to the re-equipment component, helping to bring the facility up to a high standard.

Club President Jim Young formally handed over the new kitchen equipment to 55+ Club President Rhonda Idczak just in time for the ANZAC Day commemorations, a meaningful moment that highlighted the importance of connection, service, and community spirit. Also present was Community Director Carol Wallace, who has been closely involved in supporting this initiative.

This project is a clear example of how collaboration between local organisations can deliver tangible, lasting benefits. The upgraded kitchen will support social connection, community events, and wellbeing for years to come.

It’s a question we hear often—and at our latest club meeting, we set out to answer it.

With the new Rotary year fast approaching in July, members will soon be asked to nominate their preferred committees. So we took the opportunity to step through exactly what each part of the club does, and how it all comes together.

For newer members, it was an eye-opening look at the breadth of activity. For others, a timely reminder of just how much is happening at any given time.

In line with Rotary’s theme of the Environment this month, members of the Rotary Club of Mount Eliza were given a rare and powerful insight into one of the most important ecosystems on Earth—a live virtual link direct from Antarctica.

Our guest speaker, Dr Stuart Kininmonth, joined us from a New Zealand research station near McMurdo Station, sharing firsthand insights into both the science and the human experience of living in one of the most extreme environments on the planet.

n evening with Lachlan Heron, Physiotherapist

What does it really take to support elite athletes on the world stage?

At a recent meeting, the Rotary Club of Mount Eliza was given a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the Winter Olympic Games by guest speaker Lachlan Heron, a physiotherapist working at the highest level of international sport.

Two Inspiring Days of Ideas, Impact and Connection

The recent Rotary District 9815 and 9830 Conference brought together Rotarians, community leaders and changemakers for a powerful weekend of ideas, inspiration and impact.

Across a series of compelling presentations, delegates heard from speakers working across technology, humanitarian aid, education, youth development and environmental protection. Each story reinforced Rotary’s mission: bringing people together to create lasting change.

Below are highlights from several of the remarkable presentations shared during the conference.

Katie Cooper challenges Rotarians to build resilient communities

At the Rotary District 9815 Conference in Hobart, strategic consultant and futurist thinker Katie Cooper invited Rotarians to step back and look at the long view.

Cooper, a Tasmanian who now works globally from her home state, spends much of her professional life helping organisations and communities plan for the next ten to twenty years. Her message to delegates was simple but powerful: the future is already emerging around us, and communities need to prepare now.

She opened with a reflection on resilience.

At the recent District Conference in Hobart, Rotarians heard an inspiring story about the power of music to change lives.

Presented by Mark Smith, a member of the Rotary Club of Boronia, the program called Knox Rocks Youth Songwriting Program is giving young people something many of them desperately need — a safe way to express themselves.

At the Rotary District Conference in Hobart, delegates were treated to an inspiring presentation from Sarah Perry AM, the driving force behind the sail training vessel STV Windward Bound.

Captain Perry has spent decades transforming the lives of young people through sail training voyages that challenge participants to step far outside their comfort zones and discover what they are truly capable of.

We are delighted to welcome Jackie Lane as a new member of the Rotary Club of Mt Eliza.

Jackie brings with her a wealth of experience across both the corporate and not-for-profit sectors. During her career with the National Australia Bank, she held senior leadership roles and was responsible for leading teams of more than 100 people. Her professional background, combined with a strong commitment to community and service, will be a wonderful addition to our club.

Having recently retired, Jackie has chosen to settle on the beautiful Mornington Peninsula to be closer to her family. We are thrilled that she has also chosen to become part of the Rotary Club of Mt Eliza community.

We look forward to the insight, leadership and enthusiasm Jackie will bring as we continue working together to support local and international causes.

Rotary Club of Mt Eliza members recently welcomed Mark Stoermer, CEO of the Mornington Peninsula Shire, for an engaging discussion about the future of the Peninsula. From infrastructure and community partnerships to tourism and emerging economic opportunities, the conversation provided valuable insight into the challenges and opportunities shaping our region.

An Engaging Evening with J.P. Pomare at Stories by the Sea

An entertaining and insightful evening at Stories by the Sea saw Rotary members join the local community to celebrate the launch of The Gambler by J.P. Pomare. With humour, behind-the-scenes insights and stories of novels adapted for television, it was a night that showcased both creative talent and strong community connection.

Member Spotlight: Nina Da Silva – Service with Heart

Our Rotary Club is made up of people who quietly get on with making the world a better place – and Nina Da Silva is a beautiful example of exactly that.

From broken lifts to empty supermarket shelves, our members were treated to an unforgettable and often hilarious journey through Cuba at our recent Rotary meeting.

How will artificial intelligence reshape our communities, our workplaces and our schools? At our recent Rotary Club of Mount Eliza meeting, members were taken on a remarkable journey through the history of technological disruption and into the rapidly evolving world of generative AI.

We were delighted to welcome Tim Kitchen, former education specialist with Adobe and now a leading consultant supporting schools and universities to use AI effectively and responsibly.

This evening we were privileged to welcome acclaimed portrait artist George Petrou OAM as our Rotary speaker.

George spoke on The Art of Sacrifice, a powerful body of work honouring Australians who have made extraordinary sacrifices in service to our nation. Through portraiture and storytelling, he captures not only likeness, but legacy.

International Women’s Day | Give to Gain 

We are proud to announce that the recipient of funds raised at this year’s International Women’s Day Breakfast will be Moonah House — a new, community-led initiative supporting women and children experiencing family violence and homelessness on the Mornington Peninsula.

Hosted jointly by the Rotary Clubs of Frankston, Mt Eliza and Rosebud–Rye, our IWD event is about turning words into action. Moonah House is working towards opening its doors in 2026, providing safe accommodation and trauma-informed support so families can rebuild their lives with dignity.

“How do I get out of bed today?”

For many women, this is not a philosophical question — it’s a daily reality. No job. No income. No confidence. Sometimes no safe home. And often, no belief left that things can change.

Interview with Rotary Mt Eliza Member – Sue Voss

Why Rotary Matters, How It’s Changing, and the Gift of Giving Back

Recently, we sat down with long-serving Rotary Mt Eliza member and past President Sue Voss to talk about her Rotary journey, what motivates her, and why she believes Rotary is as relevant today as ever—especially for younger members.

It’s OK Not to Be OK: Rotary Supports Youth Mental Health in Our Community

The Rotary Club of Mount Eliza was honoured to welcome Georgia and Tyla from It’s OK Not to Be OK to our recent meeting for an inspiring and deeply moving presentation on the state of youth mental health across the Mornington Peninsula.

Both presenters brought a unique blend of professional knowledge, community experience, and powerful personal insight. Georgia, a qualified social worker with experience at Reach Foundation, youth crime prevention, and Headspace Frankston and Rosebud, shared her passion for early intervention. Tyla, a local 22-year-old with strong ties to the Peninsula and a participant at the Paris Olympics, brought energy, authenticity, and lived understanding of the challenges facing young people today.

Each year, the Rotary Club of Mt Eliza proudly organises the community’s Remembrance Day Service on November 11, traditionally held at the Mt Eliza Heritage & Memorial Garden adjacent to the 55 Plus Club.

This year, due to inclement weather, the ceremony was held indoors at the 55 Plus Club — a warm and respectful setting for such an important occasion.

The event was masterfully compered by James Farquharson from the Frankston RSL. Captain Paul Mandizy, Royal Australian Navy, delivered a powerful and heartfelt address, beginning with Australia’s involvement in World War I and reflecting on our nation’s greatest single wartime loss — the sinking of the HMAS Sydney in 1941.

Protecting a Local Icon – Dirk from Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation (MPKC)

At a recent Rotary Club of Mt Eliza meeting, members and guests were privileged to hear from Dirk, founder of Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation (MPKC). Dirk shared his remarkable story of how a simple Facebook page has grown into one of the Peninsula’s most active conservation movements.

New Member Spotlight: Meet Mark! 🌟

At our recent meeting, new member MarkRodman shared his incredible life journey — from England to Zambia, South Africa, the US, Latin America, Singapore, Europe, China and finally… Mt Eliza! 🌍✈️

Mark spent 45 years in the tech industry, travelled the world, owned a vineyard on the Mornington Peninsula 🍷, and first discovered Rotary through Rotaract in South Africa.

This year, Mt Eliza Primary School launched its first EarlyAct Club—a partnership with Rotary that’s inspiring the next generation of community leaders.

Lynsey Breen, who coordinates the program at the school, says the students have gained so much:
✨ Awareness of their local community and how they can make a difference
✨ Leadership skills through assemblies, presentations, and running meetings
✨ Organisation and event management experience

Families have loved seeing their children become more community-minded, and projects like the “Wheelathon” created real buzz across the school.

We’re proud to support EarlyAct and can’t wait to see these young leaders continue their Rotary journey into secondary school and beyond. 💛💙

At this week’s meeting we were inspired by Lisa Vagg and Russell Kerr, who shared the story of Hands On Learning — a program born at Frankston High School and now running in over 140 schools nationwide.

By giving students one day a week to learn through real projects in schools and the community, Hands On Learning builds skills, belonging and confidence. Locally, Mt Eliza Secondary College has proudly embraced the program since 2014, with Rotary Mt Eliza supporting student projects along the way.

At our recent Rotary gathering, Michael shared stories from his life that were both thought-provoking and entertaining. From cultural reflections to personal anecdotes, his talk reminded us of the value of resilience, humour, and understanding each other.

A big thank you to Michael for an engaging and inspiring evening of fellowship and learning!

Meet one of our newest members – Andy Simpson!
Andy joined Rotary Mount Eliza in October after being invited by Catherine Leonard. Since then, he’s been busy: from running sausage sizzles and bacon & eggs at the farmers market, to helping organise our Golf Day, unloading 50+ wheelchairs for children in developing nations, and even visiting a Cambodian art school we support.

“It’s a great group of people doing good things. You can help as much as you like – and you can say no if you need to.”

We’re thrilled to have Andy (and Yvonne!) in the club, and we can’t wait to see what’s next.

Rotary Mount Eliza Welcomes Rotary Berdychiv, Ukraine

In August, Rotary Mount Eliza met online with Rotary Berdychiv, a newly chartered club in Ukraine. Despite the challenges of war, Rotary Berdychiv is already making an impact through clean water initiatives, environmental projects, and support for children in need.

The meeting highlighted shared values, potential collaboration opportunities, and the beginning of a lasting international friendship.

Rotary Celebrates Community Spirit with Special Awards

At our recent Rotary meeting, we were proud to shine a light on two outstanding individuals whose contributions reflect the true spirit of “Service Above Self.”

Charlie Clarke – Community Environmental Award

At our recent Rotary gathering, we were privileged to hear from Silva Mcleod, trailblazing pilot, storyteller, and author of Island Girl To Airline Pilot. Silva’s journey is one of courage, heartbreak, resilience, and deep humanity — from losing her brother due to lack of medical services in Tonga, to breaking barriers in the aviation industry, and now empowering others through storytelling and leadership.

She reminded us that life can change at any age — from becoming a pilot in her 30s, flying for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, to becoming one of the first Tongan women to captain a 777. Her message? “Life doesn’t end when your wings are clipped — you just learn to fly a different way.”

We thank Silva for her inspiration and for reminding us all that it's never too late to follow your dreams.

Frank’s 25+ Years of Service in Rotary — Fellowship, Action & Lasting Impact

Since joining Rotary Mount Eliza in 1999, Frank has been a steady presence and tireless contributor. From his term as President in 2008–09 to roles in Community Service, Membership, and four years as Bulletin Editor, Frank has helped shape the club we know today.

Frank was the Community Service Director during the design and build the Memorial Garden outside the Seniors Centre — now a much-loved space for Anzac and Remembrance Day services. He also led a major club effort to renovate bedrooms at Fusion, and initiated support for young carers through a scholarship fund and race day at Mornington Racecourse.

Internationally, played a leading role in the project to provide food vouchers to nursing mothers —in an area where hospitals provided neither meals nor basic supplies. And for eight years, he volunteered with Riding for the Disabled, supporting children with disabilities as they grew in confidence and independence.

His proudest Rotary legacy? “Helping others discover fellowship, find purpose and feel part of something bigger.”