March Monthly Theme: Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
2026 Winter Sleeping Bag Appeal
Multi-District Impact Seminar
Gallery
NEXT MEETING
Rotary Central Melbourne meets at the RACV Club on the first and third Tuesdays of each month.
If you would like to visit our meeting, you are welcome to join us at the Theatrette, Chancery Level of the RACV Club. There is no charge for attending the meeting.
If you would like a more general discussion about attending a Rotary meeting, please contact the club secretary at rotaryclubcentralmelbourne@gmail.com
The meeting will commence at 7:40 am and conclude no later than 8:30. Members and guests are invited to stay for coffee or breakfast in the RACV Club Bistro following the meeting.
Roy: The BBQ at Lorraine Meehan’s place on Sunday was wonderful. Many thanks to logistics guru and Chef, Roger!
Tom: If you have any unwanted mobile phones please get them to Tom, or, TAL has a box in their foyer in Bourke Street, to support the Domestic Violence Safe Phones Project.
Ignacio: Keep an eye out for the email inviting you to our Club social dinner on 31st March at Young and Jackson
President Rohan’s Announcements:
President Rohan thanked PE Paul Fowler for coordinating and supporting the Board to understand the data and develop the Agreed Actions arising from the 2025 Member Survey results. The Board has tailored these actions using an evidence based approach to increase member engagement and for the long term sustainability of RCM.
Short Term (0-6 months):
Improve accessibility and attractiveness of RCM meetings and social events
Improve communication of projects and their impacts
Complete strategic assessment of current projects and, over time, reduce projects with minimal member involvement to enable new projects with greater volunteering opportunities to be started
Hold the Date: Tuesday 23rd June 2026 – RCM Changeover Dinner at William Angliss Restaurant, noting the change of venue is in response to member feedback supporting increased accessibility in both location and cost.
This presentation will include insights on long-term strength training and its role in overall health along with answers to key questions on maintaining activity, preventing chronic disease, and reducing injury risk. Darcy will also give guidance on getting started on a strength training journey.
Darcy McCann is an Exercise Scientist with over two years of professional experience at Kieser South Melbourne. Prior to this role, he worked as a Strength and Conditioning Coach at Western Melbourne Propulsion Swim Club, where he had the opportunity to coach elite athletes, including two-time Olympian Tamsin Cook.
He holds a Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science from Deakin University. Before completing his degree in Australia, he studied Exercise Science at the University of Charleston, West Virginia, where he was also a member of the men’s NCAA basketball team.
He is a strong advocate for health, performance, and longevity across the lifespan, and he firmly believe that resistance training is essential for every adult to maintain strength, function, and long-term wellbeing.
WINTER SLEEPING BAG APPEAL – SLEEPING BAGS FOR THE HOMELESS Rotary Central Melbourne supports two local homeless welfare centres, namely Youth Projects (located in Hosier Lane) and St Mary’s House of Welcome (located in Fitzroy). They both provide a wide range of services to homeless people in the CBD and inner suburbs of Fitzroy/Collingwood, including the distribution of over 400 sleeping bags to help those sleeping rough through the approaching cold winter. This time last year, we provided a large number of sleeping bags to both organisations, which were quickly distributed to their clients and much appreciated. We want to do so again. The need is real as the numbers sleeping rough have escalated and temperatures will soon be dropping. Our objective is to collect or purchase at least 170 sleeping bags and distribute them in April/ May. This should be achievable given a successful Rotary District 9800 Foundation Grant application. This is effectively the return of previously donated funds to The Rotary Foundation, back to clubs to match funding on worthy projects. The Rotary Foundation's matching grant structure is one of many good reasons why we support donations to them - those donations are offered back to clubs to do good in the world. The Community Service Committee is now seeking your support in any the following ways: 1. Donate any unwanted sleeping bags your family, your friends or you may have (in good condition that are winter grade). 2. Visit your local op shops to see if you can purchase winter grade sleeping bags (in good condition) for modest prices and drop them in to one of the committee members listed below. 3. Donate to Rotary Central Melbourne by depositing funds into RCM’s bank account (details below) before 15 April 2026 – and note as “sleeping bags”. Forty dollars will purchase one bag. If you plan to donate funds, please contact Rebecca John (email below) and let her know how many bags you are donating funds for. We will then purchase bags from a supplier who sell high quality winter grade bags at a very competitive price. 4. If you have sleeping bags you can contact any of the following Community Service committee members either to drop sleeping bags off with them or for pick up from you, by 30 April 2025: · Tom Callander (East Malvern) tcallander@rigbycooke.com.au · Rebecca John (Eaglemont) beng1@iprimus.com.au · Rohan Williams (St Kilda) rdwrcm@gmail.com · Peter Duras (Southbank) peter.duras@bigpond.com
Sleeping bags should preferably be “zero or minus 4 degrees centigrade” grade, but all will be gratefully accepted. RCM Banking details are as follows: Bank Westpac BSB - 033000 Account Number – 791085 Please make a note of your name and sleeping bags. If you have any questions, please contact Tom Callander or Rebecca John.
