Rotary Central Melbourne meeting via Zoom on Tuesday, 27 May, 2025
Chair: Elias Lebbos
Reporter: Rob Hines
Photographer: Roger Thornton
President Rhys Wiliams acknowledged the traditional owners of the land upon which the meeting was conducted and welcomed members and guests, which included
Khoa (Ken) Ho-Le
And guest speaker, Jay Panchal
The chair of the day Elias opened the meeting with a recognition of Rotary International and introduced our guest speaker.
Jay Panchal: City of Melbourne youth projects.
Jay is a youth project coordinator with City of Melbourne and has been working in the youth and community sector for the past 8 years with previous roles at Centre for Multicultural Youth as sports project coordinator, Front Yard youth services employment specialist worker and City of Casey as Active Recreation and Diversity Project Officer. Having graduated from Monash University with a master’s in international relations and journalism, he is passionate about youth homelessness, multicultural youth advocacy and supporting grassroots sports initiatives.
This talk highlighted Jay’s role as a youth project coordinator for City of Melbourne, outcomes from their youth roundtable and FM 2050 summit and initiatives his team is undertaking to support young people in the city of Melbourne.
He outlined the various programs including a range of “Drum Youth” and “Venny” services. There is also a variety of services for Queer youth provided through the Queerspace youth program.
He recapped the Youth Roundtable and M2025 Summit. There were 25 participants from community organisations and advocacy networks. He listed a number of Planning Principles and priorities that were developed by those attending the Summit. There were seven priorities identified. Education and employment, housing and homelessness, mental health and wellbeing, youth voice and civic participation, safety and inclusion, infrastructure and environment.
He then provided some ideas about how Rotary can support young people.
Jay will share the slides for those that would like more information.
Chair Elias invited Member Announcements:
Peter Duras mentioned that Tom Callander delivered 20 sleeping bags to the Living room at Hosier Lane yesterday. Peter will deliver a load of warm clothing to Hosier lane today.
Tom, requested that members donate any warm clothing they don’t need. Contact Tom if you have any.
Elias Lebbos mentioned our next opportunity to host an inbound musician, Isabella is a Viola player who will require some home hosting in August, September and possibly October. Elias will be providing more information shortly.
Rob thanked volunteers at the Port Melbourne Sausage Sizzle on Sunday. Over $2,200 was raised for club projects.
President Rhys announcements:
At the Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) on the weekend RCM were represented by three impressive young women from St Aloysius College. Fadzai Bako (year 11) leader, Keona O’Brien (year 10) and Nina Cutuli (year 10). They represented Brazil in the Assembly.
Commenting on the events at Northland shopping centre recently and under the banner of the “Magic of Rotary” Rhys reflected on the good work the current Silk-Miller awardee, Steve Turner, has been doing with his youth diversion program which has reduced recidivism substantially. He thanked Doug Roberston for his continued work on behalf of the Silk-Miller scholarship program.
President Rhys then summarised the meeting and thanked Jay for his presentation.
He closed the meeting with thanks to members, visiting Rotarians, guests and friends of Rotarians.
Next meeting will be an in-person meeting on Tuesday 3rd June 2025, arrive by 7.30am and commencing at 7:40am. After the meeting, members and guests are encouraged to connect over breakfast, coffee or tea at the RACV Bistro.
Our speaker/s will be Victoria Police Leaders Mentor Program Mentee Larissa Guthrie (mentored by Koren Harvey) providing us with an update on her experience in the program.
Rotary theme - “The Magic of Rotary” – Celebrating the magic of Rotary. Members create that magic with every project completed, every dollar donated, and every new member of Rotary.
