Thank you for visiting Rotary Albert Park's website.
Rotary Albert Park (part of Rotary International) is a group of neighbours, friends, and community leaders providing humanitarian service, encouraging high ethical standards in all pursuits and helping build goodwill and peace locally and worldwide. Our club was established in 1992 and has a long history of service. We have a membership of about 20 with a 50:50 gender balance.
Join us for Dinner where we can introduce you to the Club & its members, and answer any questions you may have about membership. For more information, contact us at any time.
We also have a Facebook Group and share many of our upcoming events there.
Many of our meetings are recorded and available on our YouTube channel.
Interested in volunteering in and around the City of Port Philip? We're always looking for help! Register your details here.
8 April - Viraj Patel, Rotoract
Viraj currently serves as the District Rotaract Representative, and as part of that role he has been reaching out to clubs across the district to discuss all things Rotaract. He has also been taking the opportunity to connect with clubs about Interact, as Interactors are a wonderful pipeline into Rotaract -myself being a prime example!
He is reaching out to Albert Park specifically because it oversees an Interact Club, and would love the opportunity to connect.
Remember, meals must be pre-ordered by 3pm on the day of the event, see (here)
Mark Fulcher & Guy Naselli - Fishermans Bend Business Forum
(after Board Meeting)
Mark,Secretary, and Guy, President, from the 'Fishermans Bend Business Forum' will be joining us to share the purpose behind 'Fishermans Bend Business Forum' and to see if there is a synergy/support partnership opportunity between the two organizations.
Remember, meals must be pre-ordered by 3pm on the day of the event, see (here)
Books for Royal Childrens' Hospital
Parents and carers often spend extended periods at RCH and need somewhere to relax, make a cup of tea, feed the baby, catch up on emails, seek information, find activities for the other kids, or just read a book. The Hub https://www.rch.org.au/frc/ is a home away from home for families and visitors to the hospital. It provides a supportive, non-clinical space with friendly and extremely knowledgeable volunteers and staff on hand to assist with any queries or to provide practical support and assistance.
The Hub was recently upgraded, and the works included a whole wall of bookshelves. Small problem – all the Hub’s books had been disposed of during covid. A good book is a great way to grab some personal time, to recharge when dealing with a stressful situation. Amanda Battaini has volunteered at the Hub since its inception 23 years ago. Even though she had access to a wide support network and host of donors, there was a
gap. How to find a reliable, ongoing supplier of books? I suggested Amanda contact Richard Chater and Carol Oxley, from Albert Park RC. Together with Carlton and Fitzroy RCs, these three operate Rotary Charity Books at The District Docklands.
Amanda’s brief was for titles from popular fiction, well-known young adult authors, non-fiction suitable for a parent and child to explore together, and some travel and cookery books. The books had to be in very good to excellent condition. In no time at all, Carol and Richard had several boxes packed and ready for us to take.
This first book donation is shelved and ready for visitors to the Hub. The library operates a take-a-book policy. If a user wants to keep a book, that’s fine, or they may return it during another visit. Amanda still has metres of shelf space to fill, and with constant shrinkage due to take-a-book, refreshing the library will be a never-ending story.
Anthony J Battaini
Treasurer 2026-27
More to come...
Hope in a Suitcase - Feb 26 
Attached are some photos of their new warehouse that we are subsidising, taken recently when delivering some LEGO, see http://Hope in a Suitcase - Feb 26
ROTARY IN OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS
AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE
Each year, the Rotary Club of Albert Park presents ‘Awards for Excellence’ to graduating Year 6 students from local primary schools. Year 6 teachers choose recipients based on their positive participation in school learning and other activities, as well as their intention to start Year 7 at a government secondary school the following year. The award is to assist in meeting some of the expenses associated
with commencing secondary school.
Members of our Club attend the graduation ceremonies at local primary schools to present the awards. As well as the financial prize each recipient also receives a framed certificate. We started making these awards in 1994. In 2024 we included Galilee Primary School for the first time, and in 2025 we added St Kilda and St Kilda Park Primary Schools to our program – bringing the number of schools to eight.
We presented a total of 22 awards at the 2025 graduation ceremonies. Our total contribution to the local community through this program has now reached $94,900.
Our 2025 Award presenters were:
- Albert Park Primary School Jim Prokhovnik
- Galilee Primary School Matthew Proctor
- Middle Park Primary School Stan & Vicki Teschke
- Port Melbourne Primary School David Gorman
- St Kilda Primary School Jim Prokhovnik
- St Kilda Park Primary School Richard Chater
- South Melbourne Primary School David Gorman
- South Melbourne Park Primary School Vicki Teschke
INSPIRE AWARD
Albert Park College opened in 2011 with year 7 students and consequently had its first year 12 graduation in 2016. At that first ceremony our Club presented the Inspire Award of $250 (Inspire is one of the three arms of the school’s motto – “Lead, Achieve, Inspire”). We have continued to make this award at every graduation since, increasing the award to $500 in 2023. Raelene Hunt attended the 2025 ceremony to make the presentation.
VALUES AWARDS
Port Melbourne Secondary College opened in 2022 with year 7 students. At the foundation year’s final assembly our Club presented four awards reflecting the school’s values – Excellence, Endeavour, Relationships and Character. Each award being a $50 book voucher and a framed certificate. In 2023 we presented these four awards for both years 7 and 8, in 2024 to years 7, 8 and 9 and in 2025 to years 7, 8, 9 and 10 – also increasing the awards to $100 each. The intention is to present these awards annually, which means year 11 will also be recognised in 2026. The school’s first Year 12 graduation will occur - we will naturally introduce a more significant award.\.
VALUES AWARDS
Port Melbourne Secondary College opened in 2022 with year 7 students. At the foundation year’s final assembly our Club presented four awards reflecting the school’s values – Excellence, Endeavour, Relationships and Character. Each award being a $50 book voucher and a framed certificate. In 2023 we presented these four awards for both years 7 and 8, in 2024 to years 7, 8 and 9 and in 2025 to years 7, 8, 9 and 10 – also increasing the awards to $100 each. The intention is to present these awards annually, which means year 11 will also be recognised in 2026. The school’s first Year 12 graduation will occur - we will naturally introduce a more significant award.\.
Jeremy Paton attended the Year 7/8 assembly and the Year 9 assembly. Jim Prokhovnik presented at the year 10 assembly.
Albert Park College Newsletter
Have a look at page 10 & 15 great article about us on books
SHARC Thanks
This year we decided to continue our support of SHARC, see https://www.sharc.org.au/
Attached (here) is their letter of thanks.
Albert Park College Interact
It is with great pleasure that we announce the charter of the new Interact Club of Albert Park College (ID 231709), sponsored by your club (here).
Congratulations and best wishes to all who worked so hard to establish this Interact club. The investment in these young leaders of your community will undoubtedly produce great rewards in the future!
Sincerely,
Stephanie A. Urchick
President
Rotary International
Kyebe Updates - August 25
A major update from Kyebe – the team has been incredibly busy over the last few months, finalizing the structural renovations and preparing the facility for the final fit-out.- The majority of the exterior of the renovations, grounds and plumbing is now complete, with a base in place for a new water collection system and tank.
Internally, all walls and basic flooring is completed, most of the windows are installed and completed, and we’re now ready to move forward with finishing the flooring & fittings.
All available on https://www.kyebeuganda.org.
Things that are left:
- Glass for windows
- Electrical
- Painting
- Additional rainwater tank
- Internal fixtures
- Then obviously the medical equipment.
Sunday Suppers
July Update
We are now supporting the provision of suppers on sundays at St Silas Church, Albert Park on a regular basis.
"Here are the details for July 2025:
Meals: 280
Food parcels: 85
Cheers,
Declan Jacobs"
Alfred Mental & Addiction Health - Care Bags
Just a reminder that we are also supporting the Alfred Mental & Addiction Health unit .. pick up of Care Bags from Notting Hill which have been packed by other Rotary clubs and delivered to The Alfred.
Clothing sourced by Rotary and now collected by The Alfred team members direct from DIK.
Rotary Charity Bookshop Update - 15th February 2025
We are now open Seven Days a Week
Our bookshop in Docklands will now be open 7 days a week. We have invited the Rotary Club of Fitzroy to join the Rotary Clubs of Carlton and Albert Park to make this possible.
Every dollar we raise goes back into local community and international charity projects.
We have quality recent release books as well as some old time favourites in almost every genre. Come down and see us sometime.
We are located in Wharf St, The District, towards the Star Observation Wheel end. Take the 35, 70 or 86 trams to D11-Waterfront City stop, the end of the line. We can also be found on Google Maps at https://maps.app.goo.gl/nL9qjffhDzqEF53J7 Please check this out, giving a rating and (of course favorable!) comments.
Cash and EFTPOS available
SES Hoist Launch
On Wednesday, 14th August, we were invited to SES Port Phillip to launch the vehicle hoist that we provided, see (here) for photos, and https://www.facebook.com/SESPortPhillip/posts/pfbid0p7C5JDy6zaweYUZ7mBmCJVmChXhRQstuETvYEU984xQ2LTuCwjMhuwhVyL6KoLAql for the full report.
This space-saving addition will ensure that the crew can better store and maintain our vehicles and boats, keeping us safer and ready to respond to emergencies.
The funds also allowed us to replace our walker-stacker, so we can safely access heavy items on our storage shelves.
On a personal basis, I'd like to thank our Past President, Mark, who was not able to attend, for organising this donation.
Safe Haven Toilet Installations - Cambodia
An update of the Cambodia Clean Water & Toilet Project sponsored by Rotary Albert Park and Rotary Balwyn, for the installation of four more washroom toilets for Safe Haven families. Each one of these four installations has its own unique requirements and it has been a privilege for us to help these families who have children with a disability. Go to (here)
Grants Awarded
Rotary Albert Park has sponsored two local students who have recently been awarded Rotary Scholarships this year.
- Rachel Walters, resident in St Kilda, has been awarded a Rotary Global Grant Scholarship to study International Human Rights Law (LLM, 1 year) at Columbia Law School in New York, NY, USA. Interviewed by the District 9800 Selection Committee in April Rachel was one of five applicants put forward to The Rotary Foundation for scholarships. The scholarship is in the amount of US$ 31,500 towards her fees. She will be hosted by the Rotary Club of Scarsdale and.
- Jazmine Elmolla a resident of Port Melbourne was also considered worthy of a Global Grant Scholarship but her chosen course, Masters of Science in International Human Rights Law at Oxford University, was deemed ineligible for The Rotary Foundation Global Grant due to being changed to a 2-year part-time course. Her application, experience and future plans in the Focus Area of Peace & Conflict Resolution were considered by the Selection Committee to warrant our support. With backing from the District 9800 Executive Team, David Gorman (Albert Park) the chair of the Global Grants Committee, sought support from clubs around the district to provide a District-sponsored Scholarship of equivalent amount. Pledges were received from 9 clubs for some $35,000 which qualifies for a multi-club District Grant of $12,000 - a total scholarship amount of AU$47,000 (on current exchange rates approximately equivalent to US$31,500). This will be paid by instalments across the 2-year study period as Term Fees become due.
Three other scholarship applicants were put forward to The Rotary Foundation for Global Grant Scholarships:
Kangan Thanks
We've just received a letter of thanks for sponsoring an award at the Kangan Institute, click (here)
Don McQueen and his wife Ann represented our Club at the above Awards night and are delighted to inform our Club Members that the Automotive Apprentice of the Year Award sponsored by our Club was won by Zeanna Prasad,a delightful young girl who was a worthy winner.
Our $1,000 was matched by an industrial tools company, Crescent Tools making the Award worth $2,000 to Zeanna.
Marshall Islands Days for Girls Project Update Dec 23
I'm very pleased to provide you with an update of the RMI Project and let you know that the Kits are on the journey towards the Marshall Islands, see (here)
We have recently received a Certificate of Appreciation from Wintringham Aged Care Home, for the assistance we give them. It's nice to know the effect of our support.
Thirty five aged homeless and socially insecure residents live in Port Melbourne at Wintringham Hostel. They pay 85% of their pension to live in the facility and struggle financially with hygiene products, clothes and some small items of furniture for their rooms. This club project will be filling the needs directly of the residents through a strategic partnership with Wintringham management.
Wintringham is a specialised welfare company that provides housing and care to elderly, frail men and women. The sole motivating philosophy at Wintringham is that of social justice. For more information, go to (here)
Please consider joining our partnership with RAWCS & donating to this very important fundraising campaign being lead by the ROTARY CLUB OF ALBERT PARK to make a difference in the lives of 500 girls plus the sewers & boys who will be receiving a health education with the distribution of the Days For Girls kits! This is a partnership with Bomet Days For Girls Enterprise, Kenya, an endorsed organisation operating under the direction of Days For Girls International.
Please watch this short video to learn more from our on-ground project Manager, Anita Byegon. https://m.facebook.com/groups/D9800discussion/permalink/10160382971918850/?mibextid=Nif5oz
With your help, our aim is for Anita & her team to start sewing the sanitary kits, distribute them & conduct the health education workshops by the end of January.
To donate, please click on the link provided or go to the RAWCS website. Please contact RC of Albert Park International Service Chair, Matthew Proctor, or myself to learn more. Donations of over $2 are tax deductable in Australia
Please consider being part of this story….our gift 
to so many young people! 
to so many young people! 
Women over 50 are the fastest growing group of people experiencing housing instability in Australia – often as a result of pay inequity, little to no superannuation or savings, divorce, domestic and family violence and time taken as unpaid carers. Adequate supply of social housing and affordable housing remains an enduring issue across Australia. Currently there are more than 40,000 applicants for social housing, on the Victorian Housing Register alone.
The Lakehouse is Melbourne's first Pop Up Shelter for women in need of temporary housing. For the Study report, go to (here)
Presentation of donation to Geoff Amor to support Orange Sky Laundry, see https://orangesky.org.au/where-we-are/melbourne/
The shortage of emergency response vehicles is a serious problem being faced in the Western Cape, South Africa, with the numerous fires that need to be contended with. The lack of vehicles often leads to emergency services taking up to 40 minutes to arrive at disaster scenes, especially in more remote areas. It goes without saying that the vital lost time can literally mean the difference between life and death. With the help of Rotary Albert Park, The Rotary Club of Newlands were able to donate a multipurpose vehicle to the Emergency Volunteer Services (EVS).
Below are some stories and video of the project:
Book Stalls at Gasworks Farmers' Market, Bay Street and Docklands
Rotary Albert Park runs a book recycling project where it collects books from local libraries and from direct donations, sort, redistributes and sell them in various ways (including on-line) to benefit the community.
- On the third Saturday of each month at the Farmers Market at Gasworks Park (weather permitting). We are located at the rear of Gasworks Cafe, 21 Graham Street, Albert Park
- We also hold a book store on most Saturdays in front of the Holy Trinity Church on Bay Street, Port Melbourne
- And our latest venture is a popup shop in Docklands, see https://www.facebook.com/groups/rapbooks
Every dollar we raise goes back into local community and international projects. We have quality recent release books as well as some old time favourites in almost every genre. Starting at just $1, you can't go wrong finding that next holiday read.Come check us out before running to the big shops, I'm sure you'll find something to grab your interest
Cash and Eftpos available
For more information on our book recycling project, go to (here)
Other Media Pages
The club is also on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter & Instagram. There are often additional posts entered by members and by other clubs, and it is a great way to get notified of events and functions.
