Club Information
Mount Eliza

Service Above Self

We meet In Person
Tuesdays at 6:00 pm
Toorak College
Mt Eliza
Mount Eliza, VIC 3930
Australia
Dinner Meeting at Toorak College & Zoom Meeting Conference Number 82650442487
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October 2026

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Speakers
Club Assembly
Oct 27, 2026
Mark Squirrel, OAM, CEO of Global Frontline
Nov 10, 2026
Special Forces & Humanitarian Workers via Zoom at Toorak
Jenny Rundle (Originally from Penang, Malaysia)
Nov 17, 2026
Loneliness across different cultures
Club Assembly
Nov 24, 2026
Dr John Sanders
Dec 01, 2026
Allow your dreams to come true.
RCME Christmas Dinner
Dec 08, 2026
Upcoming Events
Home Page Stories

Behind every Rotary project is a group of people with their own experiences, skills, passions and stories. At a recent meeting of the Rotary Club of Mt Eliza, members were reminded just how much there is to discover about the people sitting around the table.

George Anne Sullivan, Alison Lythgow and Phil Key each shared a glimpse into the lives that brought them to Rotary. Their stories were very different, but each demonstrated the value of experience, community connection and a willingness to contribute.

 

Two Year 9 students from Woodleigh School are preparing for a unique opportunity to learn from scientists working on the front line of environmental conservation, and Rotary Club of Mt Eliza is helping them get there.

Ethan and Xavier have been selected to participate in Operation Wallacea, a two-week conservation research expedition to Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia, in June/July 2027.

Their journey will take them into tropical rainforests before heading to Hoga Island in the Wakatobi Marine National Park, where they will learn how researchers monitor biodiversity, study wildlife and assess the health of coral reef ecosystems.

Both students have already demonstrated a strong interest in the environment through school projects, tree planting and local conservation activities. Xavier has also explored the importance of protecting local beaches, while their shared interest in marine life and recent open-water scuba diving qualifications have sparked their enthusiasm for the expedition's underwater research.

The experience will provide an opportunity to learn practical field research techniques alongside scientists, including wildlife surveys, forest monitoring, coral reef assessments and studies of marine species.

Importantly, the students hope to bring their knowledge back to the Mornington Peninsula, applying what they learn to a better understanding of local conservation challenges and the protection of native habitats.

Following District Governor Emma Clarke’s visit to the Rotary Club of Mt Eliza and her focus on mental health and the important work of Australian Rotary Health, our members decided to quite literally Lift the Lid.

Members were encouraged to wear their favourite, funniest or most outrageous hats to our meeting, with a $5 donation from each person helping raise funds for Australian Rotary Health.

The club had already committed to making a donation, but our members decided they could do a little more.

And, as is often the case at Rotary, a little fun turned into a lot more fundraising.

Our resident auctioneer, Phil Key, got into the spirit of the evening, raffling socks and helping turn a simple hat-wearing fundraiser into an impressive $1,480 donation.

That is $1,480 going towards the important work of Australian Rotary Health and mental health research.

The evening was a great reminder that fundraising doesn't always need to be complicated. Sometimes it starts with putting on a hat, having a laugh, getting our members involved and giving generously to a cause that matters.

Mental health is one of District Governor Emma Clarke's key focus areas this year, and the Rotary Club of Mt Eliza is proud to support the Lift the Lid campaign and Australian Rotary Health.

A big thank you to everyone who wore a hat, donated, and, of course, to Phil Key for putting his auctioneer skills to work.

A little fun. A lot of generosity. And $1,480 raised for mental health.

That's Rotary in action.

Australian Rotary Health

#Rotary #RotaryClubMtEliza #RotaryDistrict9815 #PeopleOfAction #LiftTheLid #MentalHealth #AustralianRotaryHealth #MentalHealthResearch #CommunityImpact #RotaryInAction #ServiceAboveSelf #MtEliza #MorningtonPeninsula

What happens when a business adviser decides to put his own business advice into practice?

For Jeremy, the answer was Artisan’s Alley, a unique retail concept supporting local artists, makers and designers while also providing a real-life example of how a business can operate efficiently.

Jeremy recently joined us to share the story behind Artisan’s Alley and the fascinating journey that led him there.

 

It was wonderful to welcome District Governor Emma Clarke back to the Rotary Club of Mt Eliza as she continues her journey around District 9815.

Emma has set herself an ambitious goal this year: to visit all 78 Rotary clubs across the district. Having already attended more than 20 changeovers, she is well into her mission of meeting Rotarians, hearing their stories and seeing the difference clubs are making in their communities.

And she brings plenty of Rotary experience of her own.

40 Years of Service: Celebrating Rob Cracknell

 

For 40 years, Rob Cracknell has been a dedicated member of the Rotary Club of Mt Eliza, giving his time, experience and leadership to support the Club and the wider community.

Over four decades, Rob has been involved in and led numerous Club projects, fundraising ventures and community initiatives. His contribution is a wonderful example of Rotary’s motto, Service Above Self, and his commitment has continued through many changes in both the Club and the wider community.

Rob’s professional career has been equally distinguished. He has more than 50 years of international leadership and experience in the wheat industry, primarily in senior management and technical roles with the Australian Wheat Board and BWD Limited. He later established his own consultancy, Crackers Consulting.

His expertise and contribution to the wheat industry have been recognised internationally, including through his Fellowship of the International Association for Cereal Science and Technology.

Reflecting on his 40 years with Rotary, Rob spoke about the changes he has witnessed and, particularly, the privilege of seeing new members bring fresh ideas, energy and perspectives to the organisation.

For Rob, Rotary has been about much more than longevity. It has been about the people he has met, the opportunities to contribute and the inspiration that comes from seeing others make a difference.

The Rotary Club of Mt Eliza congratulates Rob on this remarkable milestone and thanks him for 40 years of service, leadership and commitment to our Club and community.

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