Welcome to the Rotary Club of Camberwell

Are you a person who wants to make positive changes in your community, regional Australia and the world? Our club members are fun, dedicated people who share a passion for community service and friendship. Becoming a Rotarian connects you with a diverse group of friendly people who share your drive to give back.
Club News
 
On 9 July 2025 Rotary Camberwell celebrated the induction of its new president for the Rotary year 2025-2026. On the night, newly inducted President Vijay Susarla thanked outgoing President George de Souza for his service over the past year. President Vijay also outlined his focus to support projects related to peace awareness in schools and in both local and international communities. His goals include sponsoring a local Rotaract Club and supporting the Rotary Foundation.
 
New Board 2025
President Vijay introduced members of the new Board pictured below:
President Elect/Club Service – Daya Govender
Treasurer/Vice President – George de Souza
Secretary – Murray Anderson
Chair of International Committee – Chris Carra
Chair of Youth and Vocation Committee – Lyndon Joss
Chair of Community Service Committee – Nadia Hamilton (not pictured)
Chair of Membership – Fabienne Nichola
Our ongoing international projects delivered by Sue Gray achieved the construction of another water well in a remote Cambodian village in Kon Tum, Vietnam. This is the construction of the tenth well providing filtered drinking water to villages of between 2,000 and 4,500 people. Camberwell Rotary has been the key supporter of these wells including Kon Jodreh Well 2015; Kon Hongo Kotu Well 2016; Kon Toneh Well 2017; Kon Hodram Well 2018; Kon Trang Kola Well 2019; Dak Rochat Well 2020; Kon Trang Kep Well 2021; Kon Donang Well 2023; Plei Rolong Village Well completed in late 2024. We can now add the Nan Ha Village to the list.

Nan Ha Hamlet is a small village located 40km north-east of Kon Tum City in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. Over 2,200 people reside in the hamlet with a mixture of ethnic minorities - the Xodra tribe and the Vietnamese people. The tribal people of Vietnam’s Central Highlands are some of the poorest in Vietnam. The majority of villagers are subsistence farmers mostly producing rice. Other crops such as manioc, bananas, vegetables and coffee are commonly grown, harvested and when possible, sold or traded with neighbors.

Most houses do not have access to a water supply and is an ongoing problem for people in this region. Chemicals from farms drain into rivers, there is minimal sewerage infrastructure, animals wade in rivers and villagers wash themselves, their clothes and their cooking implements in rivers. An alternative hand dug village well is at best a short-term solution to access water. It is possible to purchase but is unaffordable given the inadequate average level of income. Disease is common and with only basic medical facilities available, is easily spread. Medical treatment and pharmaceuticals products are also unaffordable, compounded by lack of transport to major towns leading to village elders without medical training and to rely solely on herbal remedies.

To provide clean potable water to such a community improves health outcomes allowing people to work, providing food and security for their families. Access to water also provides the potential to sell locally grown produce enabling children to attend government schools with the future prospect of education to break the poverty cycle.

Sue Gray has worked with her local Project Managers Mr John to deliver the well. This well was relatively more costly as it needed to be bored through a rock layer. The project has been successfully completed on budget by Mr John and the village now has access to clean water. Our thanks go to Mr John and Sue for their hard work in completing our latest project.
Drilling                             Flow testing
Filtration building                    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Finished well
On Tuesday 17 June 2025, a multi-Rotary club event took place at the Boroondara Arts Centre on the topic of ‘Breaking the Silence on Men’s Health.' 
A gathering of around 50 attendees were welcomed by Mayor Sophie Torney as she opened the event. The mayor reinforced the importance of this topic following Men’s health week and outlined a number of initiatives undertaken by Boroondara Council to tackle men’s health concerns.
The main presenters were Simon von Saldern, CEO and Director of ‘Healthy Male’, Associate Professor Tim Moss who is an expert content creator at Healthy Male and Alan White is a passionate advocate for men’s health.
‘Heathy Male’ which was founded in 2000 by Professor David de Kretser, who later becoming Governor of Victoria. He recognised a gap in support for the wellbeing of Australian boys and men.
Since its early days, Healthy Male has become a trusted source of information and facilitator of action on men’s health collaborating with the various communities, health professionals, researchers, peak bodies, partner agencies and government.
The presentation identified five male health priorities (not in order of importance) which formed the basis of the Federal Government, National Men's Health Strategy 2020-2030:
  • Mental health
  • Chronic conditions, including cancers
  • Sexual and reproductive health and conditions where men are over-represented
  • Injuries and risk taking
  • Healthy ageing 
The Timor Leste Rotary Consortium 'WASH' project is being delivered with the support of a number of Rotary clubs and a District Grant from the Rotary Foundation.
 
Vijay Susarla and John Walmsley travelled to Dili, Timor Leste on Friday 25 May and met with the Director and Superintendent of the Education Department in Bacau the next day.
 
An MoU was subsequently completed by all parties. Further visits followed including meeting with Ms Leo Guterres who is the key Regional Coordinator where they inspected future potential Toilet and Water Tank sites.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other meetings took place the following week in Bacau and Dili before returning to Melbourne on Friday 6 June on the 'red eye' flight from Darwin. 
The trip to Timor Leste achieved the goal of overseeing recently completed projects as well as assessing future needs with local leaders for the Consortium to consider.
Headspace Hawthorn sent thanks to the Community Service Committee of Rotary Camberwell.
Funds donated will be allocated towards the reprint of the Inner Peas cookbook.
 
Camberwell High School has a newly refurbished Wellness Hub. This was funded by the Youth Committee of Rotary Camberwell.
The Wellness Hub contributes significant benefits to students, given mental health issues are on the rise for young people providing a safe and welcoming space and connection.
President's Message
Vijay Susarla
Welcome to Camberwell Rotary
 
The Camberwell Rotary Club has been proudly serving the community since 1956.
 
Our members are all volunteers who willingly give their time and effort to serve our locality, municipality and internationally with a range of programs. Members enjoy strong friendships whilst in the pursuit of these activities.
 
Our signature fund-raising events are the Camberwell Art Show, Hawthorn Makers Market, Camberwell Sunday Market and Bunnings Sausage Sizzles. The funding received enables our members to actively engage in identifying community needs and to respond to these needs with financial, in-kind and hands on support.
 
That’s what being a Rotarian is all about.  It is at the core of our Club’s purpose which is to be of service to others, to take action to create positive change and to promote understanding, goodwill and peace in our community.
 
Camberwell Rotary values diversity, equity and inclusion and has a supportive environment for people of all backgrounds. If you are looking to make a positive difference in the community, the Camberwell Rotary Club welcomes your enquiry – simply click the Contact Us button.
 
Vijay Susarla
President 2025-2026
Meeting Information
Welcome to Camberwell Rotary
We meet In Person
Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m.
Canterbury Centre, Conochie Hall
2 Rochester Road
Canterbury, VIC 3126
Australia
We hold our weekly Dinner Meetings at Conochie Centre from 6 pm to 8 pm. We also meet at other interesting locations, please check Upcoming Events list. Visitors and guests are most welcome and are invited to register by the Tuesday beforehand.
The Hawthorn Makers Market (HMM) is a community event of the Rotary Camberwell Club since 1979. It is one of Melbourne’s best known makers markets. HMM is managed by Rotary Camberwell in partnership with the City of Boroondara. https://hawthornmakersmarket.org.au/
The Hawthorn Makers Market is committed to supporting local, independent artists and designers curating the best of Australian handcraft in one central marketplace. Stalls are set up both indoors and outdoors. All proceeds from HMM goes to Rotary Camberwell’s charitable work in the local and wider community.
The HMM monthly market is held at the beautifully restored Hawthorn Arts Centre, 360 Burwood Road, Hawthorn. It operates each Sunday of the month, March to December inclusive, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. HMM is proud to be family-friendly event.
Upcoming Events
Speakers
Carolyn Ingvarson
Aug 06, 2025 6:30 PM
Electrifying Homes
Electrifying Homes

Carolyn Ingvarson from Electrify Boroondara will talk about who they are, the benefits of electrifying your home and how they can help. She founded and ran Lighter Footprints, a community climate action group in the municipality of Boroondara.

Brian Ahmed
Aug 13, 2025 6:30 PM
Egg Shortage
Daniel Gao
Aug 20, 2025 6:30 PM
Hold My Hand
Zoe Renfrey and Ethan Cohen
Sep 10, 2025
RYLA
Camberwell Sunday Market - Volunteer Roster
Click here to see the Roster for July 2025: CSM Signup List
 
The annual Camberwell Art Show (CAS) is a signature project of Rotary. This year we celebrate its 60th year since its inception in 1966 https://camberwellartshow.org.au/ Since then, CAS has raised over $3M to support local, national and international humanitarian projects.
The show is set up by the members of the Rotary Camberwell and volunteers including Swinburne students and others, spouses, family and friends. Beyond the artists’ prize money, all funds raised (as with all Rotary fundraising) goes to the club’s charities.
CAS relies on the generous support of sponsors including Swinburne University for providing a magnificent glass façade venue at its Technologies Centre with the benefit of Burwood Road frontage. Other long standing major sponsors are Bendigo Community Bank of Canterbury, Ashburton, Surrey Hills and Balwyn and City of Boroondara. Other sponsors are from many local businesses. Without their support, CAS would not be the success that it has been over many years.