District 9820 Conference 2010 Report
Well, I promised a full report of the conference and I do expect that many of you will be coming along next year to support Brad and have a great time.
Thanks also to Judy Berends, Bulletin Editor, Rotary Club of Seaford-Carrum Downs for this excellent report that I have plagiarised from their bulletin and added a few editorial notes of my own. Why invent the wheel twice I say! Unfortunately, I don’t have any photos to go with it. Thanks Judy!
The 52nd District 9820 Conference was held in Sale last weekend at the Garnsey Campus, Gippsland Grammar School. After the opening session, which included the roll call of attending clubs, flag parade, Australian and German national anthems and welcome by Darren McCubbin, local councillor, we heard RI President’s Personal Representative (RIPPR) Charles Guesden speak. Charles and his wife Rosemary from Brisbane, enjoyed the beautiful weather, especially on the Friday, which was about 35 degrees. (Not like Queensland where it rains all the time).
Following that address the GSE Team from District 1940, Germany gave their presentation and the outgoing team to their district, led by Rotarian Jean Mawhinney was introduced.
Dinner and racing at the Greyhound Races followed the first plenary session.
Rotary Goes to the Dogs - Friday Night at the Greyhound Races
All races for the evening were named after Rotary projects and each of the 48 clubs in our District were allocated a dog in the first six races, with 8 dogs in each race. The winners of each race plus two drawn from the rest ran in Race 8, the Rotary Cup. We all had a lot of fun. Unfortunately, FLI’s dog is still running. Prize money and successful clubs were:-
1st $3,000 Bairnsdale; 2nd $2,000 Frankston; 3rd $1,000 Moe; 4th – 8th $500 each - Leongatha, Maffra, Orbost, Sorrento and Somerville-Tyabb (not necessarily in that order). The prize money must be spent on Rotary projects.
On Saturday morning President Judy and Allan attended the Presidents’ breakfast at Duart Homestead in Maffra and Brad attended the Presidents’ Elect breakfast in Sale. ( I think we got the best brekky!)
Saturday morning’s plenary session started off with an excellent report from the Chairman of the Bush Fire Relief Committee, our very own PDG Janet - who might like to show us all this same report at one of our meetings soon.
The Rotarians who were called to higher service in the past year were also acknowledged, sadly with the last minute inclusion of Max Armstrong.
Speaker Andrew Rule, currently deputy editor (investigations and features) of The Age started in journalism in 1975 in Sale as a cadet reporter. He has written many books and many articles on crime. ( Most notably Chopper & Underbelly). He told some very interesting stories of the criminal world.
PDG Bernie Rogers, who was a District Governor in the same year as Janet, was an excellent speaker as he shared his experiences with polio. He stressed that life is all about making choices even when things look grim as they did when he was crippled with polio as a boy .
We were then treated to a group of bell ringers who proved that age is no barrier to enjoying life and making music. (We might get them along to a brekky meeting to wake us all up!)
After lunch on Saturday a group of panellists took part in a hypothetical situation, whereby they sought to develop “Enviro World” a new tourist opportunity. It was a most amusing and thought provoking discussion from panellists Craig Ingram (local State member), Duncan Malcolm, Peter Lawrence, David Loadman and Leo O’Brien and compered by Darren McCubbin.
Other speakers were:- Dr Robert McKimm - Rotarians Against Malaria (RAM). Dr David Monash - depression and its challenges for doctors in rural communities. Dr Peter Christoff - Global warming – myth or reality? (The questions asked at the end of his address showed that there were quite a few sceptics in the audience.) Mark Reeves - School of Student Leadership (previously called The Alpine School). Catering for Year 9 students at a multi-campus, state-wide, residential, leadership program. From its beginnings at Dinner Plain in the Victorian Alps in 1999, campuses now include Marlo (2007) and Glen Ormiston (2009). (We should ask Laura to tell us all about it as she attended the Alpine School when she was in Year 9.)
Saturday evening was the Gala Dinner with fabulous food, catered by Duart Homestead (makers of our excellent brekky) and a Bush Band, and we won’t talk too much about that except to say that they were fantastic and everyone had a wonderful time. (I really did trip on the hem of my pants! I was not drunk! I do have mild concussion! And that is all I am going to say!)
We all had our pinkies painted purple for polio although some went a bit far (namely Brad & Judy) and had both hands painted. Brad’s looked particularly attractive and Allan’s got a special mention when he bought coffee at the ‘Festivale’ next day.
The Youth Exchange Students presentation on Sunday morning was one of the best we have seen. They did a potted history of Australia – very clever and funny.
It was announced that the 53rd District Conference in 2011 will take place in Shepparton from March 25 – 27 2011. Please mark it in your diaries and plan to attend as it is such a great chance to get together and have fun while learning.
After the close of the Conference mostly everyone went to the “Festivale in the Garden” at Lake Guthridge. There were numerous food and drink stalls to add a few more kilos.
Thanks to DG Brian and Kerrie and the fantastic Conference Committee for organising the Conference and ensuring its success.
District Awards
Attendance at Conference Mt. Martha
Attendance at Conference by percentage Langwarrin
Best Bulletin Mitchell River
Runner-up Phillip Island / San Remo
Most Improved Foster
Highly Commended Hastings Westernport
Rotary Awareness Award Rosebud
Ride to Conference Pakenham
Golfing trophies Maffra, Mitchell River
Foundation Highest giving Berwick, Sorrento, Frankston
Memberships Awards Maffra, Drouin, Rye
Australian Health Research Sale
Cheers
President Judy
