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

Dates for your Diary!

I daresay you are all checking the program each week but here is a little reminder for your diary just in case!

THURSDAY MARCH 4TH 2010 - Guest speaker Graham Haynes, Bendigo Bank

TUESDAY MARCH 9TH - Board Meeting – Venue TBA

THURSDAY MARCH 11TH – Movie Night

THURSDAY MARCH 18TH 2010 - Ian Armstrong – Interesting stories – possibly about a flight to Antarctica

MARCH 23RD 2010 - Information Night for Schoolies Program to Tanzania – Frankston Library

APRIL 13TH 2010 – Board Meeting

APRIL 18TH 2010 - Bunnings Sausage Sizzle and District Assembly

APRIL 23RD 2010 – Long Island Golf Day

MAY 2ND 2010 – BBQ at Penny Sayer’s – Fundraiser for Kidney Health

President’s Report March

MARCH IS LITERACY MONTH

It is often said that the most interesting guest speakers are usually club members and Ross Bird certainly proved that this saying is correct at our last meeting with his very funny and interesting talk on his long and varied career in Debt Collection with the Commonwealth Bank and subsequent private contractor. He must have heard every excuse in the book for not paying your bills and I am sure the  ”Emu kicked down many Dunny doors” over the course of his career. Well done Ross, though I would like to hear the one about the politician who didn’t pay his bills.

District 9820 Nominating Committee has advised that PP Tony Spring from the Rotary Club of Frankston North has been nominated as District Governor 2012-2013 and that subject to there being no challenge by March 14, Tony will be the District Governor in 2 years time after DGE David Piper and DGN Kel Hobby. Congratulations to Tony on his nomination!

There is a lot of news this week. In response to the roses we sent,  I have had a lovely phone call from Joyce Clarkson, who had just crashed her car and said they were a great pick-me-up because she was feeling down in the dumps;  an equally lovely email from Maggie White  - Thank you for being my Valentine! The roses are beautiful and I love you all for the lovely thought. xxxx.

I have also received a lovely letter from Cynthia Moore thanking us for the beautiful roses.  Cynthia had just come home from the hospital and was feeling very down so she said finding the  flowers on her doorstep was perfect timing. Speaking of Joyce and further to my email to everyone, this is just a reminder that if anyone knows of a suitable car please contact Joyce as she is very isolated without her car.

The Sausage Sizzle at the Mornington Cup on February 17 was a bit quieter this year, raising around $2,400.00 for Ashan Orphanage in Ghana. We may need to use some of this money to get glasses or contact lenses for some of the male members of the team to ensure that they get a really good look at all the beautiful young girls next year. I would hate to think that they missed out on any of them! Ha! Ha!

Tuesday 23rd February was the Rotary 105th Anniversary BBQ at George Pentland Gardens with a great turnout from all clubs in the Nepean Group – around 205 guests, with 50 of them being from our club.  There were a couple of surprise announcements on the night starting off with President Peter Hose, Frankston Sunrise announcing PHF’s for PP Chris Angerer and PP Brian Coughlin, both very well deserved and we extend our congratulations to both of them. The second surprise of the night was the announcement of 3 Paul Harris Fellows (PHF’s) awarded by our club to three very deserving people who are not Rotarians. These three people have committed their time and energy over the years to help our club raise funds for a Matching Grant; they have worked on sausage sizzles, garage sales, trivia nights, orphanages in Cambodia, bush fire relief projects in Gippsland, hosting and running around  YEP students, just to name a few. All three were an integral part of the District Conference Committee that organised one of the most successful conferences our district has ever held, right here in our own back yard and I for one thank them yet again for all their help at that time.  Your Board almost unanimously agreed that the conferring of a PHF on these three people nominated by PDG Janet was a great idea. When I say almost unanimously, Steve didn’t know until we had to tell him at the Sausage Sizzle last week, when he told us he didn’t think Nat was going to the BBQ! Whew!

Allan Rebecca was the first up and being a bit deaf and also not listening to what was going on, he thought he was being called up because he had won a prize in the raffle. He was obviously a bit disappointed to get a pin instead of a bottle of wine!!! Cheryl Carter came next and she hadn’t a clue either – a bit surprised when instead of wanting to come for Family night on Wednesday, all her family thought it would be nice to come to the BBQ!!  Funny that!! Natalie Cernotta’s face was a picture and now she knows why her sister and Robin Street were there – how did they know it was on?? Who knows?? I am innocent!! It went like clockwork and I know that you will all want to extend your congratulations to these three wonderful people. That song about “The Wind beneath my Wings” really applies to all of them and I know that Steve and Tony will agree with me there. Congratulations Allan, Cheryl and Natalie!

The evening raised over $3,328.00, plus the $US5,000 for 5 PHF’s  A fantastic result. Many thanks to all from our club who attended and helped to make it such a great night. Unfortunately, i have been unable to find anyone with photos of the night. Of the only 2 people I knew taking photos one had a flat battery and the other ran out of space!

The weekend of 26th to 28th February was this year’s District Conference in Sale, preceded by the Ride to Conference in which Nici was a rider. She managed to fall of her bike and injure herself but continued the ride very bravely and she managed to finish despite her injuries. We met them as they arrived at the park and later attended the reception for them at the town centre. The Ride to Conference team raised over $60,000 and if anyone would like to add to this sum, donations will still be accepted on Thursday.

Well, you all missed a great conference with great guest speakers, delicious food (I think we all put on several kilos) and a fantastic bush band to entertain us. Just don’t mention mild concussion!

We all agreed it was the most enjoyable conference we had ever attended and will be ready to book for next year’s conference to be held in Shepparton. Some of you will remember the great time we had in Shepp a few years ago, so let me know if you intend to come next year as we will need to book very soon or we’ll miss out on the best accommodation. The conference is to be held over the weekend of 25th to 27th March 2011.

Great guest speakers make for attentive listeners!

I am sure I will be seeing most of you tomorrow at Max Armstrong’s funeral and I look forward to hearing all about the Bendigo Bank for Mount Eliza on Thursday. Maybe we can buy shares!!

Cheers

President Judy