District Conference 2016 highlights

Posted by Gabby Knaepple 
 
 
From 18 to 20 March the District 9810 annual conference was held.  This year it was hosted by District Governor David Tolstrup and the Rotary Club of Box Hill.
 
Congratulations to DG David, Allison and the Box Hill club for a very fine and well organised conference. 
 
The theme was Power of the Past - Force of the Future - DG David said contemporary Rotary was all about the future which includes identifying the issues to which we must respond and devising strategies to address the issues
 
  
 
The Rotary International Presidents Personal Representative (RIPPR) was Margaret Reeve from New Zealand.
 
The speakers were great and brought with them great inspiration, passion and information.  They included former Australian Cricketer Paul Sheahan, Author and Journalist Caroline Overington, Wayne Lesley whose company is a sponsor of the Shine on awards - he spoke about the development of a partnership between Rotary and the RSL ; Kate Carnell AO who spoke about leadership; Terry Grant (Australian Rotary Health); Major Brendan Nottle (Salvation Army); Gemma Sisia and Dorice Livingston - Abel (St Judes School Tanzania); Mariam Issa (Launched Resilient Aspiring Women (RAW); Prof. Gordon Wallace (pioneer in the field of 3D bioprinting); Janine Mahoney (domestic violence and Safe Futures).  The 4 way test winner Hannah Teo showed us why she was the 2015 winner with a rendition of her speech.  
 
We also heard from DG David, Ian Riseley who is RI World President nominee for 2017/2018 along with Malcolm Chiverton who is District Governor Nominee for 2017/2018.
 
Key messages from speakers:  
  • need to work smarter
  • continued focus on the importance of membership - keeping current members engaged and recruiting new members
  • need to make sure Rotary remains relevant, promotes best practice and maintains honesty, integrity and ethics
  • need to have a clear vision that means something so there is a common sense of purpose
  • Need to be adaptable, sustainable and take risks
  • understand the community, always look outwards and think outside the box. 
 
We were periodically thoroughly entertained by the great Jonathon Usher who is the current District Governor for District 9980 (New Zealand).  Jonathon is a magician and comedian. A Rotarian since 1997, Jonathan is a Past President, PHF, past GSE Team Leader, District GSE Chair, past Assistant Governor, director of Shelter boxes New Zealand. 
 
 
some of the 440 delegates
 
Ride to Conference this year managed to tip fund raising for Australian Rotary Health over the million dollar mark which is a great effort. There were 48 riders with 12 support staff.  This included our own Rob Cross as part of the support staff.  The club thanks Rob for his assistance over the 6 days of the ride.
 
 
Then there was the gala dinner where the theme was our favourite TV show - and there was a plethora of shows represented:  Forest Hill came as MKR, Mordialloc came as Better Gnomes and Gardens, there was "are you being served", MASH (RC of Nunawading), the Ninjas (RC of Croydon), Mr Squiggle, The Mickey Mouse Show (RC of Box Hill).
 
Undoubtedly the star of the dinner was Russell "Klinga" Warmington.  The photos will show you why!!
 
 
The crew -                                                                                                                                       Klinga and Hotlips
 
 
 
We are delighted to report that we came 2nd in the best dressed club competition as voted by DG David, Allison and Mrs RIPPR.  
 
1st place went to The Squiggles (Bentleigh) and 3rd place to the Ninjas from RC Croydon
 
 
A few Squiggles
 
 
 
    The Ninjas with some victims
 
 
RC of Mordialloc - Better Gnomes and Gardens
 
And some new friends were met!!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
District 9810 Conference 2017
 
will be held in Geelong from 31 March 2017 to 2 April 2017
 
The theme is Building connections, Realising dreams
 
Speakers will include Julian Burnside, Deidre Anderson, Robert Gillies, Ewan Ferguson
 
The Gala Dinner theme will be 'somewhere in the world'