The International Convention in Melbourne has concluded with some 15,000 Rotarians moving on,
hopefully invigorated and keen to continue “doing good in the world.”
District 9930 Convention Coordinator PDG Roger Miller had 42 of our members together in the Pullman Albert Park Hotel and another 20 staying at other venues in the city. In our hotel we were also joined by NZ Rotarians from other districts, as well as others from all over the world.
The convention was held in two venues, one the Rod Laver Tennis Arena (with the roof closed) and capable of seating everyone in one sitting for the daily general business sessions. The other venue was the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre where breakout sessions, lectures, meetings, sales, promo booths and refreshments took place.
As always, transport was a major feature with the convention – getting people from their hotels to the business sessions and then between the two venues which were probably a couple of kilometres apart, (we walked between the two – once!) and then home again at the end of the day. All this travel was achieved with the free Rotary supplied buses.
Business sessions at convention included numerous top level speakers. Some who stood out were a Rotary Peace Fellow (Ryan Rowe) talking about Haitian Rotarians doing wells, sanitation & hygiene, another speaker on the final leg of Polio eradication, and next year’s RI World President (Gordon McInally) speaking of his “Hope” Theme and particularly advocating for mental health.
Entertainment included “The Bee Gees” (or a lookalike group), “The Greatest Show” and “The Tenors.” These were all spectacular to say the least. All in all it was another fantastic occasion and while we left Melbourne a little tired, we were enthused by the people we had met, the entertainment we had seen and the Rotary information we had gained. With renewed enthusiasm now we can, as the incoming World President asks in his theme, “Create Hope in the World.”
The Greatest Show The Bee Gees
The Rod Laver Arena The incomming President's Family
The Tenors
The Incomming Rotary World President
Rotary Regards,
Ian N Holyoake ONZM
Villa 1, Summerset Palms
136 Eriksen Road, Te Awa
NAPIER 4110 New Zealand
Phone 06 – 842 0069
Mobile 027 4321 893
