Welcome to Conference
The District 9780 Conference Committee welcomes you to District Conference 2012 in Warrnambool. With the theme “Reach Within To Embrace Humanity,” the conference will showcase the many ways that Rotarians are reaching out in a rapidly changing world.
Scroll to the bottom of the page for Conference Updates.
Your Invitation from DG Brian,
Dear Rotarians in D9780,
I am delighted to invite you, your partners and guests to attend the 2012 District Conference in Warrnambool
Conference is a wonderful opportunity to re-focus on why we are Rotarians, to hear some insightful speakers and to learn more about the many ways that Rotarians are making a difference,both in their communities and in the wider world . It is also a great time to catch up with Rotary friends, old and new alike.
This year’s speakers’include 2010 Australian of the Year Simon Mckeon, noted Australian journalist Paul Cleary, CEO of Family Business Australia - Philippa Taylor and noted authority on the social impact of climate change Professor Margaret Alston.
And yes, there will be lots of socialising. Share a drink or two with delegates after the official opening on Friday evening at Warrnambool’s spectacular Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, join in with a meal at The Warrnambool Bowls Club afterwards and rock the night away with Code 1, the Victorian Police band on Saturday evening at Deakin University. After last year's resounding success, we could not ignore the calls for "more" - so they are back. If you don't believe that Rotary rocks - then you have never been to a Conference Dinner Dance with Code One.
Warrnambool’s campus of Deakin University, this year’s venue, provides a picturesque setting for the Conference. It’s close to town, with a range of great accommodation options very close at hand. It is a small rural campus and the only venue which can fit us all in is the cafeteria. This is far from ideal and will only be used for the Saturday morning Rotary business session (and also the closing session.) Then a dual venue programme will commence. All of our keynote speakers have agreed to present twice - so nobody will miss out on hearing them . We thank them wholeheartedly for their acceptance of our requests for their repeat presentations.
You also have a number of options which you might like to add to your Conference programme. The Friday night dinner at the Warrnambool Bowls Club - which is loctaed less than a hundred meters away from Flagstaff Hill, provides an opportunity to continue the welcome party with friends after the Official opening and welcome. And partners might like to spend Saturday afternoon visiting the Twelve Apostles, Hopkins Falls and the Timboon Railway Distillery and Cafe. PDG Andrew Suggett is keen for golfers to get together for a round of golf on the Sunday afternoon of Conference. Simply tick these options when you register online.
And don't miss out on visiting our inaugural District 9780 Youth Parliament which will be held at Deakin University on the Saturday of Conference.Youths from schools throughout our Rotary District will be proposing legislation to give to our Members of Parliament, concerning the issue of, "What it means to be a good neighbour." Specifically they will be looking at Australia's relationship with East Timor and the opportunities or lack of them, which characterise life in rural Australia compared to life in our Capital Cities. I look forward to listening to our new generation and sharing their vision for our shared future and I look forward to seeing you all at Conference, 23 – 25 March 2012.
I can promise you an exciting Conference. You will be moved, you will feel the pride in belonging, you will smile a lot and laugh and you will be thanked for your generosity of spirit and what you give to your community and communities right around the world.
Brian Trenery
District Governor, 2011-2012
www.rotary9780.org.
CONFERENCE UPDATES ( 12 January 2012)
· Registrations are now open.
The Saturday night Dinner Theme will be, "a little naughty cal." So wear some barnacles on your bottom - or train yer parrot to talk saucy and taste salty. We look forward to seeing your naughtyiness come to the fore - or shouldn't that be, paraded on the poop deck. What will PDG Andrew Suggett and Black Betty surprise us with this time?
· The keynote speakers will speak twice. So once you have chosen to sit in either the Alfred Deakin Theatre or the Percy Baxter, all the keynote speakers will come to you. If you miss out on hearing and seeing a keynote speaker– then another opportunity may present itself in another theatre.
· Code One is the Victorian Police Rock Band. They played last year in Ballarat and we loved them so much, and we received so many calls from you urging us to engage them again, that we have secured them to play for us again. If you missed the action last year – just ask anyone who was there about Saturday night. You really can't afford to miss out on them again.
· “Good Neighbours” is the theme of the youth parliament. Students from both local primary and District secondary schools are invited. $10 per student is the registration fee. 20 Schools have already responded. Contact your local school and ask them to visit this website for regular updates on the Youth Parliament.