We gather together on the lands of the traditional custodians, the Wurundjeri and Woi Wurrung people. We pay our respects to all of Melbourne’s First Peoples, to their ancestors and Elders, and to our shared future together.
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The past week has been one of the most exciting I’ve experienced as a Rotarian. Firstly, there were a number of pre-Convention activities beginning late last week. The Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group (ESRAG) held an Environment Action Summit at which I was the convenor. A number of speakers both Australian experts presented their insights on future projections to consider as well as existing work mitigating environmental damage while Rotarian leaders presented their established projects that can be shared and scaled up. Around 80 guests representing a range of countries including a number from New Zealand as well as interstate and regional Victoria, shared a smorgasbord of environmental ideas to take back to their respective clubs.
On Friday last, a number of environmental tours took place to showcase some environmentally related sites. These included a trip to Donation in Kind (DIK) which plays a pivotal role in diverting material from landfill, a walk along the Melbourne CBD Green Line, a walking tour of the bat colony at Yarra Bend and a trip to the Hepburn Springs area for a presentation of how the town transformed to a sustainable energy model.
There was a series of other events for our International (and local) Rotarians across Melbourne including:
The Big Difference with volunteers packing over 100,000 meals for emergency relief around the world, including Ukraine, Syria and Türkiye.
The official Convention opening by ringing the Peace Bells at Rotary Melbourne Peace Park with Lord Mayor Sally Capp, Nobel Prize Peace Laureate Tilman Ruff, designer Neil McLachlan, Rotary Melbourne President Adrian Nelson, and Project Leader Rob McGuirk. It represented an historic day for peace and Rotary in Melbourne.
The End Polio Walk
The House of Friendship throughout the Convention
A range of breakouts scheduled during the Convention and many others
The first day of the Rotary Convention is the traditional Opening Ceremony held at Rod Laver Arena. Reported attendance of around 30,000 witnessed the ‘Flags of the Rotary world’ ceremony brought to the stage by Exchange Students and others and finished with sensational entertainment by ‘The Tenor’.
The next two sessions comprised touching, inspiring and insightful presentations by a number of Rotary leaders as well as accomplished trail blazers and entertainers. As an attendee, everyone appeared spellbound by each of the presentations.
International Banners
The next two sessions comprised touching, inspiring and insightful presentations by a number of Rotary leaders as well as accomplished trail blazers and entertainers. As an attendee, everyone appeared spellbound by each of the presentations.
On Monday 29 May, a number of clubs hosted a Convention dinner for groups of International Rotarians. The Rotary Clubs of Camberwell, Glenferrie and Hawthorn hosted a dinner at the Kooyong Tennis Club. Ted Baillieu was a most entertaining Master of Ceremonies with many laughs and gaffs throughout the night. Amongst the humour he hinted on his success in business and politics as well as relatively short sporting career due to injury.
Josh Frydenberg was introduced by his friend and colleague MC Ted Baillieu. Josh outlined his initial attraction for a career in tennis culminating in achieving junior championship status. This was followed by a number of milestones and accomplishments of his political career. He acknowledged Rotary’s essential work in the community locally and internationally particularly as we face many political conflicts and increased polarisation around the globe. His forecast of exponential population growth and its consequences on the demand for food and other resources alongside the environmental challenges we face, reinforces the importance of Rotary’s focus on promoting peace and supporting the disadvantaged.
Finally, I was delighted to be nominated as the President to close off the meeting thanking and farewelling our overseas guests. Overall, the feedback from the night was positive with many friendships formed and a memorable evening for all. See photos:
Meanwhile, the Rotary Convention was on its final day on Wednesday with the closing ceremony. Entertainment was the Bee Gees revival band delighting all with their well-known hits. The final session was a final address by soon to be outgoing RI President Jennifer E Jones who then introduced the incoming International President Gordon R McInally and his family. The final act was the John Lennon song ‘Imagine’ sung by the RI President Elect’s wife Heather, who is a professional classical singer. An exhilarating Melbourne International Convention experience.
Thank you to members who assisted at the Sunday market on 4 June - Paul Casha, Murray Anderson, Patrick Docherty and Geoff Heath.
The Hawthorn Makers Market will also be held on 4 June. Thank you to all who have volunteered to assist on the day.
Unfortunately, we are unable to meet at Conochie Centre on Wednesday 7 June due to a plumbing issue. Instead, we will meet at the Blue River Thai restaurant, a few doors away near the corner of Canterbury Road. This will be a normal club meeting. The guest speaker will be Maxine Gross who was one of two recipients of the 2023 Citizen of the Year Award, recognising her incredible work as the co-founder of You Matter, a charity helping survivors of family violence to restart their lives. This will be the subject of her presentation. It promises to be inspiring.
