Flags flown for Rotary district

THOUSANDS of Rotarians converged on Melbourne last week as part of the Rotary International Convention, with Rotary District 9780 members among those at centre stage during the proceedings.

Members from Alfredton and Ballarat West Rotary clubs were among the more-than-200 people that participated in a flag-bearing to mark the six-day event’s opening ceremony.

Alfredton Rotary’s Deb Robertson carried the flag of eastern European country Moldova, and said it was an honour to be part of the event at Rod Laver Arena on Sunday.

“There were over 200 flags representing the countries of the world and they were circling the auditorium as each country was called out,” she said.

“Quite a lot of us were involved in volunteering at the event, just showing people where to go and helping with queries about events the host organising committee had organised.”

Rotary District 9780 governor Kathy Rivett and assistant governor Jill Oliver also represented Alfredton Rotary Club in the flag-bearing, with Rotary Club of Ballarat West’s David Goldsmith and former long-time Ballarat Rotarian, John Oswald taking part as well.

In total 12 Rotary District 9780 representatives were part of the flag-bearing team.

The international convention took place throughout Melbourne between Friday 26 and Wednesday 31 May.

Aside from flag-bearing, Ms Robertson as well as her husband Alan Preston and fellow Rotarians Denise and Garry Lyons packed meals to be sent to Syria and Turkey as part of the FORaMEAL initiative.

Ms Robertson said the convention was an opportunity for Rotarians to showcase to the public what they do.

“It allows anyone to get a wider view of the work Rotary does in the world,” she said.

“Monday and Tuesday there were sessions on peace-making and polio and various things Rotary’s doing globally. It was really to see and hear from people on the ground.”