Hosts with the most

Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre will be the centre of the Rotary universe when the Rotary District 9780 Conference is hosted at the facility from March 15-17.

Rotarians and Rotaractors from Millicent to Bordertown to Swan Hill to Queenscliff and everywhere in between will descend on Mount Gambier for a weekend of engagement, information, activities and a showcase of Rotary programs and activities.

Mount Gambier last hosted the conference in 2018 when Ray Herbert, who is heading up the 2024 organising committee, was district governor.

Current District Governor Ian McKay is the latest in a long line of Mount Gambier governors, including Bruce Ridland, RC Mount Gambier 1999-2000, Bob Furner, RC Mt G West 2003-2004 and Ray Herbert RC Mt G West 2017-2018 and Cec Kentish 1966-67, Walter White 1969-70 and Alex Davis 1978-79.

The conference, hosted by Mr McKay and the Rotary Clubs of Mount Gambier Lakes, Mount Gambier and Mount Gambier West, has assembled a talented collect of imminent speakers, on a wide range of social challenges, including the focus project of ‘Say no to Family Violence’.

Adopted as the theme for Zone 8 (Australia, New Zealand & Pacific) Rotary Clubs in 2023-24, ‘Say No to Family & Domestic Violence’, is a feature of the conference presentations.

Headlining this community health focus is Kirrily Dear the co-founder of Run Against Violence and solo fundraiser of a run from Broken Hill to Sydney.

In addition, Nic Newling, an outspoken advocate for mental health and suicide prevention, will address ‘Let’ talk about Mental Health’. Both speakers have lived experiences and are dedicated to making a difference in this area of community health.

Caroline Millard past president of RC of Portland and District Champion, will inform and outline opportunities for community engagement of Say no to Family and Domestic Violence projects.

These presentations are available as an open community forum on Saturday, March 16, from 1.45pm to 4.30pm and you need to register at events.humanitix.com (Rotary District 9780 Conference Public Session).

Rotary’s long standing focus on Polio will also be thrust into the spotlight and the community can get involved in this campaign as well.

Supporting the eradication of Polio, an ‘End Polio Now’ community walk will be held at 8am on Saturday, March 16, from the Rail Lands for 3kms along Commercial Street, returning to the Rail Lands.

Rotary has been engaged in the push to eradication of Polio from the World since 1985, having raised and spent $2.2b together with countless volunteer hours to protect three billion children in 122 countries from the paralysing disease.

Polio still exists and if not completely eradicated it will explode to compromise millions of children. In 1988 there were 350,000 children infected each year, in 125 countries.

Today through concerted, sustained efforts and funding, the infection rate has been reduced to 12 case in 2023 in 2 countries, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Currently 20 million children have been prevented from being paralysed by the poliomyelitis virus.

To achieve this effort, Rotary and their partners have driven this eradication program over the last 35years, raising and spending $2.2bn and countless hours by volunteers on the ground.

The fight to end Polio, requires an annual effort, of immunizing 400m children, hiring 150,000 health workers to go door to door to find every child.

Rotary is committed to raising $50m per year to complete this program.

Gary Newton, polio victim, past president Rotary Club Geelong East and Polio Plus Chair will update the status, participation and funding opportunities.