Fellowship, Inspiration and Challenges:
The 2002/3 Christmas Conference held at Coolangatta and Tweed Heads Golf Club from Friday
6th to Sunday 8th December 2002 was a huge success. It can be summed up as a period of
Fellowship, Inspiration and Challenges.

RI President's Representative: Past RI Director John Kenny, a member of the
Grangemouth Rotary Club of Scotland and currently serving as a Trustee of The Rotary Foundation, 
represented the President of Rotary International. John outlined the giving levels by Clubs to the
Foundation and appealed for support of the District Objectives for 2002/3. He briefly mentioned
the tremendous worldwide programs of the Foundation. He urged Clubs to participate in
Foundation projects with others around the world, to obtain ideas from others, to learn how
projects and activities work, to understand the philosophy and principles of Rotary and to learn              
from the greatest variety of peoples ever assembled in one organisation. He mentioned that the
average per capita giving in this District was US$27 compared with an overall average of US$54
John asked us to support the efforts of the Foundation in the achievement of world
understanding and peace through local, national, and international humanitarian, educational, 
and cultural programs.
(During the Conference several Clubs were recognised for contributions in excess of A$100 per capita
The average per capita giving in Australia last year was US$36.The RI website now includes a page
giving us access to statistics for District 9640 in the current year. Further information may be
downloaded here and Annual Reports here)

Zones 7 and 8 Director: John Thorne the Director for Zones 7 and 8 on the Board of 
Directors for Rotary International was present to address the Conference.

Keynote Speakers: Keynote speakers were as follows:

Karni Liddell, a successful and respected Paralympic swimmer - Tough Times Never Last,
                                                                                                       Tough People Do.
Professor James Greenwood - The Black Dog Institute - Mental Health Research
Gina Growden, member of Lane Cove Rotary Club and CE of the Prostate Cancer Foundation,
supported by Don Baumber of the Gold Coast Support Group.
Sarah Cox, District Rotaract Representative
Kath Greenway, Inner Wheel
John McKeon - Business Ethics
PDG John McLaren, a member of the Rotary Club of Darwin North and National Rotary
Australia World Community Service Co-ordinator for East Timor gave a comprehensive
outline of Rotary's contribution to the development of this new nation. See also the four pages
of Rotary Down Under for November from here.
Ian McKenzie and Rosalie Kennedy who both contracted Polio at a young age and PDG Brian
Heaton concerning the PolioPlus appeal for $80M. Rosalie outlined the work of Polio Support
Groups. See also information concerning the Polio Eradication fundraising campaign here.
Ambassadorial Scholars, Yoshiko Yamasaki, Mark Oliver and Sophia Horvatt.

Rotary World Peace Scholar:Path Heang from Cambodia and Peace Scholar to
 Queensland University addressed the Conference concerning this initiative by the Rotary Foundation.
Further information in respect of the Rotary Centres for International Studies in Peace and Conflict
Resolution may be found here.
(Note by Bill Pavey: During the Conference I met Path and gave him links to our website and promised
to keep in touch with him during his time at the Queensland University. After the Conference I
received the following email message from Path:

"I am excited and privileged to receive very warm hospitality from distinguished
Rotarians extended to me. All these welcomes, encouragement, and enthusiasm do
strengthen my confidence, commitment, and engagement with Rotary in the years
ahead. When you personally shook hand with me, congratulated me and smiled at
me -- all these touched my heart. When you uploaded my picture and my profile
into the webpage, I am so impressed with your consideration toward me & world
peace programme as a whole. How lucky I am to know you personally and other
respected Rotarians.

I am happy to receive updates from you & it is good that you put me into the
mailing list. I will keep you informed with my progress made.

Bill, all the best to you, your family and all Rotarians.

Best regards,

Path Heang
Rotary World Peace Scholar
Cambodia"

This message is indicative of the calibre of this young man)

Group Study Exchange Teams: The following teams were introduced and addressed
the Conference:
GSE Team to Sicily
GSE Team from South Carolina
GSE Team to Brazil
GSE Team to Oklahoma
Each of the above presentations were impressive and in themselves fully justified attendance
at the Conference.

YEP Concert:  This was an emotional segment with many musical items of an extremely
high standard presented by exchange students - both inwards and returned. As well reports
were presented by several students.

ROMAC: Another emotional presentation was that by ROMAC when some of the beneficiaries
and their families were introduced and medical specialists explained the operations
undertaken. There was also a report on the official launch of ROMAC in Queensland at
the Rotary Celebrity Ball on 10 May 2003.  Raffle tickets were distributed for sale by Rotarian's
and friends - A book of 20 tickets for $50 or sale of 30 tickets at $5 each. First prize is valued
at $3000, 2nd at $2500, 3rd at $1129 and 4th $395.

Donations in Kind: Kerrie Lyon of the Summerland Sunrise Club outlined the operation of this
project and explained the various avenues for assistance by Clubs.

Bush to the Beach Project: John McDonald of the Rotary Club of Surfers Paradise Central
outlined the details of this project to the Conference.  Rotary Clubs of Queensland and the
district offices of the Department of Education and Regional Queensland Catholic Education
Commission will work together with regional schools to select 400 country children to 
participate in the program for a week of activities in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast.

The Andrew Csabi Benefit Fund: The Surfers Paradise Central Club operated a stall
to display a video and to receive donations for the fund.

Business Session: The business session of the conference dealt with District
Resolutions, proposed resolutions for the next Council of Legislation and District Financial
Statements.

Introductions: Introductions of speakers and votes of thanks were capably handled by
young people who had participated in various Youth Programs, including MUNA, RYTS,
National Youth Science Forum, etc.  In each case the speaker commenced with a brief
outline of the program in which they had participated.

Rotary International Convention - Brisbane: PDG Ian Yarker gave an excellent
Power Point presentation relating to the Convention.

Reflections on Peace: Major Neil Clanfield of the Salvation Army Tweed Community
Church lead this service on the Sunday morning. June Kenny, wife of John, gave the
Bible Reading from John 14:23-27.

Stalls and Displays: Some excellent stalls and displays were presented by various Clubs
to feature projects being undertaken by them.

Parkwood Delegation: The delegation from this Club comprised PRIT Brian Knowles and
Nancy, PDG Ken Smith and Betty, John and Anne Tunnicliff, Margaret Cressey, Karyn Joyner,
Peter Richards and Bill Pavey, together with Ken and Tracy Alderton. Our exchange student,
Yola Engler, was in attendance and participated in the YEP segment with other exchange students.

Tribute to District Governor: District Governor Ross Smith was commended on the
success of the Conference and he in turn acknowledged the support he received from his
Conference Committee under the leadership of DGN Margaret Hayes.

Next District Conference: District Governor Elect Max Wortman announced that the
next District Conference would be held at the Southport Sharks Club from 7 to 9 May, 2004.
Nerang Rotary Club will host the conference and the committee will comprise representatives
of Nerang and Ashmore Clubs with Denise Payne as chairman.

District 9640 Conference

Rotary International