Community
22 March, 2024
Rotarians in town
MORE than 300 Rotar-ians will converge on Warrnambool today for this weekend’s District 9810 annual conference.
In good news for the local economy, it is expected the Rotarians will spend three days in the area, with a range of activities on the agenda.
District 9810 comprises more than 30 Rotary clubs in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.
The annual conference will run through until this Sunday but today (Friday) is all about the visitors getting out and about and enjoying Warrnambool – with two days of guest speakers to follow.
“Normally we have the conference on the Saturday and Sunday but today (Friday) is all about getting out and enjoying this wonderful town,” district conference chair, Wil Cornelissen said.
Friday is a Rotary Day where members have the chance to play golf, to play bowls, go on tours, enjoy brunch at the Flagstaff Hill museum and a pre-conference cocktail party at Flagstaff Hill.
“Warrnambool is a good place (for a conference) as it has plenty of opportunities,” Mr Cornelissen said.
“We’re looking forward to having a great weekend to boost the local economy and we look forward to working with everybody.
“We have a good rapport with the Warrnambool City Council and everybody has been very accommodating, working with us to ensure everything is running smoothly.
“We are working arm in arm with the Rotary Club of Warrnambool as well to achieve the optimum.”
Warrnambool mayor Cr Ben Blain said he was looking forward to welcoming the attendees today.
“Business events and conferences are always great news for our economy and we are proud to be able to support this conference via our Events and Festivals grants,” Cr Blain said.
“Conferences often take place outside of peak times and can bring in hundreds of people, so they provide a big boost, and they are a really important part of the events mix for a thriving regional centre like Warrnambool.
“As such a compact city, we are well set up for conferences like this and I’m sure all of the attendees will have an amazing time.
“Rotary is such a remarkable global organisation and it’s really exciting to see some of our local Rotarians working with their Melbourne counterparts.”
Cr Blain will be one of a bumper line-up of guest speakers that also includes former AFL footballer Tom Boyd and Professor Arnold Dix - the mastermind behind the 2023 Indian tunnel rescue which saved 41 trapped workers.
