Cowra Breakout: Back to having a Country Conference.

The Rotary District 9685 Annual Conference was held in Cowra, a small town located in the Central West region of New South Wales. It was both a relaxing and invigorating program: everyone who attended said it was a great conference and returning to out of district venues post Covid was so pleasing. Catering and accommodation were well planned and executed.

 

The conference theme was Cowra Breakout - being out of district always gives Rotarians, partners, and guests an opportunity to experience the hospitality and friendship of rural Australia. Four club members attended; Di Hart, Sue Terry, Lindy Myers and Michael Mead. Ted Kobel and Diane Mead accompanied us at most functions and at other times used the opportunity to  appreciate Cowra and its environs.

 

Moreover, being held in a place made famous for an event in 1944 also gave the local Rotary Club, historians, and many from the community the opportunity present and showcase the unique and bonding relationship that has formed between Cowra and Japan. 

 

Lawrence Ryan, a local historian took us on a great journey with his presentation - The Legacy of the Cowra Breakout: From Tragedy to Respect, on the Friday evening after Cowra Rotary served an amazing barbecue with appealing local steaks and salad.; most definitely not the typical Rotary sausage sizzle!  

 

Cowra Rotary preparing the the Friday evening meal

The Saturday program held in the refurbished Cowra Pavilion.

 

 

Welcome to Country: Indigenous Dance Troupe - Cowra High School.

Welcome and Opening - DG MIna Howard

 It was an imaginative line-up of speakers and subjects covering areas such as*:

 

·      Sustainable development with safe water supplies from a a leading expert in the global water industry. (Rhett Butler).

 

 

·      Great lakes Agency for Peace and Development – an inspiring story of a country wide activity with focus on the story of a local migrant community and their connection with Cowra Rotary club.

 

 

·      An expert on events and safety services especially in deserts and off the beaten track destinations round the world. Among other things Lucas Trihey, is the Event Director of the Big Red Bash since 2013. The most remote music festival in the world and Medical Team Director for Ultra Trail Australia (previously North Face 100) and Six-Foot Track Marathon set up the Big Red Dash. It appeared on Australian Story on ABC TV recently.

 

 

·      A warts and all presentation by Professor Catherine Bennett, Alfred Deakin Professor and Chair in Epidemiology on outbreak preparedness and response with the NSW Health and Australian Government.

 

 

·      Mike Greenslade, CEO of ShelterBox Australia and the ShelterBox/Rotary collaboration. Mike has been a ShelterBox Response Team member since 2006 and deployed 22 times to disaster zones around the world. His displays and presentation were very pertinent to the forthcoming collection point at Stockland.

 

 

·      Jamie Isbister – Head of Strategic Infrastructure Division DFAT and the Federal Government International Infrastructure Coordinator spoke about the importance of discussion and involvement of local communities and their opinions, perceptions and buy in when facilitating disaster recovery or administrating improvements to communities. Local communities (including Rotary clubs) provide so much resource, know-how and experience to assistance and recovery teams making the result more effective and long lasting – one size does not fit all.

 

Humour was throughout the presentation but the message was clear.

 

No comment

 

 * not all program item are covered here.

 

The dinner was and another opportunity to relax and enjoy the company of people from other clubs as well as ours. Not so much a night for speeches but for fellowship and camaraderie and enjoy amazing rural cuisine and cooking.

 

 

Ted Kobel, Michael Mead, Diane Mead, Lindy Myers and Sue Terry

Lindy Myers, Diane Hart and Sue Terry

The keynote speaker was Russell Oxford, Retired Chief Inspector of NSW Homicide Squad who was a member of the Police Force for 42 years and recounted some amazing stories of some cases during his career.

Sunday breakfast was at Japanese garden and Cultural centre. 

Breakfast was held in the marquees in the Memorial gardengarden again catered for by Cowra Rotary club. Entertainment was a performance by Mark Brooker and Wendy Brooks.

 

A self-guided tour followed the talk from the Japanese Ambassador and former chairman of the Cowra Japanese Garden Board.

Mr Yamagami Shingo – Japanese Ambassador

DG Mina Howard(middle) with Mr & Mrs Shingo-  Japanese Ambassador and his wife 

A moment for reflection

So the 3Rs of RELAX, REFRESH and REFOCUS were fully achieved in Cowra. 

Thanks to Sue Terry and Di Hart for some photos!

--ooOOoo--

 SO NEXT YEAR?

Don’t forget to save the date for the 2024 District Conference being held on the NSW Central Coast,(Friday – Saturday March 15 – 16, 2024).   

The Friday night will be dinner at the Crowne Plaza, Terrigal, and the Saturday will be held in the large EV Church in Erina.

EV Church Erina the main theatre for 2024 District Conference

 

Early registrations (and link) are open:

ROTARY 2024 District Conference

 ALSO DON'T FORGET The International Convention in Melbourne - late May (SEE BELOW)

FORWARD PLANNING

Formal Meeting March 21st, 2023 (Tuesday)

Balgowlah Rotary Club Meeting

Balgowlah RSL Wine Room from 7pm and via Zoom

Speaker - Tony Butera from the Upper Northern Beaches club presenting on the very successful membership growth strategies that he has implemented at the club.

EVENT March 25 26, 2023 (Saturday & Sunday)

Collection at Stocklands Balgowlah Mall

See the Flyer below

 

Formal Meeting April 4th, 2023 (Tuesday)

Balgowlah Rotary Club Meeting

ShelterBox CEO  Mike Greenslade presentation via ZOOM

Balgowlah RSL Wine Room from 7pm and via Zoom

Dinner available in Bistro from 6 pm

 

Formal Meeting April 18th, 2023 (Tuesday)

Balgowlah Rotary Club Meeting

Balgowlah RSL Wine Room from 7pm and via Zoom

Dinner available in Bistro from 6 pm

 

Vocational & Community Awards May 2nd, 2023. (Tuesday)

Event 

Balgowlah RSL Wine Room - details to be confirmed.

 

Formal Meeting May 16th, 2023. (Tueasday)

Balgowlah Rotary Club Meeting

Balgowlah RSL Wine Room from 7pm and via Zoom

Dinner available in Bistro from 6 pm

 

Rotary International Convention May 27-31st 2023. (Tuesday)

Rotary International Convention in Melbourne.

Meet Rotarians form all over the world.

This is where the Rotary world comes together to exchange ideas, share project successes, and have fun!

Save the date.

 

Formal Meeting June 6th, 2023. (Tuesday)

Balgowlah Rotary Club Meeting

Balgowlah RSL Wine Room from 7pm and via Zoom

Dinner available in Bistro from 6 pm

 

Changeover June 20th, 2023. (Tuesday)

Balgowlah RSL Wine Room - details to be confirmed.

 

So to wrap up: