WELCOME TO THE 9705 DISTRICT CONFERENCE WEBPAGE  -  REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW OPEN

Registrations are now open for the 2021 District 9705 District Conference.  Thank you for your patience but we have been trying to work our way through the implications of Covid 19 over the past year and it has been an ever- changing exercise.

But, we are now confident that things can proceed, albeit with some changes to past Conferences.  Important here is that we are limited to 400 people inside the conference venue, and we are further limited to 360 people at the Conference Dinner and 300 people at the Welcome Function – all due to Covid restrictions. 

venues

The Conference and the Conference Dinner will be held inside the Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre (BMEC)

The Welcome Function will be held at the Bathurst Motor Racing Museum at Mount Panorama.  Registration for this will purchase entry to the Museum and a BBQ dinner catered by our fellow Bathurst Rotarians.  This function will be from 5 to 8pm on Friday 19 March 2021. Only 200 people at any one time will be allowed inside the Museum so we will be rotating people go get everyone through.

The Conference will be open for Registrations at 7.30am on 20 March at BMEC and will start at 9am.

The Conference theme is the RI Theme for 2020-21, Rotary Opens Opportunities.

 

Speakers

 
RI Director, Dr Jessie Harman Zone 8 Director Elect
ROTARY International Director 2021-23 Dr Jessie Harman is definitely a glass half full kinda gal. As the first female from Zone 8 to be elected to the RI Board, she is a trailblazer for Rotary in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
Her passion for our organisation is irrepressible, her voice bubbling over with enthusiasm as she speaks of her journey and her hopes for the future.
As chair of Rl's membership committee, she says it has provided a wonderful opportunity to think strategically about Rotary right around the world.
 
 
Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons, Commissioner for Resilience NSW

Shane Fitzsimmons AFSM is the Head of Resilience NSW and previously the Commissioner of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service between September 2007 and April 2020.
Fitzsimmons joined the NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) as a volunteer member of Duffys Forest Brigade in 1985. After qualifying as a motor mechanic he became a salaried officer in the NSW RFS in 1994, taking on the role of Regional Planning Officer for the Central East Region. He became State Operations Officer in 1996 and two years later was named Assistant Commissioner, Operations. This role later became expanded and restyled as Assistant Commissioner, Regional Management and Strategic Development. He was awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal in 2001.  He went on to be Commissioner and oversee the historic 2019-20 NSW bushfires. 
 
 
Dr Justin Borowitz, Australian National University
 Justin Borevitz obtained his PhD in 2002 from the University of California at San Diego with Joanne Chory studying Natural Variation in Arabidopsis light response. He performed postdoctoral research with Joseph Ecker (2002-2004) at the Salk Institute studying genomic diversity in Arabidopsis using tiling arrays. From 2004 until 2012 he was an Assistant and Associate Professor in the Dept of Ecology and Evolution at the University of Chicago. In 2012 he moved to the Australian National University and became full Professor in 2014. Research focuses on Genome Wide Association Studies of growth and developmental traits under simulated climates in  plant models Arabidopsis and Brachypodium. Landscape genomics is being used in crops and Eucalyptus foundation species. The goal is to identify the genetic basis of climate adaptation to predict and select adaptive  genotypes for changing and challenging growing conditions.
 
 
Admiral Chris Barrie AC (R’etd), former Chief of the Defence Force
Admiral Christopher Alexander Barrie, AC  is a retired senior officer of the Royal Australian Navy, who served as Chief of the Defence Force from 4 July 1998 to 3 July 2002.   Barrie was promoted to admiral, and assumed the post of Chief of the Defence Force (CDF) on 4 July 1998. He held this position until his retirement, and for his "eminent service to the Australian Defence Force" was further advanced to Companion of the Order of Australia in 2001 and awarded the Distinguished Service Order (Military) by the government of Singapore. As CDF, Barrie became involved in the "Children Overboard Affair" of 2001, a high-level political controversy which occurred during the Australian federal election campaign. Barrie retired on 3 July 2002,[1] and was succeeded as CDF by General Peter Cosgrove.
 
 
Commissioner Georgina Whelan, ACT Emergency Services Commissioner

The ACT Emergency Services Agency (ESA) welcomed Ms Georgeina Whelan as the fifth Commissioner to lead the ESA.

Formerly the Chief Officer of the ACT State Emergency Service for two years, Commissioner Whelan is highly regarded in the emergency services sector and across government.

She will deliver a renewed focus on the safety, training, health and wellbeing of our first responder staff and volunteers.

Ms Whelan's appointment is for a five-year term to August 2024.
 
 
 
Many Rotary Project Leads who will share their projects with you
 

College of Governors

The venue for our event will be Abercrombie House

We will convene at 2 pm for High Tea served at 2:30 pm.  Cost will be $25 per person, and includes varieties of leaf teas, fresh ground plunger coffee, still water, lemon cordial, fresh scones with jam & whipped cream, traditional, cucumber sandwiches, cup cakes, strawberries dipped in chocolate, etc

We will also be able to take a  self-guided tour of house and grounds.
 

 

CONFERENCE PROGRAM
Saturday 20 March 2021

0730 – 0900        Registrations at BMEC

0915  Call to Order – Administration – MC Anton Pemmer

0920                  Welcome by District Governor Dr Michael Moore AM

0930                  Welcome to Country

0940                  Welcome to Bathurst by Mayor Bobby Bourke

0950                  Keynote Speaker           Dr Jessie Harman RI Director

1010                  Keynote Speaker           Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons
                                                                   Resilience NSW

1030  Morning Tea

1100                  Club Session         District and Club Project Leads

                          Rotary Vulnerable Youth Project - David Marshall

                          Wheelchair Soccer - John Platten

                          ROMAC - Sandra Goldstraw

                          Medical Aid Recovery and Redistribution 
                                        Fred Fawke

                          Hail Damaged Roofing Recovery and Redistribution
                                       Crookwell and Fred Fawke

                          District Bushfire Recovery Committee 
                                       Phil Armstrong/John Mercer

1230  Lunch

1330  Rotary 7th Area of Focus – Supporting the Environment

                          Professor Justin Borowitz ANU

                          Professor Lesley Hughes, Macquarie University

                          PDG David Brawn          Chair

1500  Afternoon Tea

1530                 Royce Abbey Peace Oration: Adj Professor
                         John Skerritt PhD - Director TGA

1615  Close for the Day

1830  Gather for Dinner at BMEC

1900  Dinner

2000   Guest Speaker  Dr Robert Booy             
                        University of Sydney – Epidemiologist 

2100   Dancing to a DJ

Sunday 21 March 2021

0900   Call to Order                 MC Anton Pemmer

0915                  Keynote Speaker         Admiral Chris Barrie AC (R’etd)              
                                                                  Fearless PTSD

0945                  Keynote Speaker         Hon. Fiona Nash (former Senator)

1015                  Keynote Speaker         Commissioner Georgina Whelan            
                                                                  ACT Emergency Services Commissioner

1045   Morning Tea

1115                  Second Club Session      Club Projects

                         Youth Exchange Presentations  Rob Uhl and Students

1215                  Closing Session             RI Director Jessie Harman

                                                                DGE Leo Farrelly – next District Conf.

                                                                DG Michael Moore

1245   Conference Closes

 

Streamed sessions

We understand that Covid will limit the number of people who can attend this first conference of District 9705.  For this reason, most of the Conference sessions will be live streamed on the internet. Stay tuned for updates of where and when to watch these sessions.

We will provide you with more detail as soon as possible and look forward to seeing you on 19 March.  It will be fun.

Click on the RACING WHEEL  above to register.

 
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Accommodations
   in Bathurst