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
![]() 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.
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![]() 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. |
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![]() 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.
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![]() 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.
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![]() 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. |
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Many Rotary Project Leads who will share their projects with you
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College of Governors

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.