The theme for D9940 Conference 2019 was “Light My Fire”, and the feedback we’ve had has been of many Rotary fires being lit.
The conference began on Friday night with the normal welcomes and flag ceremony and then the highlight of the night the iconic Patea Māori Club. I don’t have enough words available to do their performance justice.
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Sadly, visa issues stopped Dr Mathew Varghese traveling to New Zealand from India. However polio survivors Jeanette Aldridge and Gordon Jackman gave amazing presentations, especially Gordon with his blade-like prosthetics showing how far technology has come.
Educators Paula Ormsby and Hinewirangi Kohu-Morgan, with the former causing raised eyebrows when she told attendees she was a member of the Mongrel Mob - changing the gang from within.
On Saturday afternoon delegates heard about the Te Awa Tupua (Whanganui River) settlement from Dame Tariana Turia and Hon Christopher Finlayson, former Minister for Treaty Negotiations. This was an absorbing session, led by two passionate and articulate advocates. Everyone returned to the conference venue after outings to sites around Whanganui for a delicious buffet meal, and entertainment from Freddy Flash and the Firebirds. The Youth Exchange Students and their committee stole the show with their Firefly themed dress.
On Sunday morning DGE John Mohi issued an invitation to his conference in Lower Hutt next year. Hon. Chester Borrows, drew gasps from the audience with some of his statistics around crime and imprisonment, and former Rotary Peace Scholar Sarah Agnew, gave a moving address about her involvement with Khmer Rouge war crimes trials in Cambodia. These were two very thought-provoking presentations.
Lastly, Australian Rotarian Evan Burrell gave a lively presentation on how Clubs can successfully engage the younger generation, especially with our messaging. Once again, the feedback we’ve received is that Evan was an excellent fire-starter!
DG Marion Johnston, Conference Chair PDG Bob Smith and the conference committee thank everyone for their support. It was our goal to have a suite of speakers that would challenge the status quo and provoke thought, and we believe we achieved that.
We wish DGE John all the best for his 2020 conference
Tony Stuart
For the D9940 Conference Committee