Corroboree edition 7 - final issue

www.rotary2014.com.auHOST ORGANISING COMMITTEE

The Sydney 2014

Official newsletter of the Host Organising Committee, Rotary International Convention Sydney, Australia – June 14, 2014

www.rotary2014.com.au

EEROBORROCINTERNATIONAL EDITION # 7

Enquiries/contributions to Public Relations Sub CommitteeChairman Bob Aitken – [email protected]

THE SYDNEY 2014 CORROBOREE / P1

Highlights from the Sydney ConventionIn this pictorial edition of Corroboree we willbe featuring all of the highlights from theSydney Convention 2014. The Conventionprovided attendees with various differentevents and activities that kept them

entertained for hours and have left themwith memories to last a lifetime. From theworld record breaking BridgeClimb thatraised over $40, 000 for End Polio Now, to thespectacular House of Friendship containing

it’s very own Billabong and Sydney HarbourBridge Take a look through the next fewpages to relive all of the fun and excitementthat was had at the Convention here inSydney. We hope you enjoy!

Engage Rotary - Change Lives - Thank YouThe 105th Rotary International Conventionmay be over but the aura and excitement liveon! To the 18,603 Convention registrants itwas a model for what a Rotary conventionshould be. I have heard nothing but positivecomments from all corners of the globe.

Let’s not kid ourselves. We are all very wellaware that an event of this magnitude requiresa lot of dedicated people, committed to acommon purpose, working tirelessly to attract,register, welcome, house, feed, educate,entertain, and hopefully satisfy a large anddiverse audience. In a word – that is no easytask .but, you did it, and it did it with style,grace, and smiling faces. I salute each one ofyou.

Jetta and I feel so blessed. First of all, justby sheer luck we drew Sydney as our venue.We don’t think there is a better placeanywhere in the world. Second, we inheritedthe premier Host Organizing Committee of allHost Organizing Committees. It was in placelong before I was selected to be President.Third, we have an incredible InternationalMeetings staff at Rotary International. I’ve had

the opportunity to work with them on severalother occasions so I know of what I speak.They didn’t necessarily do a better job for methan they would do for anyone else – they justdid their job! Fourth, we had an amazingConvention Chair who took his job seriouslyand meticulously provided leadership,oversight, and direction to every detail. Fifth,we had an amazing Convention Committeesupporting me and the Chair. Sixth, we had ahardworking, dedicated group serving on thePromotion Committee. Seventh, we hadlegions of Australian volunteers manningvirtually every post around the clock assistingour guests. Eighth, we had the full support ofBusiness Events Sydney who coordinated oureffort with the governmental entities, OlympicPark, and countless others. Ninth, we hadtremendous support from the government ofNew South Wales and the Office of thePremier. Tenth, we also had great supportfrom the city government. All in all, it was aperfect “storm.”

Each one of you played a major role inmaking our Convention the very best. The end

result is a testament that each one of you putyour all into it . Each one of you did ENGAGEROTARY and you did CHANGE LIVES. So, toeveryone, Jetta and I say THANK YOU!

l RON BURTONRI President 20132014

G’Day from Sydney!I was pleased and honored to be asked byRotary International President Ron Burton toserve as the Chair of the 2014 SydneyConvention Committee. It has been anexhilarating experience to plan and organize thisinternational meeting for more than 18,600Rotarians and their guests.

The Sydney Convention was a tremendoussuccess because of the support of many people—both Rotarians and nonRotarians. Under theleadership of Chair Barry Thompson and the HostOrganizing Committee (HOC), the AustralianRotarians were outstanding in every respect. TheHOC organized an outstanding Billabong Houseof Friendship that was the hub of activitythroughout the Convention. They also producedexciting events such as the RecordBreakingBridge Climb, the Great Aussie BBQ, and theconcert at the Sydney Opera House. And theAustralian Rotarian volunteers were everywhereoffering friendship, advice, and directions!

Thanks also go to Rotarians from around theworld who served in many important capacitiesbefore and during the Convention. The RIConvention Committee members providedcreative ideas and valuable insights during the

planning process. Sergeantsatarms from every continent on

the globe under the leadership ofChief Sergeant Jim Ives helpedevery event run smoothly. Andhundreds of Rotarians presentedin breakout sessions, staffedbooths in the Billabong House ofFriendship, and coordinatedvolunteer projects.

All of this could not have beenaccomplished without thededicated support of the RI staff.L.J. Williams and the Meetingsand Events staff, joined by staffmembers from almost every areaof the Secretariat, planned and implemented theplenary stage production, organized breakoutsessions, oversaw transportation, and insuredthat all facilities were available and properlyprepared. From specifying the number of chairsin each room to securing permission to light theOlympic flame on the opening day, our skilledand professional staff did it all.

No local government authority has done asmuch to support a Rotary Convention as the NewSouth Wales Government did for the SydneyConvention. New South Wales provideddedicated rail service to Sydney Olympic Park,free transport throughout the region for eight

days, all of the venues at Sydney Olympic Park,and support for many other aspects of theConvention. Business Events Sydney alsocoordinated many details with the localcommunity.

Finally, the Convention would have beennothing without the attendance of 18,600Rotarians and guests from 153 countries! Theattendees provided the fellowship andinternational flavor which are the hallmarks ofany Rotary Convention. Thank you for joining usin Sydney to Engage Rotary, Change Lives.

l MARK DANIEL MALONEYChair, 2014 Sydney Convention Committee

P2 / THE SYDNEY 2014 CORROBOREE www.rotary2014.com.auwww.rotary2014.com.auHOST ORGANISING COMMITTEE

A message from Premier BairdThank you to everyone who attended theRotary International Convention in Sydney.Whether you travelled from across the globeor from around the corner I hope youenjoyed your time in our fantastic HarbourCity.

The Convention brought more than 18,000Rotarians from over 150 countries to our greatcity during this four day event.

I hope all Rotarians had the chance to visitsome of Sydney’s spectacular sights, such asthe Sydney Harbour Bridge, Darling Harbour,Manly Beach, the Sydney Opera House and

the fantastic annual festival of music, light andideas: Vivid Sydney.

In addition to enjoying the best Sydney hasto offer, I hope Rotarians also had the chanceto take in some of the breathtaking landscapesin Regional NSW such as the ruggedlybeautiful Blue Mountains and the HunterValley vineyards and enjoyed our friendlyAustralian culture and breathtakinglandscapes.

I also applaud Rotary for tackling pressinghumanitarian issues during the conference,such as the eradication of polio which

featured in a Vivid light installation on thefaçade of 88 George Street in the Sydney CBD.The NSW Government has recently mademoves to strengthen vaccination requirementsfor young children and it is heartening thatVivid Sydney was able to play a part in keepingthis important issue in the public eye.

Once again thank you for bringing theRotary International Convention to Sydneyand I hope we see you back again soon.

l THE HONOURABLE MIKE BAIRD MPPremier of New South Wales

www.rotary2014.com.au THE SYDNEY 2014 CORROBOREE / P3 www.rotary2014.com.auHOST ORGANISING COMMITTEE

P6/ THE SYDNEY 2014 CORROBOREE www.rotary2014.com.auwww.rotary2014.com.auHOST ORGANISING COMMITTEE

www.rotary2014.com.au THE SYDNEY 2014 CORROBOREE / P19

Business Event Sydney extends its sincerethanks to the many Rotarians, some18,500, from across the globe whogathered in Sydney last month for theirannual convention. By all reports, it was aresounding success! We have been very humbled by some ofthe feedback we received from Rotarianswho took part in our survey in the BillabongHouse of Friendship. This is what you hadto say:Sydney is clearly one of the world's greatcities. This was our first trip to Sydney (andto Australia), and we can hardly wait to getback.Sydney has opened its arms to Rotariansfrom all corners of the world and made ourstay all the more rewarding.The sights are wonderful but it is thepeople who make Sydney such a wonderfulexperience.

Rotary International achieved a number of‘firsts’ for a business event in our city: firstevent to receive a citywide welcome, withbanners lining the streets from SydneyAirport to Sydney Olympic Park and acrossDarling Harbour, and the first event to haveits own light projection included in ourVivid Sydney Festival.We have heard nothing but positiveremarks about the impact Rotary has had

on our city. Your projects, both local andinternational, including your Labyrinth forLiteracy project donating books to ourlocal Indigenous children, ongoing plight torid the world of Polio and many moreworldwide, are genuinely contributing to abetter world for us all.We hope that we have left a lastingimpression on you, just as much as youhave on us, and that you will tell yourfamily, friends and colleagues all about themany ways that Sydney shines.Don’t leave it too long before you comeand see us again!We’d love to hear from you. Please send usyour stories about your Sydney Conventonhighlights and what you have experienced,including ideas, knowledge and insights forimproving your work at your local Rotaryclub at [email protected]

A message to the Rotarians whovisited us in Sydney

www.rotary2014.com.auHOST ORGANISING COMMITTEE

Corroboree edition 7 - final issue

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