Corroboree edition 7 - final issue

www.rotary2014.com.au
HOST ORGANISING COMMITTEE
The Sydney 2014
Oﬃcial newsletter of the Host Organising Committee,
Rotary International Convention Sydney, Australia – June 14, 2014
EEROBORROC
INTERNATIONAL EDITION # 7
Enquiries/contributions to Public Relations Sub Committee
Chairman Bob Aitken – bob@bobaitkenmedia.com.au
THE SYDNEY 2014 CORROBOREE / P1
Highlights from the Sydney Convention
In this pictorial edition of Corroboree we will
be featuring all of the highlights from the
Sydney Convention 2014. The Convention
provided attendees with various different
events and activities that kept them
entertained for hours and have left them
with memories to last a lifetime. From the
world record breaking BridgeClimb that
raised over $40, 000 for End Polio Now, to the
spectacular House of Friendship containing
it’s very own Billabong and Sydney Harbour
Bridge Take a look through the next few
pages to relive all of the fun and excitement
that was had at the Convention here in
Sydney. We hope you enjoy!

Engage Rotary - Change Lives - Thank You
The 105th Rotary International Convention
may be over but the aura and excitement live
on! To the 18,603 Convention registrants it
was a model for what a Rotary convention
should be. I have heard nothing but positive
comments from all corners of the globe.
Let’s not kid ourselves. We are all very well
aware that an event of this magnitude requires
a lot of dedicated people, committed to a
common purpose, working tirelessly to attract,
register, welcome, house, feed, educate,
entertain, and hopefully satisfy a large and
diverse audience. In a word – that is no easy
task .but, you did it, and it did it with style,
grace, and smiling faces. I salute each one of
you.
Jetta and I feel so blessed. First of all, just
by sheer luck we drew Sydney as our venue.
We don’t think there is a better place
anywhere in the world. Second, we inherited
the premier Host Organizing Committee of all
Host Organizing Committees. It was in place
long before I was selected to be President.
Third, we have an incredible International
Meetings staff at Rotary International. I’ve had
the opportunity to work with them on several
other occasions so I know of what I speak.
They didn’t necessarily do a better job for me
than they would do for anyone else – they just
did their job! Fourth, we had an amazing
Convention Chair who took his job seriously
and meticulously provided leadership,
oversight, and direction to every detail. Fifth,
we had an amazing Convention Committee
supporting me and the Chair. Sixth, we had a
hardworking, dedicated group serving on the
Promotion Committee. Seventh, we had
legions of Australian volunteers manning
virtually every post around the clock assisting
our guests. Eighth, we had the full support of
Business Events Sydney who coordinated our
effort with the governmental entities, Olympic
Park, and countless others. Ninth, we had
tremendous support from the government of
New South Wales and the Office of the
Premier. Tenth, we also had great support
from the city government. All in all, it was a
perfect “storm.”
Each one of you played a major role in
making our Convention the very best. The end
result is a testament that each one of you put
your all into it . Each one of you did ENGAGE
ROTARY and you did CHANGE LIVES. So, to
everyone, Jetta and I say THANK YOU!
l RON BURTON
RI President 20132014
G’Day from Sydney!
I was pleased and honored to be asked by
Rotary International President Ron Burton to
serve as the Chair of the 2014 Sydney
Convention Committee. It has been an
exhilarating experience to plan and organize this
international meeting for more than 18,600
Rotarians and their guests.
The Sydney Convention was a tremendous
success because of the support of many people—
both Rotarians and nonRotarians. Under the
leadership of Chair Barry Thompson and the Host
Organizing Committee (HOC), the Australian
Rotarians were outstanding in every respect. The
HOC organized an outstanding Billabong House
of Friendship that was the hub of activity
throughout the Convention. They also produced
exciting events such as the RecordBreaking
Bridge Climb, the Great Aussie BBQ, and the
concert at the Sydney Opera House. And the
Australian Rotarian volunteers were everywhere
offering friendship, advice, and directions!
Thanks also go to Rotarians from around the
world who served in many important capacities
before and during the Convention. The RI
Convention Committee members provided
creative ideas and valuable insights during the
planning process. Sergeantsat
arms from every continent on
the globe under the leadership of
Chief Sergeant Jim Ives helped
every event run smoothly. And
hundreds of Rotarians presented
in breakout sessions, staffed
booths in the Billabong House of
Friendship, and coordinated
volunteer projects.
All of this could not have been
accomplished without the
dedicated support of the RI staff.
L.J. Williams and the Meetings
and Events staff, joined by staff
members from almost every area
of the Secretariat, planned and implemented the
plenary stage production, organized breakout
sessions, oversaw transportation, and insured
that all facilities were available and properly
prepared. From specifying the number of chairs
in each room to securing permission to light the
Olympic flame on the opening day, our skilled
and professional staff did it all.
No local government authority has done as
much to support a Rotary Convention as the New
South Wales Government did for the Sydney
Convention. New South Wales provided
dedicated 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 the
Convention. Business Events Sydney also
coordinated many details with the local
community.
Finally, the Convention would have been
nothing without the attendance of 18,600
Rotarians and guests from 153 countries! The
attendees provided the fellowship and
international flavor which are the hallmarks of
any Rotary Convention. Thank you for joining us
in Sydney to Engage Rotary, Change Lives.
l MARK DANIEL MALONEY
Chair, 2014 Sydney Convention Committee
P2 / THE SYDNEY 2014 CORROBOREE www.rotary2014.com.auwww.rotary2014.com.au

A message from Premier Baird
Thank you to everyone who attended the
Rotary International Convention in Sydney.
Whether you travelled from across the globe
or from around the corner I hope you
enjoyed your time in our fantastic Harbour
City.
The Convention brought more than 18,000
Rotarians from over 150 countries to our great
city during this four day event.
I hope all Rotarians had the chance to visit
some of Sydney’s spectacular sights, such as
the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Darling Harbour,
Manly Beach, the Sydney Opera House and
the fantastic annual festival of music, light and
ideas: Vivid Sydney.
In addition to enjoying the best Sydney has
to offer, I hope Rotarians also had the chance
to take in some of the breathtaking landscapes
in Regional NSW such as the ruggedly
beautiful Blue Mountains and the Hunter
Valley vineyards and enjoyed our friendly
Australian culture and breathtaking
landscapes.
I also applaud Rotary for tackling pressing
humanitarian issues during the conference,
such as the eradication of polio which
featured in a Vivid light installation on the
façade of 88 George Street in the Sydney CBD.
The NSW Government has recently made
moves to strengthen vaccination requirements
for young children and it is heartening that
Vivid Sydney was able to play a part in keeping
this important issue in the public eye.
Once again thank you for bringing the
Rotary International Convention to Sydney
and I hope we see you back again soon.
l THE HONOURABLE MIKE BAIRD MP
Premier of New South Wales
www.rotary2014.com.au THE SYDNEY 2014 CORROBOREE / P3 www.rotary2014.com.au

P6/ THE SYDNEY 2014 CORROBOREE www.rotary2014.com.auwww.rotary2014.com.au

www.rotary2014.com.au THE SYDNEY 2014 CORROBOREE / P19
Business Event Sydney extends its sincere
thanks to the many Rotarians, some
18,500, from across the globe who
gathered in Sydney last month for their
annual convention. By all reports, it was a
resounding success!
We have been very humbled by some of
the feedback we received from Rotarians
who took part in our survey in the Billabong
House of Friendship. This is what you had
to say:
Sydney is clearly one of the world's great
cities. This was our first trip to Sydney (and
to Australia), and we can hardly wait to get
back.
Sydney has opened its arms to Rotarians
from all corners of the world and made our
stay all the more rewarding.
The sights are wonderful but it is the
people who make Sydney such a wonderful
experience.
Rotary International achieved a number of
‘firsts’ for a business event in our city: first
event to receive a citywide welcome, with
banners lining the streets from Sydney
Airport to Sydney Olympic Park and across
Darling Harbour, and the first event to have
its own light projection included in our
Vivid Sydney Festival.
We have heard nothing but positive
remarks about the impact Rotary has had
on our city. Your projects, both local and
international, including your Labyrinth for
Literacy project donating books to our
local Indigenous children, ongoing plight to
rid the world of Polio and many more
worldwide, are genuinely contributing to a
better world for us all.
We hope that we have left a lasting
impression on you, just as much as you
have on us, and that you will tell your
family, friends and colleagues all about the
many ways that Sydney shines.
Don’t leave it too long before you come
and see us again!
We’d love to hear from you. Please send us
your stories about your Sydney Conventon
highlights and what you have experienced,
including ideas, knowledge and insights for
improving your work at your local Rotary
club at rotary@besydney.com.au
A message to the Rotarians who
visited us in Sydney

Corroboree edition 7 - final issue

Corroboree edition 7 - final issue

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