Newsletter for the Rotary Club of Greater Geraldton - Issue No.: 781 Issue Date: 22 Apr, 2024

Rotary District Conference this year was held in Geraldton, led by District Governor, Mr. Lindsay Dry.

District 9455 is one of the largest in are in the world, covering from the north of Perth to the Kimberly. The conference this year was held in Geraldton, welcoming over 300 delegates from the district as well as guests from all over Australia and speaker from San Francisco! The theme of the conference was “Finding Happiness through Rotary Service” and plenary sessions and Rotary displays were held at Queens Park Theatre and our social programs on Friday and Saturday night took place at the Geraldton Grammar School. Indeed, the live musical entertainment was provided by music students and teachers from the Grammar School. Even better, Geraldton put on some glorious weather making for spectacular tours of the HMAS ll Sydney Memorial on Sunday morning and brilliant golfing Friday afternoon! Our Overseas Inbound Exchange Students also took part in all aspects of the conference.

On Saturday night John and Beryl Rigter were presented by DG Lindsay, supported by the three presidents of the Geraldton Rotary Clubs, with Paul Harris Fellowships in recognition of their decades of outstanding community service to Geraldton.

Key Note Speakers included former Premier of WA, Dr Geoff Gallop AC on “Happiness from Service” and Prof Byron Kakulas AO from the Perron Institute speaking on advances in neuromuscular research. (Many will remember him from the early “Telethon” days with respect to muscular dystrophy research.)

Lindsay was overwhelmed by the hospitality of Geraldton and was most appreciative of the effort put in by the local clubs, and our very own Peter Svensson and “Thin Woody” as MC received special mention!