Sydney International Conference

Barbara Bailey provided a personal account of her attending the Rotary International Conference held in Sydney in early June. This attracted 18,000 participants from 150 countries. Highlights included:

* Two opening Plenary Sessions in the Olympic Stadium (about 10,000 attendees to each) including an address by Tony Abbott acknowledging Rotary’s efforts in Polio eradication and further grants from the Government in support of this program

* The opening included a concert by Human Nature while the closing session featured the Ten Tenors and Marina Prior

* The R.I. Conference Theme flag was presented by Life Savers who had rowed their boat with the flag from Sydney Harbour Bridge up the Parramatta River to the Stadium with the big screen showing progress of this craft to the audience

* Silver service dinner for 1,000 at the Conference Centre with five nationalities at her table 

* All Public Transport was free for attendees including special express trains from Central Station to the Olympic Complex for the duration of the onference.

* No hitches in any of the services or venues

* World Toilet Day announced for 19th November (unforgettable as this is also Barbara’s birthday)

* Very wide range of parallel presentations (92 electives) with Cal Pac members splitting up and comparing notes later

* The International Presidential Address was amazingly good and Sao Paulo will be the venue for the 2015 Conference.