Posted by Mary Barry, Chair Host Organizing Committee

The Host Organizing Committee is very excited to welcome Rotary members and guests to Melbourne for the 2023 Rotary International Convention.   Known as one of the world’s most livable cities, you will enjoy what we take for granted, a beautiful, vibrant and cosmopolitan city......

 

Melbourne:

Set on the shores of picturesque Port Phillip Bay, the southern-most city of mainland Australia  Melbourne is rich in aesthetics, with its beauty enhanced by the meandering Yarra River, immaculate parks and gardens, public art, classical buildings and innovative design.  

Iconic Flinders Street railway station is the meeting point for all people when they come to Melbourne. Start your journey there and enjoy a great coffee and discover what Melbourne has to offer. 

With interlocking laneways with graffiti art and the buzzing inner-city precinct reveals one-off boutiques and world-class restaurants, while our larger modern department stores and shopping complexes compete to enchant the most discerning shopper. Melbourne is culturally diverse and is globally recognized as one of the most concentrated dining and fashion cultures in the world. 

Melbourne is the heart of Australia's major sports: Formula 1, Melbourne Cup (the race that stops a nation), Australian Tennis Open, and the mighty Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) which is home to Australian cricket and our unique Australian Football League (AFL).

Just a short drive from the heart of Melbourne, you can take one of the world's iconic drives along the Great Ocean Road. Head north to the Murray River and sit amongst the great river red gums or relax with a glass of local wine on a river paddle steamer. Or, if you prefer, head to Phillip Island. Here you can visit the koala sanctuary and see the world-famous fairy penguin parade in the evening. Step back in time - head to Ballarat and try your hand at gold panning at Sovereign Hill. Visit the Yarra Valley,  home of great cool climate wines, chardonnay, pinot and sparkling. There are unlimited adventures and discoveries to be had, just a short distance from Melbourne City. 

Please keep visiting this site because we will be regularly posting new exciting activities and information. We look forward to welcoming you to our great city. 

Mary Barry 
Chair Host Organizing Committee 2023 

 

Here is the Convention website. REGISTER HEREhttps://convention.rotary.org/en/melbourne

 

 

From Nick Krayacich- Rotary District 6400 Governor Nominee, Partner of the 2022-23 Rotary International President:

Register now for the 2023 Rotary International Convention in Melbourne, Australia!

Imagine a city where every day is a new beginning. Now know that Melbourne is Australia’s best kept secret.
 
Almost without exception those who have come to Melbourne say it is the highlight of their Australian adventure. It is a fun, vibrant, lively and exciting city. An epicenter of sports, arts, and entertainment; also known as a foodies paradise and the coffee capital of the world.
 
It is Australia’s 2nd largest city, one of the worlds most livable cities, a true multicultural society with something for everyone including it’s many unique laneways that feature cafes, bars, street art and boutique retailers.
 
Melbourne hosts Australia’s major sporting events such as Formula 1, Melbourne Cup, Australian Tennis Open, and the mighty Melbourne Cricket Ground which is home to Australian cricket and our unique Australian Football League.
 
And Regional Victoria contains much of Australia’s geographical and biological diversity. From world class wineries to natural springs, lush mountain ranges to a stunning coastline, famous roads to natural parks and a penguin parade.

 
Features of the convention
 
The convention will be held on 27th to 31st of May 2023
 
General sessions - Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Park

Imagine it packed to the brim with over 25,000 Rotarians as they experience world-class speakers and entertainment selected to engage an international audience.
 

House of Friendship & Breakouts - Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre
The HOC has planned several hundred booths exhibiting products and Rotary projects from across the globe.
 
The call for proposals for breakout sessions has already been circulated because the world needs to hear about your projects and high impact programs. Several breakout sessions allow you to have in depth discussions on important Rotary topics that provide information and advice from experts. And there are the affiliated events like the walk for polio, the golf fundraiser, special dinners and much more.
 
And the best part is meeting friends from all over the world. We’ve been kept apart by the pandemic and now we have a chance to come together again in our predominant annual event.
 
Visa processing
 
Except for holders of New Zealand Passports, visitors from all other countries are required to obtain a visa to enter Australia. And since we know that visa issues can be sticky, and most embassies around the world have a back log, start processing your visas early.  The good news: American and Canadian visitors can apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), CLICK HERE for details and online application.
 
 
Social media promotion
 
I ask you all to promote the convention on your social media time lines. Let your friends know that you’ve registered, share your experiences from past conventions, and film your imagine what’s next videos, telling the world what you personally expect from the Melbourne Convention.
 
So let’s go together to the Melbourne convention to celebrate Jennifer Jones, the first woman President of Rotary International in 117 years, and let’s also celebrate our Rotarians and our impact as we imagine what’s next.
 
Fees
 
$475.00 up to Dec 15
It then goes up to $575.00
 
So don’t waste any more time - click here to register today and imagine what’s next.
 
Yours truly,
 
Nick Krayacich- Rotary District 6400 Governor Nominee, Partner of the 2022-23 Rotary International President
 
 

7 REASONS TO GO TO THE ROTARY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION IN MELBOURNE:

1 You’ll (re)connect with the Rotary family.

The last Rotary International Convention, in Houston, was proof there’s nothing like connecting face to face. But for many Rotary members in the Asia-Pacific region, where COVID-19 restrictions complicated travel plans, Melbourne will be their first in-person convention in four years. With five districts (representing more than 250 Rotary and Rotaract clubs) across the state of Victoria hosting the event, it’s sure to be a big reunion.

2 You’ll explore the world — all in one place.

The convention is the best way to appreciate Rotary’s global scale and reach, says Rebecca Fry, founding chair of RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) Oceania and charter president of the Rotary Club of Social Impact Network, New South Wales. "The House of Friendship is a true festival of Rotary, showcasing our organization’s fellowships, action groups, and community projects from around the world."

3 You’ll discover cities within a city.

The coastal metropolis is known as the Australian capital of culture, food, sports, architecture, and theater. It’s also a shopping mecca.

Mary Barry, chair of the Host Organization Committee, proudly notes Melbourne’s regular recognition as one of the world’s most livable cities. It is a family friendly place where visitors will feel instantly welcomed and at ease. "The city looks after its tourists with excellent public transport to unique attractions," says Roslyn Teirney, an assistant Rotary public image coordinator for Zone 8 and a member of the Rotary Club of North Hobart, Tasmania.

4 You’ll be inspired.

Rotary conventions are all about an exchange of ideas. And each year’s gathering brings you big name speakers to inspire, connect, and spur solutions to the world’s toughest challenges. Just look at the list of some past speakers: Bill Gates, Justin Trudeau, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Princess Anne of the United Kingdom. "While still early to announce 2023 program highlights, be assured only outstanding international speakers will take part," says HOC Chair Barry.

5 You’ll get your kangaroo fix.

Experience quintessential Australia with a visit to the Melbourne Zoo for a close-up and safe encounter with some of the world’s most unusual, cute, and dangerous species — kangaroos, koalas, snakes, spiders, crocodiles, wombats, and platypuses. Just 13 miles northeast of Melbourne’s central business district, the Gresswell Forest nature reserve provides spectacular sightings of eastern gray kangaroos, says Jennifer Scott, a past district governor and member of the Rotary Club of Central Blue Mountains.

Need more cuteness? Head to Phillip Island, 75 miles southeast of Melbourne, and check out the largest colony of little penguins in the world.

6 You’ll feel energized.

Looking for a place to hang out with all your new Rotary friends once the day is over? Melbourne has endless options. Laura Telford, chair of the Rotaract Australia multidistrict information organization and member of the Rotaract Club of Canberra, describes Melbourne as another of the famous cities that "never sleep."

"Visitors will enjoy jumping on one of more than 475 trams that cover 250 kilometers [155 miles] of track to take you to every corner of this exciting city."

7 You’ll want to see more of Australia.

While the distance can be a challenge in traveling to Melbourne, visitors may fly in to Sydney, Brisbane, Darwin, or Perth to make the most of a unique travel opportunity by seeing other parts of Australia. "The Great Barrier Reef, Uluru and the Red Centre, our tropical north, and the rugged coast of Western Australia all present memorable sightseeing experiences," Scott says.

For more ideas, visit melbournecb.com.au/welcome-to-melbourne.