Some 14,000 delegates from over 120 countries descended on a hot and steamy Singapore last week for the annual Rotary International Convention. Included among the participants were seven Rotary Melbourne members: Tony Battaini, Irena Bauer, Kenza Dairi, Robert Fisher, Sana Malik, Peter Rogers and Amanda Wendt.

Six of the memorable keynote speakers were:

• Graça Machel – who spoke of the extraordinary potential of girls and women, and the importance of their equal recognition
• Claire Chiang (CEO, Banyan Group) – who called for the end of men-only Rotary Clubs
• Aiden O’Leary (Director, World Health Organisation) – who, in saying the end of polio was “impossible until it becomes possible”, declared that, once achieved, it would be the greatest public health success of our generation
• Dr Jack Sim – who defied the WTO (World Trade Organisation) by setting up his own WTO (World Toilet Organisation) 27 years ago, when he sold his businesses at age 40, then secured UN approval for an annual World Toilet Day
• Dr Obinna Onyekwena (Deputy Director, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation) – who announced the formation of a new community health alliance with Rotary which aims to focus on vaccinating people against malaria, pneumonia and diarrhea, initially in Zambia, DRC, Mozambique and Nigeria
• Bill Gates (on video) – who praised Rotary for raising US$1B for the fight against polio, which has become US$2.7B thanks to his Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

As usual, there was a ‘House of Friendship’ highlighting scores of initiatives, projects and special interest groups around the world of Rotary.            

Dozens of breakout sessions offered the sharing of experiences for Club participation/development in specific areas of focus/concern.

23 Singaporean Rotary Clubs provided fellowship and entertainment to hundreds of visitors on the Host Hospitality Night.

RI President Gordon McInally spoke passionately of his experiences during the past year, particularly the global uptake by Clubs of his key focus for the year: mental health awareness, which had been triggered by the untimely death to suicide of his own brother. This will undoubtedly be his legacy. He encouraged us not to just ask: “how are you?” but rather “how are you – really?”

Special entertainment was provided by mega-star Calum Scott and the extraordinary Red Hot Chilli Pipers (worth a Google), but the most popular act was from our own DGE Michael Lapina performing magnificent operatic extracts with the RIP’s talented wife Heather – what an extraordinary combination.

This was my third Convention, unlike some attendees who had been to more than 20. It reminded me of Rotary’s life-changing power and influence, and left me feeling proud to be a small part of this mighty organisation.

Rotary is truly amazing!

Robert Fisher/2 Jun 24

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