Do yourself a big favour (as Australian hero and St.Kilda tragic Molly Meldrum always said) and Come to Conference! Why? Well let's ask Ian Bentley! Glenferrie Rotarians will join with Hawthorn Rotarians on the Friday evening for a convivial evening at a local restaurant in Horsham just before the main event. This message to members from the President of Rotary Hawthorn expresses the Rotary Conference experience so well. Once you have experienced a Rotary conference, you will want more. Here's why….
The Rotary Conference Experience : President Ian Bentley, Rotary Hawthorn
The last time a District Conference was held in Western Victoria, it was in Warrnambool, where sixteen representatives from our Club attended. I remember that conference well, not just for its fellowship, but for its education, entertainment and inspiration. The RIPPR (Rotary International President’s Personal Representative) challenged us to use the event to develop our own “elevator pitch” for Rotary: what would we say, in a minute or two, that explains what Rotary is and why it matters?
It is a good question to revisit. What does set Rotary apart from most other charitable and humanitarian organisations?
On my list would be:
1. Rotary’s global reach,
2. the generous can-do spirit of our members,
3. the breadth of skills and experience we bring, and
4. the financial strength that allows us to turn ideas into action.
Even at a conference in a small Victorian country town, we are connected to something genuinely global. Conferences remind us of that connection. They bring people together, challenge our thinking, and often send us home with fresh ideas and renewed energy.
I have to admit I was something of a conference junkie throughout my professional life. What I valued most was the chance to step outside my usual circle of colleagues and the culture of my own workplace. The in-person conversations, the networking, and the sense of shared purpose almost always exposed me to different ways of thinking, sparked new ideas, and gave me a burst of renewed enthusiasm for whatever work lay ahead. Rotary conferences offer just these opportunities; they widen our perspective, re-energise us, and send us back to our clubs with purpose.
PDG Dennis Shore reminded us at last week’s meeting that the Multidistrict Impact Summit in Horsham, 27th - 29th March 2026, will feature Past RI President Jennifer Jones as the RIPPR Jennifer is widely regarded as one of Rotary’s most engaging and insightful communicators, and many who have heard her speak say the opportunity alone makes the conference worthwhile.
If you have been considering attending the Horsham Summit but have not yet decided, I encourage you to take another look (https://www.
Ian Bentley
President Rotary Hawthorn
2025-26
ps: And don't forget to let Cheryl Pisterman know you're coming so she can add you to the Glenferrie Conference Whatsapp group.