Rotary Club of Glenferrie members were among the hundreds of Rotarians who travelled to Horsham for the recent Rotary Multi-District Impact Summit, a landmark gathering that brought together Rotary Districts 9800, 9780 and 9510 for a weekend of learning, fellowship, inspiration, and (very important), fun. Held from 27–29 March 2026 at the Horsham Town Hall, the summit marked a significant collaboration between the three districts, united under the theme “Uniting for Good.” Rotarians and friends travelled from as far afield as Adelaide and Melbourne and nearby townships; by train, bus and car. A vibrant atmosphere focused on connection, innovation and the future impact of Rotary.
Glenferrie Rotary was led by President Helena Wimpole who was joined by Michael and Janet, Richard and Kathryn, Amelia, Cheryl (and Hawthorn Rotarian, David), and the aforementioned Masaya Endo. We were also pleased to catch up with Thelma and Mark who had travelled 500km from Bendigo (the long way) raising money for ROCAN research (yes another acronym).
Delegates heard from a diverse range of speakers addressing humanitarian service, leadership and community well being. Mark, the “beautiful bogan”, spoke on the serious topic of mental health through humour. There was the personal story from David, a local fire fighter and how a simple grass fire can destroy a small township, how Peace Scholar, Olivia’s career had taken her to many areas of conflict and Rotary’s ongoing global efforts toward the eradication of polio. Jessie Harman from District 9780 shared her “Walk to End Polio” – a journey through Nepal to Everest Base Camp. Truly inspiring!
A special highlight was the attendance of Rotary International’s first female world president, Jennifer Jones as the RI President’s representative. Her presence reinforced Rotary’s global reach and shared mission of service above self. Jennifer (or Jen as she is known) is a fabulous speaker and passionate supporter of Rotary.
On the Saturday morning, those of us who woke up early travelled to the Horsham Showgrounds for the Rotary Foundation Breakfast held in the rustic environment of an old show pavilion. When we arrived, we were advised that the electricity in the catering area had died and that our bacon, eggs and hash browns may not be served as expected. However, this didn’t faze the organisers who rearranged the program and Jen (as incoming Foundation Chair) delivered the main address. She was ably supported by our own District Global Scholar, Masaya Endo, who shared his journey to study linguistics at Melbourne University. Side note: a local electrician had a very early call out and we enjoyed a cooked brekky. After breakfast, a group of us walked along the beautiful Wimmera River (about 2.7km) back to the Town Hall.
Beyond the formal sessions, the summit provided valuable opportunities for fellowship – a cornerstone of Rotary. The Saturday night gala dinner held in a converted Showground pavilion celebrated the Wimmera region’s agricultural heritage enabled members to build friendships across districts while experiencing regional hospitality. Thanks Amelia’s for reserving a spot for us right up the front. We enjoyed a great band, lots of dancing thanks to Masaya– remember: what happens in Horsham stays in Horsham!
More than a conference, the Horsham summit was a reminder of Rotary’s collective capacity to create meaningful change when knowledge, enthusiasm and service ideals are shared.
And what is planned for 2027? Due to the success of this year’s event, the three Districts will again unite in Warrnambool in April next year. As soon as bookings are open, our OTC, Thelma, will be providing information on special “Early Bird” rates, accommodation choices, etc. So, don’t miss out: plan a trip down the Great Ocean Road in 2027. Enjoy meeting Rotarians from other regions, hear inspiring speakers and have lots of fun in coastal Victoria.
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