'Advance the Dream' was held in Ballarat March 13th - 15th 2009 at the Mercure Ballarat, 613 Main Road, Ballarat.

Some five hundred Rotarians and partners attended from across the district, with many extending their stay to take in the pleasures of Ballarat in autumn.

Friday evening began with a Civic Welcome at the Ballarat Town Hall, guests were welcomed to the city by Mayor Judy Verlin.

Conference proceedings opened with a welcome to country by Mr. Ted Lovett, elder of the Ballarat Community, the Mayor, Judy Verlin and the District Governor Ted Gaffney, Ted also declared the conference open.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS WERE:

Gabi Hollows - Gabi is Founding Director, Patron of the Fred Hollows Foundation Miracle Club and the public face of the Fred Hollows Foundation. Established in 1992 the Foundation aims to continue the work of her late husband Fred Hollows, working internationally on comprehensive quality eye care, with a focus on cataract.

Gillian Franklin - Gillian is recognised as one of Australia's most innavative marketers with a passion and commitment to supporting women in business. She is Managing Director of her own company - The Heat Group Pty Ltd - one of Australia's leading personal care companies. Gillian encouraged conference attendees to ' NOT SAY NO! SAY HOW'.

Past Rotary President Peter Drysdale - Peter is well known to many Rotarians for his work managing the Fiji Rotahomes Project. One of the very well known projects, Rotohomes has attracted many FAIM (Fourth Avenue in Motion) teams and grants from th Rotary Foundation.

Susan Carew - Susan is the manager of Funny Business OWN Empowerment. She is dedicated to creating a peaceful world through using humour and empowerment skills to enhance conflict resolution and wellbeing.

Tim Sullivan - Tim is Deputy CEO and Museums Director at the Sovereign Hill Musiums Association, Ballarat. In that role, he is responsible for the deveolopment of Sovereign Hill's Outdoor Museum, the Gold Museum and the delivery of environmental education programs at Narmbool.

ADVANCE THE DREAM INTERACTIVE SESSION SPEAKERS

Dreaming of a Sustainable Environment

Nick Lanyon - founder of BREAZE (Ballarat Renewable Energy and Zero emmissions) is a community based, grass roots, non-for-profit climate change action group.

Rotarian Ron Smith - has been involved in the "Fiji - Yanuca Island Water Tank Project" resulting in 50 fibreglass tanks and associated plumbing and fitting.

Dreaming of a Vibrant Future for Rotary

Claire Prascevic - is living proof that the Rotary program RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) makes a difference to young people's lives................

Past District Governor Cathy Roth - A Rotarian since 1990, Cathy desihns and delivers leadership leadership development programmes, and is currently an International Trainer, and ANZO region Vice-Chairman for the Rotary Leadership Institute.

Dreaming of World Peace

Rotarian Douglas Ball - Brigadier Ball was awarded the Reserve Forces Decoration in 1996 and made a Member of the Order of Australia in January 1991 ................

Kaylene Baird - Major Baird joined the Australian Defence Force Reserve in 1978 the same year she qualified as a nurse. In 190 she combined her chosen career with her army role, transferring to RAANC. She has has three oversaes postings, peacekeeping operations in Bougainville and Iraq, and more recently in Iraq.............

Dreaming of a Healthy World

George Kannourakis - Prof Kannourakis is Director of the Ballarat Cancer Research Centre and is a practicing oncologist..............

Chris Doulis - in 1997 Chris, aged 14, sustained 75% full thickness burns to his body whilst he and his two friends were playing a game called Pyroball. Chris now works for the KIDS Foundation - a health promotion charity dedicated to childhood injury prevention and childhood injury recovery. Chris spends hundreds of hours supporting other burns victims and their families.

Dreaming of a World For All

Peter Drysdale- see bio under keynote speakers................

Allison Roe - is a Community Drought Relations Officer employed with the Limestone Coast Division of General Pratice. Allison works with drought effected communities and individuals providing information and advice.

These sessions are designed to keep all Rotary clubs abreast of a range of community concerns and goals so clubs can respond appropriately. Our club had attendees at each of these sessions to ensure our knowledge is as current as possible.