The Club was strongly represented at this year’s district conference which was a combined one with D9660 joining us under the theme for 2026 – Together for Tomorrow. It was well attended with 450 people gathering from across the member clubs.
The following excerpt summarising activities was written by Pam, our Oozoo editor.
Our District 9685 combined with District 9660 to hold a very successful conference in
Newcastle last weekend.
- Following a cocktail welcome on Friday evening, there was an inspiring and entertaining array of speakers on the Saturday. Highlights included:
- Dr Norman Swan (don’t ruminate if you want your brain to age well!)
- Deborah Thomas (Camp Quality for cancer survivors)
- The Hon David Hurley (former Governor General, a hub for mental health patients and practitioners in Wodonga)
- Substation33 (young unemployed people recycling e-waste into items such as early
- flood warning monitors)
- Nina Perry (using AI to assess the wellbeing of children with neurodevelopmental conditions)
- Christie Dawes (Paralympian)
- Fred Watson (total eclipse 22nd July 2028)
- Marnie Ogg (Dark Skies)|
- and possibly the most inspiring, Dr Jordan Nguyen (an engineer, inventor and innovator using AI to transform lives). He enabled 13-year-old Riley, a quadriplegic, to drive a buggy with his eyes and encouraged a non-verbal girl to talk to Koobo the robot.
Some photos from the Conference
