The streets of Dubbo will be awash with Rotarians later this month with registrations for the 2016-2017 Rotary District 9670 Conference almost at 500 and still open.
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Conference committee chairman Andrew Graham is predicting an economic windfall for the city, albeit difficult to calculate.
On Thursday Mr Graham reported that registrations would stay open for one more week for the conference from March 17 to 19.
In hand are about 490 registrations from Rotarians, the majority of them from other parts of Rotary District 9670. “I don’t think there would be more than 100 from Dubbo going (to the conference),” the chairman said.
Mr Graham understands about 200 of the visiting Rotarians will attend the conference from start to finish. “Some people will be attending the whole conference so they will be staying two nights, Friday and Saturday night,” he said. “Others have registered for different parts of the conference. It may be Friday night and Saturday morning or Saturday and Saturday night, or Saturday night and Sunday morning.”
Dubbo Regional Council suggests that visitors to Dubbo spend an average $151 a day. In December the council gave $2000 to the conference from its Major Events Sponsor Program that aims to attract activities that inject more than $30,000 into the local economy.
The 2016-2017 Rotary District 9670 Conference will draw Rotarians from clubs on the coast through to inland NSW. “The district covers Newcastle up to Nelson Bay, then cuts a swathe through Raymond Terrace and the Hunter Valley out to Mudgee and Dubbo, then it goes out to Nyngan and Cobar and up to Bourke,” Mr Graham said.
He said a highlight of the conference would be the district governor’s dinner in the Macquarie Auditorium of Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre on March 18.
On March 17 a “welcoming” event will be held at Old Dubbo Gaol.
Speakers at the conference include Leila Abukar who came to Australia through a women-at-risk program run by the Australian High Commission, and advocate for children and young people Andrew Johnson.