Speakers

MICHAEL CROSSLAND – ‘THE POWER OF PERSPECTIVE’

A fighter since birth. He defied the odds of surviving a rare form of life-threatening cancer and was the sole survivor of a horrific cancer drug trial. He has spent nearly ¼ of his life in hospital and continually shows the world absolutely everything that he can accomplish. A businessman and elite sportsman, Michael has shared the stage with the likes of Sir Richard Branson & the Dalai Lama.

He has achieved incredible outcomes in both his personal and professional life. His ability to help shift your mindset, instil perspective and have you determined to become the best version of yourself, will amaze and inspire.
https://michaelcrossland.com/

“Outside of love, HOPE is one of the most powerful words in the English language.“
– Michael Crossland

BEN AVERY  – ‘STORIES FROM A FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT’

Ben is a Loxton local.  From rural reporter to foreign correspondent, he has covered the world’s biggest news stories, including the Thai cave rescue, the death of Prince Philip and Australia’s Ashes triumph in England in 2019.  In 2020, as the Nine Network’s Europe Correspondent, he covered the spread of Covid-19, providing first-hand accounts from the locked-down cities of Milan and London. 

He has won several top awards, including South Australian Journalist of the Year in 2016 and 2020.  He’ll talk about hope – as the Thai cave rescue unfolded. As well as things fascinating and harrowing, as he has brought news into our lounge rooms.

Trevor Norton – ‘Official Opening’

Mayor – Loxton Waikerie District Council, Trevor Norton is Riverland born and bred and now lives in Kingston-On-Murray, with wife Colleen.

Schooled in Loxton before graduating from Roseworthy Agriculture College in 1983, he worked for more than twenty years for the South Australian and Australian Agriculture departments before establishing his own horticultural consultancy.

Trevor has served on the District Council of Loxton Waikerie for over 12 years including 4 as Deputy Mayor. He was elected Mayor in 2022.

He is also a regular opinion columnist for the local newspaper, co-hosts a weekly sports radio program and broadcasts football on the regional radio station, 5RM.

KIM MOREY – ‘MY STORY’

Kim is of Anmatyerre/Eastern Arrernte descent with family connections to Central Australia.  A mother, wife, sister, daughter and Aunty, she has committed her working life to improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal people.

With experience in policy, planning, service development, monitoring and systems performance, including 10 years in Aboriginal health research. Kim leads the SA Aboriginal Chronic Disease Consortium, co-leads the Wardliparingga Health Equity Theme and is a member of the South Australian Stolen Generation Aboriginal Corporation.

All of Kim’s work is linked to her family story.

MAURICE O’CONNELL – ‘UKRAINE RELIEF PROJECT NEW DAWN’

Maurice O’Connell is an Adelaide resident with a background in finance and banking and earlier in his career as an Army officer in the UK.

Now retired, he was so moved by what he saw on television of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he first went to Ukraine in 2022.   As a self-funded volunteer, he began working with a local Ukrainian NGO in Odesa – providing welfare assistance to Internally Displaced People, remote communities, and related humanitarian projects.

Maurice inspired the initiation of Project New Dawn in District 9510.  He will relate how his military background influenced both why he went to Odesa and his role whilst there. He will describe life in a city and community on the front line.

ROSIE LOTAWA – ‘ROTARY OCEANIA MEDICAL AID TO CHILDREN’

Rosie first came to Australia as ROMAC patient number 5 in 1991, a frightened 9 year-old Fijian girl. She made 6 surgical visits to Australia.

Her challenges since birth included facial deformities (hypertelorism, bilateral lip and palate) and deformed hands (left hand contained three fingers) and the right hand had a short arm. She was also fitted with a prosthesis, that greatly added to her confidence.

Now as a 41 year-old happily living in Australia, Rosie is humbled and overjoyed at the opportunity and recognition of being a ROMAC Ambassador. She enjoys visiting the babies, children and parents from the Islands who are also being assisted by ROMAC.

Heidi Unferdorben & Rachel Wills – ‘A CENTENARY OF ROTARY IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA’

Heidi Unferdorben is a Past President of the Rotary Club of Adelaide and has served on the District 9510 Leadership Board. With a passion for both her club and for Rotary, she has been the Chair of the Rotary Club of Adelaide Centenary Committee since it first convened in 2020. She leads the team that has turned a 100-year milestone into a showcase of celebration and events.

Rachel Wills is a member of the Rotary Club of Waikerie. Since joining Rotary she has been her club’s unofficial photographer – sliding easily into a role as Public Image manager and dynamic Bulletin Editor. Rachel brings her infectious brand of enthusiasm to the role of District Centenary Chair – taking the Centenary to clubs in District 9510 and beyond.

DR. CAMERON GLOVER  – ‘INTERPLAST’

Cameron has been the CEO of Interplast since December 2019. Interplast is a charity that provides life-saving and life-changing surgery across 17 countries in the Asia Pacific region. Their teams of volunteer plastic surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses and allied health professionals also train and upskill the local medical services to provide longer-term and improved care.

Interplast is supported by Rotarians in clubs and districts throughout Australia and New Zealand. Cameron will talk about Interplast’s work and challenges. You will hear about remarkable outcomes brought about and enabled by this extraordinary volunteer organisation.

WILLIAM GILLETT & SAMUEL NITSCHKE – ‘ROTARY YOUTH ALUMNI’

William is a former Loxton High School student where he was instrumental in establishing the school’s Interact Club. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Loxton he attended Rotary Adventures in Citizenship and participated in the Rotary Youth Sailing Challenge aboard the tall ship One and All. He is now in his second year of Laws (Honours) and Business (Economics) at St Marks College Adelaide. He was awarded the 2022 Charles Allan Seymour Hawker Scholarship.

Samuel graduated as Dux of Loxton High School in 2020 and was also integral to the establishment of the Loxton High School Interact Club. He is studying Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Adelaide, focusing on a career working with fast-jet aircraft and space systems. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Loxton, he attended the National Youth Science Forum in Brisbane in 2020.

Samuel and William will talk about how their association with Rotary has shaped their careers and personal values, along with their important lessons as young Rotary Alumni.