Hosted by District A40, over 400 attendees were welcomed to the wonderful city of Perth with the most beautiful lights of a night – hospitality and friendship.

Conference Coordinator, Kay Durrant with Aboriginal Elder, Talajminu Mia

"Sundowner on the Swan" was hosted by the IWC of Rossmoyne at the Burswood on Swan venue overlooking the Swan River and Perth City.  The Welcome to Country was performed by T J (Tjalaminu Mia) and Daniel Garlett with the playing of his didgeridoo – Daniel a Nyoongar Aborigine, who is Regional development Manager on the S/West Land and Sea Council; TJ, a Meneng Foreng Wardji Nyoongar, from the Great Southern Region of WA.  She was the first Aboriginal woman to work in a men’s maximum security prison and first Aboriginal art curator to work at the Art Gallery of Western Australia.

Thursday saw the start of another wonderful day in Perth with the Opening Ceremony at Gloucester Park, with over three hundred attendees.  IWA executive members and partners were introduced followed by the Banner Parade of all districts in Australia. The Conference was officially opened by Past IWA President Judy Christensen.

Past IWA President, Judy Christensen, officially opened the Conference		IWA President 2011-2012, Val Gibson

The speeches were interrupted by a visit from “Her Majesty the Queen” (performance by Mary Keenan) who was in town to attend CHOGM and she entertained the audience with her repertoire and lightened the whole proceedings with her comedy/satire.

A visit from Her Majesty	The captive audience enjoying the Queen's tales	The Queen making her exit complete with bouquet

Conference guests were NZ President Dorothy Booth, two lovely ladies from England and four Inner Wheel friends from Malaysia.

Lunch was then enjoyed by all and during this time a group photo was taken of all attending the Conference.  The Forum was held once lunch concluded with many ideas and opinions being exchanged.

Home Hospitality dinners were held in the evening.  Some were treated to an authentic Ethiopian meal at a South Perth venue while others had their "tastebuds tantalised" at different clubs all over Perth.   Everyone had a great time and enjoyed their evening.

Home Hospitality  - President Val with the lovely Ethiopian chefs

Friday's programme began with a busy day for the IWA Executive and Council Members attending to Inner Wheel business, while many enjoyed the Perth Royal Show or attended the Wheelchairs for Kids venue.

In the evening everyone attended Gloucester Park for a night at the Trots.  Tables were appropriately decorated with jockey caps, horseshoes and other equine paraphernalia.  All members were able to partake in having a small bet on the trots if they wished as this was an actual trotting night. The highlight was a race named "The Inner Wheel Australia Pace".  President Val Gibson was able to present the winning trotter and driver with a donated Inner Wheel Australia rug, ably aided by Jan Duffy, and a Winner's Trophy.  Chris Young, Channel 7 Sports Editor in the West was the evening's Master of Ceremonies, and has connections with Inner Wheel through his mother-in-law.

President Val with Jan Duffy and the Inner Wheel Australia rug	The winning trotter receives his rug and trophy	First past the winning post, New Zealand trotter, "Pablito" proudly wears his rug

18 year old Ryan telling his story

On Saturday, the Business Session and Annual General Meeting were held in the delightful historical Perth Town Hall.  The hall was decked out with all the IWA and district banners and a wonderful flower arrangement in the corner of the stage.

During the Business Session there was a heartwarming personal story from a family who had benefited from Cord Blood Research and cord blood match located in France.  Their son, Ryan, was now a fine, healthy young man following a transplant of blood from the donated cord.  Ryan has been drug free now for two and a half years.  He is truly the personification of the meaning of the phrase "Help Inner Wheel Australia give a sick child a second chance at life".

There was unanimous support to continue to raise funds for Cord Blood Research for another three years.

In the evening, Gloucester Park was again the venue for the Conference Gala Dinner, superbly decorated throughout and along the archway into the venue.  Entertainment was by Lew Smith and his five piece band who provided jazz background music during the evening and later for dancing.  The wonderful classical voices of “Akanna”, a trio of talented young women, added a touch of elegance to the evening.  Dr Michael Doran and Dr Alla Dolnikov were both presented with grants to continue their Cord Blood Research.

The talented "Akanna" entertained diners with their modern classical repertoire	IWA President Val Gibson, IWA Executive and Council Members	The smallest and the tallest - Dr Dolnikov with President Val, Dr Doran and National Project Coordinator, IWA Past President, Anne McGill

Members gathered in the Perth Town Hall on Sunday for the Farewell Breakfast and Service of Faith conducted by Inner Wheel member Pam Bennett. The tables looked very elegant with teapot and cosie centre pieces and members were able to purchase these from the Inner Wheel Club of Karrinyup.  Everyone enjoyed the wonderful food served to each table on platters.  Thirteen year old Sabrina Guilbert entertained the gathering with two lovely songs.  It was the end of another wonderful conference and time to say farewell old friends and new and to make plans to meet again at next year's conference in Tasmania.

Members who still had time before departing for the eastern states, were invited to tour the new Rotary WA Cord Blood Bank in central Perth with Dr Gail Lazarro, senior scientist with the Australian red Cross Blood Service.  The facility is the fourth public cord blood bank in Australia and, although not quite completed, it was a great opportunity to see the future!!!

Some fortunate members taking the opportunity of touring the almost completed Rotary WA Cord Blood Bank

District A80 invites all members to "Let Tassie Tempt You"
at the Country Club, Launceston
on 20 October 2012
for another great conference

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