from the Secretary General 2012

 Most people think that the Rotary District 9670 Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA)  starts on Friday night and finishes on Saturday evening.

It really starts a lot earlier in the year. In January, I begin to research and write the resolutions  and the committee begins to organise the data bases, the application forms and other details of the event.  Even earlier than that, the committee began negotiations to book the venue, the Rotary Club of Muswellbrook to cater for the event, and seek corporate sponsorship. It is no wonder that the MUNA weekend 2012 ran smoothly – all due to the early preparations and hard work of committee members, led by Megan Valentine, Rotary Club of Newcastle Sunrise.

This year, MUNA on Friday night 27 April started off with high energy and an interactive challenge conducted by Mayor of Muswellbrook, Martin Rush. Mayor Rush  conducted a “Geoffrey Robertson “ Hypothetical session, challenging the student delegates to go beyond the hypothetical and to respond as if they were really representatives of their assigned nations. This was the perfect preparation for the model general assembly. Thank goodness for wi fi , iPads and Google – much new research was conducted overnight!

The resolutions were debated vigorously and while some outcomes were surprises, the delegates tried to remain in line with their nations’ viewpoints . Not as an easy task for the average 17 year old Australian to take on the persona of a UN delegate from Afghanistan, or Israel, or even USA. I commend all participants for succeeding in such a difficult exercise. By the afternoon, it appeared that everyone was more comfortable in their roles, and I really enjoyed the debate on the effects of global financial crisis. It was one of the resolutions put on the agenda without too much notice and without too many notes, the delegates seemed to speak “from the heart” a lot more. I realise that it is quite overwhelming to be in such an assembly and feel unprepared, so dependency on notes and prepared speeches is quite understandable. However, the debate is more genuine and passionate when delegates know enough about their nations to take a  firm  “yes or no” stand on most issues on the addenda and respond to other nations’ viewpoints.

Congratulations to  all the schools who were ably represented by well prepared, enthusiastic and motivated students. Special congratulations to the Timor Leste team from Merewether High School who will in August represent the district at MUNA in Canberra. Cyprus from Newcastle High School were consistently strong throughout the assembly and deserved a highly commended award from the adjudicators. The Peace Prize went to Russia from Warners Bay High School for their efforts to resolve problems with proposed solutions on many of the issues.

Special thanks to the MUNA committee, the Rotary Club of Muswellbrook and the teachers who accompanied the teams. Your commitment to providing such an enriching educational opportunity for young people in the district is outstanding.

Wilma Simmons

Secretary- General MUNA 2012

Count Down to MUNA

MUNA Program 13th and 14th May, 2011

Friday, 13th May – John Hunter Motel
5.30pm Registration

6.30pm MUNA Dinner and Guest speaker – Jill Emberson – ABC Radio

8.30pm Students assemble for MUNA briefing and Bloc meetings



Saturday, 14th May
7.00am Breakfast at John Hunter Motel
7.45am Book out of Motel
Own transport to Council Chambers
8.15am Muswellbrook Council Chambers
Announcements/introduction of Secretary General
Acknowledgement of Press Corps
8.45am Opening of MUNA – Martin Rush, Mayor of Muswellbrook
9.00am ASSEMBLY IN SESSION
(Secretary-General will address the assembly before the first resolution)
10.15am Progress adjudication – tips and pointers
10.30am Morning Tea/Team meetings
11.00am ASSEMBLY IN SESSION
12.30pm Lunch
1.00pm ASSEMBLY IN SESSION
3.30pm Afternoon tea
3.45pm Adjudication

Presentations

MUNA 2011 Photograph

Closing of MUNA 2011

May Update on MUNA

Here are some updates:
1. The North Koreans are no longer able to attend the Model United Nations.
2. You may all have been waiting fpr the usual  memo from the Secretary-General ... it was prepred sometime ago, but there was a delay in dispatch. I am publishing it here for particpants' information.

MUNA Model United Nations 2011 Memo


To: MUNA 2011 Participants - Rotary District 9670:
From: Secretary General
I have attempted to propose some interesting and challenging resolutions for this year’s MUNA, but I encourage all participants to think about proposing a resolution to be considered for inclusion to the following list of resolutions. Note: Our resolution format has been modified and simplified from the strict United Nations format, for ease of reading, so there is no need to be concerned about the format of your proposal. Please submit proposed resolutions to me before MUNA.
• Please address any queries about resolutions to the Secretary General via the comments sections at the end of each blog post . MUNA blog : http://muna9670.blogspot.com/
• Recommended as part of preparation :

a) UN website www.un.org – the news service is particularly useful and couched in accessible language.

b) MUNA website www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/modelun

c) Our own MUNA blog http://muna9670.blogspot.com/

 • Here are some guidelines about debating the resolutions at Rotary District 9670 MUNA.
 1. RESOLUTIONS

1.1 The order of resolutions for debate is at the discretion of the Secretary- General.

1.2 One topic MAY be compulsory for all member state to speak. This will be finalized and announced at the Friday night briefing.

1.3 Counsellors may send messages in writing to the team to support the discussion, only before and after the debate on a resolution. Messages will not be passed during debate. Communication between counsellors and team members is by note, passed by the assembly staff. Diplomatic messages may be passed between member states via MUNA staff only.

1.4 Each resolution is read out by the Secretary-General. Any nation team may then move the motion. The mover may speak briefly before a seconder is found.

1.5 Additional resolutions may be foreshadowed and presented to the Secretary-General. It will be the Secretary-General’s decision whether to include an additional resolution on the agenda.

1.6 Additional resolutions must be presented to the Secretary General in writing, with a proposer and a seconder identified before a time decided by the Secretary General.



2. RESOLUTION DISCUSSION: The rules for discussion are:

2.1 The mover and the seconder will speak to the motion.

2.2 The next speaker will speak against the motion.

2.3 Following speakers will then alternate between speakers for and against the motion.

2.4 An amendment may be proposed and seconded during the discussion of a resolution. There will be a limit on the number of speakers during an amendment debate – to be decided by the Secretary General.

2.5 Except for the mover (who has the final right of reply), member nations may speak only once to each motion and each amendment.

2.6 If a member wishes to speak a second time, it may request another nation to move to this effect. A seconder is required. The motion is put without discussion. A simple majority is required to pass it.

2.7 The Secretary –General will rule on the time limit for speakers.(usually 1- 3 minutes)

2.8 The last speaker in the discussion of a resolution will be the mover as his/her right of reply after which the motion is then put. A simple majority is required to pass it.



3. BLOC MEETINGS: A bloc meeting (a group of countries with shared interests) may be held to discuss mutual standpoints on issues.

3.1 Prior to discussing a motion, a bloc meeting may be called by the Secretary General or requested by member nations.

3.2 Blocs may request a short meeting time during the assembly to discuss certain positions and motions and/or to determine international alignments and agreements.

3.3 The calling of these bloc meetings is treated as a motion with proper procedures applying. A motion calling a bloc meeting must be passed by two-thirds of the assembly.

3.4 Counsellors may observe bloc meetings and may advise their teams, after the bloc meeting and before the assembly debate resumes.



Other Notes

4. During the course of the Assembly, it will be expected that both members of the team will address the Assembly during resolutions discussions, but it is not compulsory for every team to debate every resolution.

5. Teams are encouraged to use notes appropriately when speaking, but not to be over dependent on notes or read prepared speeches.

6. Teams are encouraged to dress appropriately, representing the member nation. National dress is welcomed enthusiastically.

7. An adjudicating team (not including the Secretary General) will decide on a winning MUNA team, and will also present a Peace Prize if appropriate. The adjudicators’ decision is final.

8. Student teams will be accompanied by an adult “counsellor” (teacher, parent or Rotarian from the sponsoring Rotary club ).

9. Permission will be sought for photographs of MUNA proceedings to be used in media releases.

10. Any participant who engages in inappropriate behaviour will be required to leave MUNA as directed by the secretary general or any person on the organising committee.

Please contact me if you have any concerns or questions about MUNA
Secretary General 2011 

Please remember to bring your signed consent form to allow your MUNA photograph to be published in the media.

MUNA 2011 Nations

Here are the participating nations in the District 9670 Model United Nations Assembly on 13-14 May in Muswellbrook. In no particular order:

• Cambodia
• Brazil
• Greece
• Egypt
• Mexico
• USA
• Poland
• New Zealand
• India
• Israel
• Japan
• Italy
• Russia
• France
• Kenya
• Republic of North Korea
• Iraq
• Cuba

If you are a last minute application, there is room for 2 more teams only... please contact me immediately.
Secretary-General MUNA 2011

RESOLUTIONS MUNA District 9670

All participating teams should now have copies of the resolutions for Model United Nations Assembly, District 9670, to be held in Muswellbrook on 13-14 May 2011 . Here they are if you have not seen the proposed resolutions.

Security


1. Appalled by the recent terrorist attacks on nuclear plants in Eurasia that were purportedly committed by Indonesian Al-Qaeda, this Assembly

a) demands the investigation of the recent nuclear terrorist attacks on Eurasia, and

b) authorizes a United Nations peacekeeping coalition to eliminate the source of the threat, comprising of forces from the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Russia, China, France and Israel.


2. This Assembly demands that Israel, as the occupying power, immediately and completely ceases all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem and that it fully respect its legal obligations in this regard.

3. This Assembly denounces all acts of piracy like the recent reported killing of four United States hostages hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia.

and

a) emphasizes the need for ongoing efforts of the international community to stamp it out;

b) endorses an action plan developed at the UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) to combat piracy;

c) calls for greater coordination with navies off Somalia, where the European Union, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and UN Member States are already patrolling the dangerous waters and

d) encourages support for alternative livelihoods and the rehabilitation of coastal fisheries” to give would-be pirates an alternative source of income.

Human Rights

4. This Assembly denounces the violence by government sanctioned security forces against protesters in Libya, Bahrain and other countries in the Middle East and North Africa as illegal and excessively heavy-handed. Therefore, those using excessive force against peaceful protestors should be held accountable for their crimes against humanity and that the right to peaceful protest must be guaranteed.

5. That this Assembly urges the Australian government to honour its treaty obligations and fully recognize the rights of refugees and asylum seekers by ending off shore mandatory detention and granting all dispossessed persons full legal rights and access to the legal system.


6. Noting that greater efforts are needed to end grave violations against children in Afghanistan, including their use as child soldiers, sexual violence, killing and maiming, this Assembly demands that the Afghan Government ensures that adequate resources are allocated for effective implementation of the Action Plan to protect children, including introducing legislation aimed at criminalizing the recruitment of children in armed conflict and ensuring that no impunity is granted for grave violations against children under international law


7. This Assembly reiterates its call for all steps to be taken to ensure the protection of civilians; and strongly condemns incidents of discrimination and violence against women and girls, in particular if directed against women activists and women prominent in public life, including killings, maimings and “honour killings”.


Economic Development

8. Noting 2010 had been a “record” year in terms of lives lost and infrastructure destroyed by natural disasters, this assembly recommends that all member nations ensure disaster risk reduction and prevention be integrated into long- and medium-term planning and that vulnerable developing island states in particular be financially supported to diversify their economies

9. Acknowledging that major failures of regulation and supervision in developed countries, plus irresponsible risk-taking by banks and other financial institutions had created dangerous financial fragilities which contributed significantly to the Global Financial Crisis, this Assembly

a) emphasizes the need for greater transparency and better regulation and supervision of the international financial system by, inter alia, strengthening prudential oversight, improving risk management and reinforcing international cooperation;

b) encourages global concerted efforts to restore global economic growth,

particularly in developing countries; and

c) reaffirms the commitment to broaden and strengthen the participation of developing countries and countries with economies in transition in international economic decision-making and norm-setting, specifically with regard to increasing the voting power of developing countries in the Bretton Woods institutions.

10. That this Assembly, being of the opinion that there is no credible evidence that the recreational use of cannabis is damaging to health, encourages the farming of hemp as a cash crop in developing nations

Environment

11. This Assembly endorses the agreements made at the Cancun Climate Change Conference , and insists that all member states implement the agreed measures and formalise mitigation pledges to build a low-carbon, climate-resilient future These measures include:

a) taking concrete action to protect the world's forests, which account for nearly one-fifth of global carbon emissions;

b) establishing a fund for long-term climate financing to support developing countries;

c) agreeing to ensure no gap between the first and second commitment periods of the Kyoto Protocol ;

d) bolstering technology cooperation and enhancing vulnerable populations'' ability to adapt to the changing climate


12 That this Assembly endorse the Protocol on Environmental Protection contained in the Antarctic Treaty in order to ensure that Antarctica continue to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes and that the ban on mining and mineral exploration be maintained.



13 Aware that despite recent improvements, poor air quality is still a major global concern affecting public health worldwide, this Assembly

a) calls upon developed nations to implement air quality control programs and to support the efforts being taken to reduce air pollution;

b) urges a move to more non-polluting renewable forms of energy production such as wind, solar, geothermal and tidal power; and

c) encourages the implementation of more strict air control laws in order to cut down on emissions and prevent air pollution especially in large urban environments.

United Nations

14. This Assembly recommends that the Security Council be restructured to admit additional permanent members with due consideration to the admission of India, Germany and Japan and the privilege of the veto of permanent members be reviewed.

If you have any quesitons about these resolutions and are a MUNA participant, please contact the Secretary General via email or via the comment section below.

MUNA 2011 Applications Closing Soon

 Model United Nations Assembly MUNA 
 Rotary District 9670, 2011
When: Friday (evening), 13th May 2011 and Saturday, 14th May, 2011
Where: The Assembly will take place at the Muswellbrook Council Chambers, Muswellbrook on Saturday, 14th May, 2011.
Accommodation and Conference Dinner on Friday night, 13th May, 2011 will be organised by the Rotary Club of Muswellbrook
Summary of the Model United Nations Assembly
MUNA promotes international understanding and goodwill – one of the objects of Rotary International. In 2002, Rotary District 9670 held its first MUNA in Muswellbrook. Since then, the annual assembly has given high school students from years 10 to 12 the opportunity to enhance debating skills, appreciate another culture, improve higher order thinking skills, hear inspiring speakers and enjoy the company of other students in the district.
Each school team, sponsored by a local Rotary club, represents a country of the United Nations. Having researched the country and its culture, the students will discuss and debate the resolutions at the MUNA from the point of view of the country they represent. The resolutions are based on real international issues debated at the UN: e.g. “That this Assembly supports the fundamental human rights of the Tibetan people and their distinctive cultural and religious life”. Students gain informed knowledge of the country they represent and other countries from many regions of the world.
In partnership with local high schools, individual Rotary Clubs promote international understanding and world peace by participating in MUNA 2011.
APPLICATION FORMS ARE TO BE RETURNED BY 14 MARCH...please contact for more information:  
  Helen Griffin ( Rotary Club of Newcastle Sunrise) 
 Megan Valentine (Rotary Club of Newcastle Sunrise)
or the MUNA Secretary General

MUNA 2011 District 9670

MUNA IS ON AGAIN!  
Model United Nations Assembly in District 9670 will be held again this year in Muswellbrook on 13 and 14 May. All information and paperwork has been forwarded to schools. Resolutions will be published on this blog and supplied to participating teamson 19 March.
Congratulations to the new organising team from the Rotary Club of Newcastle Sunrise - Megan Valentine, Helen Griffin and Julie Midson-York .
For more information or to contact one of the organisers, please leave a comment on this blog post.

Only a week to go - MUNA 2010

Here is a list of the participating schools and the countries allocated to them for  District 9670 MUNA 2010


Warners Bay 1 - China

Warners Bay 2 - USA

Singleton 1 - Israel

Singleton 2 - United Kingdom

Cessnock - Canada

Mudgee 1 - France

Mudgee 2 - Ireland

Muswellbrook - Sweden

Callaghan CC Waratah - New Zealand

Merewether 1 - India

Merewether 2 - Russia

St Phillips 1 - Myanmar

St Phillips 2 - Iran

Scone Grammar - Kenya

Swansea - Spain

West Wallsend 1- Argentina

West Wallsend 2- Italy

Cobar - to be confirmed

CallaghanCC Jesmond - to be confirmed
 
If you have any questions about MUNA 2010, please leave a comment via this blog or contact Pam Wellham or Wilma Simmons email

MUNA 2010 RESOLUTIONS

Rotary District 9670
Model United Nations Assembly 2010

RESOLUTIONS
Please note:

• There is no guarantee that there will be time to debate all of these resolutions. The selection and order of these and any other resolutions will be debated at the discretion of the Secretary-General.
• Some motions may change without notice, at times related to world events after the publication of resolutions and prior to MUNA.
• The Secretary General will also consider the inclusion of a resolution presented by individual Member States or blocs, provided that the resolution is proposed in writing, with an identified proposer and a seconder, and presented to the Secretary-General before the beginning of the assembly

Security
1. This Assembly decries the provision by member states of safe haven for terrorists and their training facilities. We urge all states so doing to desist, and call on all nations to cooperate with international action to combat terrorism.
2. This Assembly condemns Israel’s recent decision to advance planning for new housing units in East Jerusalem and considers this expansion to be a serious violation of Roadmap, which calls for two States – Israel and Palestine – to live side by side in peace and security.
3. This Assembly notes the 40th anniversary of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NNT) and agrees with the Secretary General that 2010 will be a “historic year” for progress on disarmament and non-proliferation goals ... and efforts to rid the world of weapons of mass destruction”. We therefore urge all member states to establish urgently the 2008 United Nations- backed five-point action plan to reinvigorate the international push towards disarmament.
Human Rights
4. This Assembly deplores the widespread exploitation of “guest workers”, who, while contributing to the economic prosperity of the host nation, are commonly denied satisfactory standards of living and political rights. We propose the establishment of a UN sponsored independent organization to
a) investigate “guest worker” rights in member states with well established schemes like Singapore, the United Arab States and USA amongst others,
b) set employment standards for “guest workers”,
c) develop procedures for successful return of workers to their own countries and / or immigration processes,
d) develop a means to enforce agreed standards and procedures
5. This Assembly insists that all member states practise religious tolerance by;
a) not having any state sponsored religion;
b) allow for the open practice of any United Nations recognized religion openly inside the borders of a member state;
c) outlawing any form of religious discrimination;
d) declaring any member state that does not outlaw religious discrimination ineligible for membership in any form to the UN Security Council.
6. This Assembly calls on all member states to accept capital punishment as a form of cruel and unusual punishment and to abandon all forms of capital punishment for crimes except for crimes involving the taking of more than three lives.
7. This Assembly acknowledges that all nations have the right to control their borders and many people believe that they can better their lives by emigrating to another country, even if illegally. As a consequence, the practice of “people smuggling” is growing. We urge all member states to take individual and collective action to combat such activity, while condemning those nations who incarcerate those seeking refugee status and impose lengthy and complicated procedures for dealing with alleged illegal immigrants.

Economic Development/ Technology
8. This Assembly condemns the increasing practice of securing the support of other member nations for certain courses of action through offers of developmental aid. The impact of this practice has recently been evident in the issue of commercial whaling
9. This Assembly deplores the use of the internet for illegal and or other questionable purposes and urges all member nations to support the development of more effective censorship controls , policing of access to and use of the technology through:-
a) development and consistent application of International laws of censorship.
b) agreement by member nations to the establishment of an appropriately authorized international body responsible for enforcement of the laws and for investigation of offences that stretch across national border
c) the hearing of any resulting charges by the International Court of Justice.

Environment
10. This Assembly calls on all member nations to support international action to limit the gaseous emissions that contribute to global warming, with its many serious consequences. At the same time we assert that developed nations, who have contributed the bulk of emissions to date, must take a leading role in this matter and come to a definite agreement about acceptable reduction percentages worldwide.
11. That this Assembly endorse the Protocol on Environmental Protection contained in the Antarctic Treaty in order to emphasise that Antarctica should continue to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes and that the ban on mining and mineral exploration be maintained.
12. This Assembly in declaring 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity acknowledges that this year is a critical one for governments of all member states to take action to protect species by ensuring that the international trade in wildlife is properly regulated and conserving the planet's wild fauna and flora from over-exploitation. In addition, we call for urgent measures to tackle the illegal trade in tiger products, rhinoceroses and other species considered on the brink of extinction

...............................................................................................................................................................
Rotary District MUNA Model United Nations 2010 Memo
To: MUNA 2010 Participants - Rotary District 9670:

From: Secretary General
I urge all participants to think about proposing a resolution to be considered for inclusion to the following list of resolutions. Note: Our resolution format has been modified and simplified from the strict United Nations format, for ease of reading . Please submit proposed resolutions to me before MUNA.
• Please address any queries about resolutions to the Secretary General
email- wilmasimmons@hotmail.com
• Recommended as part of preparation :
a) UN website www.un.org – the news service is particularly useful and couched in accessible language.
b) MUNA website www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/modelun
c) Other MUNA links – various Rotary district websites.
• Here are some guidelines about debating the resolutions at Rotary District 9670 MUNA.
1. RESOLUTIONS
1.1 The order of resolutions for debate is at the discretion of the Secretary- General.
1.2 One topic will be compulsory for all member state to speak. It will be announced at the briefing.
1.3 Counsellors may send messages in writing to the team to support the discussion, only before and after the debate on a resolution. Messages will not be passed during debate. Communication between counsellors and team members is by note, passed by the assembly staff. Diplomatic messages may be passed between member states via MUNA staff only.
1.4 Each resolution is read out by the Secretary-General. Any nation team may then move the motion. The mover may speak briefly before a seconder is found.
1.5 Additional resolutions may be foreshadowed and presented to the Secretary-General. It will be the Secretary-General’s decision whether to include an additional resolution on the agenda.
1.6 Additional resolutions must be presented to the Secretary General in writing, with a proposer and a seconder identified before a time decided by the Secretary General.

2. RESOLUTION DISCUSSION: The rules for discussion are:
2.1 The mover and the seconder will speak to the motion.
2.2 The next speaker will speak against the motion.
2.3 Following speakers will then alternate between speakers for and against the motion.
2.4 An amendment may be proposed and seconded during the discussion of a resolution. There will be a limit on the number of speakers during an amendment debate – to be decided by the Secretary General.
2.5 Except for the mover (who has the final right of reply), member nations may speak only once to each motion and each amendment.
2.6 If a member wishes to speak a second time, it may request another nation to move to this effect. A seconder is required. The motion is put without discussion. A simple majority is required to pass it.
2.7 The Secretary –General will rule on the time limit for speakers.(usually 1- 3 minutes)
2.8 The last speaker in the discussion of a resolution will be the mover as his/her right of reply after which the motion is then put. A simple majority is required to pass it.

3. BLOC MEETINGS: A bloc meeting (a group of countries with shared interests) may be held to discuss mutual standpoints on issues.
3.1 Prior to discussing a motion, a bloc meeting may be called by the Secretary General or requested by member nations.
3.2 Blocs may request a short meeting time during the assembly to discuss certain positions and motions and/or to determine international alignments and agreements.
3.3 The calling of these bloc meetings is treated as a motion with proper procedures applying. A motion calling a bloc meeting must be passed by two-thirds of the assembly.
3.4 Counsellors may observe bloc meetings and may advise their teams, after the bloc meeting and before the assembly debate resumes.

I wish you all the best with your preapration for MUNA 2010.
Secretary -General Wilma

MUNA 2010 District 9670

Rotary District 9670

Model United Nations Assembly

7-8 May 2010

The first team has registered - so please check where the registration forms are in your school for Model United Nations Assembly, 2010 Rotary District 9670  in Muswellbrook.
Not sure what country you'd like to represent?
Check out the member nations at this site - United Nations Press Release with updated information

To all Rotary clubs in District 9670, please be ready to sponsor your local school's team.

Stay informed about this year's Model United Nations Assembly - check this blog regularly.

Model United Nations Assembly( MUNA) in Canberra

The General Assembly:

• Strongly condemns the ongoing systematic violations of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rightsof the people of Myanmar
• Strongly calls upon the Government of Myanmar to ensure full respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms and to protect the inhabitants of the country…

This is only part of Resolution 4 at the National Model United Nations Assembly held in the House of
Representatives Chamber, Old Parliament House, Canberra 14th to 16th August 2009. In all there were six resolutions:

• Towards a new international economic order;

• Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban treaty;

• Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran;

• Situation of human rights in Myanmar;

• Protection of migrants; and

Security implications of climate change.

The two winning teams from the District 9670 MUNA held in Muswellbrook in May this year participated in thisnational event. James and Tristan , from St Phillip’s Christian College, Port Stephens and Nilarni  and Alexander  from Merewether High School spent an action filled weekend in Canberra.

James and Tristan represented Israel while the Merewether team represented the United Kingdom.

Over the weekend, the program included some exciting guest speakers, one of note being the Counsellor to theTurkish Embassy, Tuna Yucel and Christopher Woodthorpe, Director of the United Nations Information Centre.

The young people were also treated to afternoon tea with the Governor-General, Quentin Bryce.

The students commented that it was a really difficult task to prepare and debate these resolutions as they weremore detailed and complicated than those at MUNA in Muswellbrook. This national event however did haveteams from all over Australia (East Doncaster, Sale, Southport, Wagga Wagga, to name a few areas), as well asteams from Rotary District 9710.

The students found the weekend and thecompetition most enjoyable. The thrill of debating in
the beautiful building of Old Parliament House andthe thought that in years gone by, people like Sir
Robert Menzies and Gough Whitlam wereprominent speakers in the same chambers, madethe journey south very worthwhile.
Our team of Nilarni and Alexander  representing the United Kingdom received the Totenhofer Peace Prize. The adjudicators determined this prize that is awarded to the teamthat makes the most significant contribution to issues concerned wit the promotion of world peace. Well done, Nilarni and Alex!

Congratulations to both teams for a great result and for their diligence over the weekend and the lead up to theNational MUNA. A big thank you also to their supervisors/counsellors for the event.

Sincere thanks is extended to the Rotary Clubs of Salamander Bay and Newcastle Enterprise for their

sponsorship of this event. 

For more information, contact Pam Wellham or Wilma Simmons, Rotary Club of Wallsend-Maryland via comments on this blog post