PASSIONATE DEBATE AT ROTARY’S MODEL UNITED NATIONS ASSEMBLY (MUNA) 2024 
Over the weekend 17 – 18 August 2024, the historic House of Representatives Chamber in Canberra’s Old Parliament House (now the Museum of Australian Democracy - MoAD) was filled with youthful voices debating United Nations (UN) Resolutions with fervour, conviction and with passion. The Rotary Club of Canberra Sunrise was delighted to facilitate the Rotary District’s 25th National MUNA welcoming 44 delegates from 15 different schools, supported by fellow Rotarians, school counsellors, and families and friends.
 
MoAD provided the perfect venue for debating the UN resolutions – a venue that was the home of our democracy from its opening almost a century ago on 9 May 1927, until the opening of our “new” Parliament House on 9 May 1988. 
Rotary District Governor Rob Uhl with the President of the Rotary Club of Canberra Sunrise Peter McDermott AM 
 
Rotary District Governor Rob Uhl, and the President of the Rotary Club of Canberra Sunrise Peter McDermott officially opened the MUNA event welcoming delegates and guest speakers during the weekend, included Lorraine Finlay, Australia’s Human Rights Commissioner, Air Commodore Jarrod Pendlebury AM from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), and Dr Stephanie Smith, the Learning Manager at MoAD. Those that helped to provide this unique opportunity for students from NSW, ACT and Victoria, included the organising committee, Secretarys-General, adjudicators, runners, fellow Rotarians, and the teams at MoAD, Restaurant Associates, CDC Canberra Bus Services, and Canberra Park Resort.
Guest Speaker at MUNA 2024 Lorraine Finlay Australian Human Rights Commissioner 
 
Those who participated in MUNA 2024 came from far and wide and spoke knowledgably and authoritatively on behalf of the country they represented.
 
 
St Peter’s Anglican College NSW                                             
Solomon Islands
 
St Peter’s Anglican College NSW                                             
Singapore
 
Brighton Grammar School Victoria                                        
Afghanistan
 
Eden Marine High School NSW                                                  
Philippines
 
Carroll College NSW                                                                      Ukraine
 
 
Erindale College ACT                                                                     France
 
ay
 
Springwood High School NSW                                                    
Norway
 
Macarthur Anglican School NSW                                               
Sweden
 
Unity Grammar NSW                                                                    
Russia
 
Frensham School NSW                                                                 
Chile
 
Alfred Deakin High School ACT                                                   
Nigeria
 
Central Coast Steiner School NSW                                            
New Zealand
 
Baulkham Hills High School NSW                                              
Israel
 
Chevalier College NSW                                                                 
Japan
 
THE ADJUDICATORS' DECISION
First Place - Sweden
Macarthur Anglican School 
 
Second Place New Zealand
Central Coast Steiner School
 
Third Place - Russia
Unity Grammar School 
 
The Totenhofer Peace Prize - Solomon Islands
St Peter’s Anglican College
 
Some of our Adjudicators and Secretarys-General
 
The Friday night MUNA 2024 briefing 
 
Our formal dinner - MUNA 2024
 
General Debate - MUNA 2024
 
Rotary Volunteers - MUNA 2024
 
And now the work commences to prepare for MUNA 2025!