This year is the first time the Camperdown Lions Club has hosted a district convention in its 30-year history and it has spent two years planning the event.

"We did well for the little town," organising committee chairman Bill Duncanson said yesterday.

Apart from booking out most visitor accommodation at Camperdown, the convention also generated visitor bookings at Terang and Cobden, he said.

Convention activities include tours of Camperdown's heritage sites, volcanic landscape and lakes.

Convention participants will visit coastal attractions, the Heytesbury Ridge vineyard, Apostle Whey Cheese and Gorge Chocolates.

Delegates began arriving last night for the opening in Camperdown's Theatre Royal that was led by Member for Polwarth, Terry Mulder.

The opening ceremony also involved a remembrance ceremony for Lions club members who have died and a flag ceremony honouring all the nations where Lions Club International operates.

Much of the convention will take place at the Theatre Royal complex.

One of the convention's keynote speakers - Lions international director for Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia, Peter Bird - will speak about past and future Lions international projects.

Mr Duncanson said the convention would review the district's annual report.

"It's like the Cabinet in Canberra reporting to the nation," he said.

A social highlight of the weekend will be a banquet and dance tonight at the Camperdown Sports Stadium.

The banquet and dance has a fancy dress theme of "Fantasy land".

It will be the first event of its type in the Camperdown Sports Stadium and the stadium committee has laid carpet over the sports courts for the event.

The convention will conclude with a barbecue lunch tomorrow.