Breakfast at Hutt Valley, lunch at Hutt City.
At Hutt Valley I was delighted to be introduced by Wanganui
man Bernie Rush, their President Elect, and to present Paul Harris Fellows to
Kevin Stratton, Dominic Hayden and Paul Newsom. Congratulations.
A project that captured my attention was the leadership
course run by the club for year 11 secondary school students. About 20-22
students attend the course which includes talks by motivational speakers and
business leaders and culminates in an evening meeting of the Hutt Valley Club
which is run by the participants. What a good initiative.
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| It was a pleasure to meet Ambassadorial Scholar Justin Zuniga and wife Angela and IYE student Winona Ruard (centre). Justin is studying History and Maori culture at Victoria University. |
President Christine Oldham proudly showed us some club
projects including a beautification project at Epuni School which had
input from Ruud Kleinpaste.
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| Our guides at Epuni School were Najmi Khairul and Anton Weitzel |
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| Epuni school vegetable garden. |
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| No-one home at the Weta House |
On to Hutt City where we found they were celebrating their
68th birthday and I was asked to present a Paul Harris Fellow to
Charlie Peterson.
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| Charlie Peterson receives his Paul Harris Fellowship |
It was a special moment when I was introduced to Hutt Valley
icon Billy Graham who runs a remarkable program for troubled youth at the
Naenae Boxing Academy.
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| Hutt Valley Icon Billy Graham: “ What we are doing here should be done in every city in New Zealand. |
Hutt City, like Hutt Valley, are involved in a long list of
impressive projects and all members are actively engaged in club activities.
Notable among them is their sponsorship of 2 students to the
Otago Medical School Summer School and their pending involvement in the
Technological Valley project in the Hutt Valley, a programme to assist young
people who will become quality citizens of tomorrow. Hutt City, of
course, initiated the Rugby World Cup Home-hosting programme. This project
became not only a national project but also an international project with
1000 recorded interactions between New Zealand and overseas.
Another really impressive initiative is the ambitious Great
Harbour way. The Petone to Ngauranga Gap section is estimated to cost $14.5
million and Hutt City Club will assume an advocacy role.
Thanks President Simon for your hospitality and to Brad for
entertaining Margaret. She will long quote his now famous comment “It is not
for sale” when she tried to convince him to purchase a silver rose in a glass
case..
Week 9 concluded at Fielding which was named after British
Army General William Feilding.
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| It was in Feilding I bought my first car a 1949 Mark VII Jaguar. |
David Stroud and David Young took great pride in showing us
Feilding’s best keep secret, the Coach House Museum. This award-winning museum
brings the stories of self-reliance determination and innovation from a bygone
era.
Horse drawn farm machinery and early vehicles have been
lovingly restored to their former glory and is a must-see attraction.
Another programme which I am enormously supportive of is the
Young Dreams Education programme. This is a programme equipping teenage mums
with life skills.
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| Margaret reminiscing over a seed drill |
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| Outgoing IYE Student Vicky Stevens and mother Susan |
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| Patricia Linklater received a Paul Harris fellowship |
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| Outgoing IYE student to Belgium, Sarah Elmers and her mother |
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