Week 13

You meet a lot of wonderful people when you visit other clubs. This week we visited Paraparaumu, Makino, Waikanae and Kapiti clubs. We are now 85% through our club visits and we are still being wowed by the projects and the initiatives that we see and are being proudly told about and the people we meet. Here are some highlights from this week.

Paraparaumu

Paraparaumu Club have a very good relationship with the 2 colleges in their area and the students from Kapiti College are invited to the club from time- to- time to run the meeting and provide entertainment. Bob Hamilton arranged for me to do a radio interview with Nigel Hopkins at Beach FM, a private radio station located at Lindale. Thanks Bob.

George Marlow received a Paul Harris Fellow

Caroline Kinvig, spouse of PDG Hamilton Kinvig, received a Paul Harris Fellow

I meet a Japanese air hostess ( for Air NZ ) Hiromi Endo. Hiromi is a member of Aotearoa Inner Wheel in Auckland

Makino

Makino Rotary are creating a bird corridor right through the length of Feilding by planting the right plants to attract the right birds. How innovative of them.

Makino have a tradition they follow when the District Governor visits of running a bottle auction and giving the DG the honour of nominating a charity to benefit from the proceeds. This year the auction realised close to $1000 through the persuasive efforts of the auctioneer and the generosity of members. The charity I chose was Manchester House. Manchester House was started in the early 1970s and is now a multi-faceted organisation providing counselling, alcohol and drug rehabilitation programmes, youth work, young dreams projects and a foodbank.

Auctioneer Mark Allan at work

New member, Shannon , introduced by Andrea MacKenzie and inducted by Rod Titcombe

Sergeant Monica Huisman

Waikanae.

Waikanae Club are passionate about the Shelterbox project and have donated 12 Shelterboxes in the last two years.

Hard hats and Hi-Viz vests were the order of the day at Waikanae. Wherever I go there are engineers who announce themselves. From left to right this group are: Dave Murton ( a charter member of the club), Neil Climo, Graham Calvert. Brent Bohanna, and Randal Heke.

President Steve Botica demonstrates a common use of a No 2 Atlas shovel.

It was my birthday the day I visited Waikanae; they were so thoughtful and very generous in recognising the occasion.

 Kapiti

Kapiti Club runs a Driver-reviver project every long weekend providing refreshments for drivers allowing them to break their trips and freshen up.

I presented a PHF to Judith Burns, the spouse of Past DG F Burns

Roger Sowry took control of our wallets and purses.

Sampler Week 12

Pahiatua
"Turn around where possible so you are facing in the opposite direction to the direction in which you are directing your vehicle now" instructed my GPS . I ignored this and continued in the direction in which I was directing my vehicle. After repeated attempts to persuade me to turn around my GPS gave up trying to take me into the Manawatu Gorge, which of course I knew was closed, and assisted me over the Pahiatua Track to Tararua College where we were greeted at the door by Past DG Bill Carthew. We spent a lovely afternoon with Bill and his wife Diana and President Glynis before the Board and Club meetings were upon us. Bill and Glynis showed us some of the projects Pahiatua Club had been involved with over the years including the Polish Children's Refugee Memorial, Rotary Park, The Tararua College farm, Marae and Manaakitangi, Scout House and the playground at the domain. At the club meeting I was delighted to present a PHF to Diana.

The Scout House, built in a day by the Pahiatua Rotary Club, then numbering about 40 members

Bill Carthew and Diana at Rotary Park donated to the former District High School, now Hillcrest School

My name should be here somewhere. Bill and Diana search for Bill's name on the Governor's chain. President Glynis assists

Dannevirke

The following day we were on the road heading again towards the Manawatu Gorge but this time we took the Saddle Road to Dannevirke. Dannevirke Club is very much focussed this year on youth at risk and disadvantaged young people which fits well with World President Kalyan's focus on families. We were joined at the club meeting by members of the former Woodville Club, Past President Glan Johansen and Jim Worboys. Dannevirke are planning a motorbike tour through remote countryside of the Wairarapa. Watch for more details of this.

The Dannevirke gong

Mayor Roly Ellis, Dannevirke President Glynis

Foxton

Foxton Club's focus this year is to bring more young people into their club but to bring in, not new members,but new Rotarians. As Past president Charlie Petersen puts it : (We want members who will) " Be a Rotarian and live the life of a Rotarian", a sentiment I totally agree with.

The members dressed the tables appropriately

Otaki

Otaki Club told me they are keen to participate in a Pacific Island project. Martin Garcia, this your cue. Otaki Club meets at Rotary House, a former Church Hall which they bought.

Sergeant for the night Wilf Geerling ran an entertaining quiz on the Rugby World Cup

Once again Margaret meets up with an old school mate. Rochelle (nee Swan). On the right is AG Christine Osborne, who, we found out, was also at school with Robyn.

Week 11 Sampler

Our Rotary clubs really are fabulous. Here is a taste of some of the wonderful projects we do from our Week 11 visits.

Johnsonville Johnsonville Rotary club, hereafter called JVille R. C. provides vital support to The House of Grace, a home for pregnant teens providing support and education up to and after the birth of their baby. The Home was set up by Marcus and Treena van Rijssel in 1999 who had a vision of a maternity home for teens and young women. Why do they do it? " We have a passion and heart for pregnant teens - to see their lives changed for good and to have a purpose and direction in life". Humanity is in a Rotarian's DNA.

I meet up with a former Ministry of Works employee Doug Inch. Doug was District Training Officer at one time, responsible among other things, for training transfers. " Where did I send you? " he wanted to know with a hint of a smile.

We were shown around the House of Grace by Jaci, the Manager

Tawa

Tawa Club is a keen supporter of projects in the Pacific Islands, have participated in projects in Tonga, and wish to continue the relationship already established by assisting Ma'ufanga school in Tonga to carry out a water-harvesting project.

Frances and Doug Burrus received PHFs at Tawa. President Richard Hutchinson joined us for a photo opportunity.

 Porirua Sundown

Porirua are strong supporters of all Youth programmes and have excellent relationships with Primary and Secondary schools in the district. They displayed a Emergency Response Kit at the last Mayoral Showcase in Porirua with collection boxes at the ready achieving great results in terms of both interest and donations. An innovative approach to fundraising for ERKs involved skyping with beauty queen Miss Samoa ,Jolivette Ete, ) who has now been inducted as a member of the Rotary of Apia. Jolivette is passionate about developing children's literacy. ( see August issue of RDU)

Board meeting at the Crow's Nest, Whitby. At right President Kylie Wihapi, just back on duty after maternity leave. Acting President Wendy Creurer is next to her.

Eve Casagranda and IYE student Bianca Lombardi from Argentina

My Whanau were present to support me at Porirua, Sister Pat, nephew Michael and brother-in-law Rob, a former member of the club

Plimmerton

Our visit to Plimmeron corresponded to the funeral service of PDG Graeme Press. What a wonderful tribute was paid by a number of speakers to a wonderful man and Rotarian, and an engineer to boot. I didn't know Graeme very well but his contribution to Rotary and society has been enormous.

At their Board meeting which followed the service I was informed about a very impressive list of projects Plimmerton undertakes. Among these are the supply of defribulators to suitable locations in the city - 2 in medical centres, 1 in a supermarket, 1 in a Porirua City Council library/event centre and 1 in the Lighthouse Cinema.

I presented a Centurion Club Certificate to president Nick Walmsley

 

International Exchange student Peter Kongsbak is a keen golfer and plays off an 8 handicap.