To celebrate 100 years of Rotary in Australia and New Zealand, we’ve teamed up with UNICEF to give life-saving vaccines to 100,000 children across the Pacific.
So another stunning day & it’s back to work for me. 10 days go by so quick and yes Daina and I had a lovely time.
A big thank you to John Huddleston and team for running the Duck Race, all be it a bit shorter than normal. Lets hope we can hold a bigger better race this Labour weekend.
As you will have seen from PE Mike another cancellation, this time the members visiting from Wellington. A real shame for all concerned.
We have a great speaker for Tuesdays meeting so don’t miss it. It is also the monthly meeting of the Directors tonight.
As always hoping this finds you all well and enjoying the wonderful weather.
Rich
Past Presidents Report 21st February 2022
Hi all from the Immediate Past President (the time it took to write that I needed a cup of coffee to recover!!)
Life goes on in Rotary – with some exclusions. We have all received notification that the final District 9980 Conference has been cancelled, which is a shame as it was to be on our doorstep, in Cromwell. Besides this it was to be the last for our District as it exists, with the pending formation of District 9999.
Sign of the times, I am afraid, when you consider all the other events that have been cancelled or postponed, but, from a purely Rotary view-point, this one is very disappointing.
In the meantime we will continue to have our Wanaka Rotary Club meetings on a Tuesday night – mostly at the Bullock Bar. This last week of course we actually had the get-together at Te Kakano to hear what they do and the difference they make in getting native plants into public spaces. Kris gave us a good explanation of the history of Te Kakano and showed off the pots of plants they are growing for future planting out.
Our thanks go to Rosie for organizing things, including most of the food, to Chef Liz for cooking the sausages, and to Chris for
all the information – a very worthwhile evening.
One of the big advantages I get from a night like this is to know who and what organisations are if they ever apply for funding – it makes it much easier to relate to them and make the right decisions for any requests.
The scheduled speaker for this week is Kelvin Mulqueen from Breens, so it should be interesting to hear about the building industry and some of the issues facing them. We are probably all aware of the problems some of the supermarkets are having getting supplies, and I don’t think the building industry is any different.
Anyway, do try and come and hear Kelvin – and if you can’t be there, please get
your apologies registered in suitable time.
Pres. Rich should have dragged himself away from the sunny shores of Lake Benmore by Tuesday night, so we can look forward to his leading the proceedings. Actually, he has a Director’s meeting to lead tomorrow night, so if anyone has any issues that need airing, please get on to your Committee Director and make them known.
Nice dry day today (Sunday) so perhaps a good excuse to go out for lunch and exercise the horses (in the car that is!!).
Until next time, keep safe.
Past-Pres Mike.
Guest Speakers over the following month
Below are profiles of the guest speakers over the following month as advised by Rosie
Guest Speaker 22nd February. Kevin Mulqueen
Kelvin Mulqueen 55 , Grew up in Dunedin and later shifted to Alexandra to do an apprenticeship as a joiner. Then travelled and explored the world. Had a joinery business for 6 years in Nth Canterbury before shifting to Australia where I got into project Management on large sites, multi-story builds. My wife Fiona & I shifted to Wanaka in 1999 back from Australia & started with Breen in Wanaka. Fiona works for Wanaka Roofing as Office Administrator, Have 2 Children, Jesse he’s 22 and in Dunedin at Uni, Madi is 21 and just graduated with a Bachelor in Construction Quantity Surveying.
Started with Breen in June 1999 and have not left, started as a Carpenter and then progressed through the company as Foreman, Project Manager, and Area Manager. Brought into the Company in 2005 ,then approx. 45-50 staff , today we employ over 200 people. Breen have a great range of ability’s, such Breen Homes, Architectural Residential, Civil, Commercial, Insurance & Specialized Structures sheds, with Offices in Oamaru , Dunedin , Twizel , Alexandra & Wanaka.
Thanks to Pat Heffernan for the additional information
The Wanaka Rotary Hawea Golf Open..........
Following the cancellation of the NZ Open at Millbrook it was decided to host our own limited version, played over a lesser 9 holes at the Hawea course. There were many fine moments.
Novice Sally Angus’s off green birdie putt bowed to Pro Ron Horners for the most spectacular shot, although Chris Wright argued his shot that entered a creek had more angles than a Dali painting.
Clubs were limited to 3 per person, handicaps ignored and an Ambrose format adopted to encourage full thought and participation.
Winning team were the O’Regan’s, Richard Howarth & Chris Wright with a scorching par 35, on a count-back the Morgan’s, Jenny Milburn & Marg Richardson who were voted best users of the golf course.
Fun was had by 24 players and a small gallery, refreshments & dinner concluded a memorable afternoon at the Hawea Pub.
Derek H
Bulletin Editor's note. It is fair to say that I only won the excellent bottle of Glendovey 2018 Pinot Noir due to Dr Borrie's vociferous lobbying on my behalf. This was due I believe to the fact that I was his team-mate and he wanted his share of the Bottle of wine.
In any other circumstances, Sally fully deserved to win this prize. After all "You drive for show but putt for dough".
Dinner and prizegiving at the Hawea Tavern
Rotary evening at the Te Kakano Aotearoa Trust Nursery
As P.P. Mike indicated in his report, Rotary members spent a lovely warm late summer's evening visiting the Te Kakano Nursery. We were hosted by Trust Manager Loran Verpillot, and Nursery Manager Kris Vollebregt.
Loran walked with those of us in the group walking from Ruby Island road and we stopped while she explained the types of plants they are planting. Loran also took the opportunity to explain the differences between Kanuka and Manuka. Manuka did not make an appearance for comparison however there were a few Kanuka who benefited from some soft leaf stroking.
Later, and after a welcome beverage (or two) Kris took us through the workings of the Nursery and answered our questions.
This was followed by a sausage, bun and salad which was most enjoyable.
Any further information is available on the Te Kakano website https://www.tekakano.org.nz/ for those of you who are interested in further information.
Trust Manager Loran Verpillot explaining the difference Nursery Manager Kris Vollebregt addressing Rotary members
Between Kanuka and Manuka At the Nursery
Nursery Manager Kris Vollebregt
What's On? Important Dates and Information
Lower Hutt Rotary Club Visit : 21st- 26th February
An update from Mike Elliott
Unfortunately, due to the increasing numbers and spread of covid to the public at large, we have had to make the decision to postpone the Exchange with Eastern Hutt Rotary Club.
We have had to be mindful of the possibility that any member of Rotary could be affected by the virus, and this would result in self-isolation, which could be particularly difficult if a host family had an exchange family living with them at the time of infection..
It has been a difficult decision to make and we left it as long as possible to come to this conclusion, but with the record levels of numbers today and the forecast increases over the coming week, it was the only sensible decision to make.
I know you will be as disappointed as I am that this is where we have come to, but our hand has been forced and we will have to live with it.
We will try to rearrange the Exchange at some point in the future when it looks like we are back to some degree of normalcy.
Thank you all for your understanding - but in particular to Pat Heffernan and Sally Angus who have put so much time into trying to make this Exchange work.
Any questions, please come back to me.
Many thanks.
NZ House and Garden Tours : Wanaka
THe Cancer Foundation is looking for volunteers to assist in this outing
Please see the attached information from Elise Simons
Hiya, I’m getting in touch from Breast Cancer Foundation NZ. We’ve got a volunteering opportunity coming up in Wanaka on the 1st and 2nd April – the NZ House and Garden Tour is on, and we’re really struggling to find volunteers to help on the day, they’ll be stationed at a house on the tour checking wristbands and making sure the houses stay nice and safe! I thought this may be a great, fun volunteering opportunity for some of your members so long as they are comfortable being on their feet for 4 hours. It’s quite a cool gig – you get to spend the day or half day at an AMAZING house and in return you receive an exclusive discount on a ticket for the day you’re not volunteering (the Wanaka tour is sold out so it’s the only way to get a ticket), as well as a thank you goodie bag from the sponsors, and we can pop them and their friends at the same house! This is the link to register and explains more about the shift options:https://www.breastcancerfoundation.org.nz/how-you-can-help/get-involved/house-and-garden-tours Do you think you could share this opportunity with your awesome residents? Like I say, the more the merrier and they’re welcome to volunteer with friends, partners, adult kids etc. It’s a great, fun day out! Let me know, I’d also be super keen to hear any other ways I can let the Wanaka community know about this opportunity as our volunteer numbers in Wanaka are seriously dire. Thanks heaps,
Elise
CLUB DUTIES
February
March
April
Attendance
Warwick Cummins
Ron Horner
Tony Johnston
Introduction
David Evans
Richard Howarth
Doug Lovell
Raffle
Paul Gardiner
John Huddlestone
Maryanne McKenzie
Thanks
Ken Goldfinch
Deans Hudson
John McLean
Meet & Greet & Photography
Derek Howarth
Don Irvine
Tony O'Regan
Meeting Etiquette.
Check if you have a duty to do, and if you are unable to do your duty it is your duty to find someone else to do it for you and to inform the President of any changes.
Please when going to get your meal please be aware that there are people behind you and if you take a very large helping others may miss out. It may be you who misses out next week.
At the end of meeting please help the staff at the Wanaka District Club by returning glasses to the bar and plates to the kitchen. Please stand when being fined or addressing the speaker
Please stand when being fined or addressing the speaker
Inform the President prior to the meeting if you wish to address the meeting or if you wish to leave early.