Events

This week our speaker is

Finn Messerli

Finn is a member of Generation Zero a climate advocacy organisation

Generation Zero is a youth-led organisation in New Zealand focused on transitioning society away from its dependency on fossil fuels and combating climate change.

Finn was awarded the PM's Future Scientist Prize in 2018. Also during 2018, Finn’s research won the Victoria University of Wellington Faculty of Science Innovation Prize in the NIWA Wellington Regional Science and Technology Fair.

NB - please direct all correspondence to Peter Whittington from now until the end of August 

Notes for the coming weeks meeting:

• RSVP no later than Monday 5 August 2024 6pm (best do it now). 
• Please make sure you register to assist the Wellington Club staff.
• If you have any dietary requirements, please note them in the comments section of the registration
• Include your email address and mobile phone number in the response
• If you wish to bring guests/spouse/partner, please add them when you register
• Remember to click "Save" at the bottom of the page
• If you do not receive a confirmation immediately after you have registered, you have not completed the process.
• Check the bulletin to see if you have been rostered for a duty at the meeting. If you cannot attend it is your responsibility to find a replacement and notify Nicole (nicole.barker@xtra.co.nz)

Tree Planting Sunday 11 August 1pm

We are partnering again with the Friends of Tawa Bush Reserves for a final tree planting for this year on Sunday 11 August at 1pm. 

The tree planting is at the end of Jamaica Drive.  Our goal is 1,000 native trees.  This will add to the 1,700 trees we’ve planted with the Friends of Tawa Bush Reserves this year.   Let’s make it 2,700 trees and give our environment more of what it needs.  Additionally it provides great Habitat and food for our native birds and insects and lovely places to go walking for wellbeing.

All you need is to be dressed for the winter weather, bring some water, gardening gloves and a spade.  I can arrange lives and spades if you’re not able to source them. If you have spare spades please bring those too   
More details to come.   

If you can make it to the tree planting please let  Lisa King know either via email lisakingaling@gmail.com or phone / text 0212656220.  Family and friends are also welcome. 

Best wishes
Lisa

This week our speaker is

Shane Harmon

Sport and the Wellington economy

Shane was chief executive at Sky Sadium for 10.5 years before embarking on the consulting journey, taking his experience and applying it to sports, major events, entertainment, facilities and the public sector. He is also a director on Netball New Zealand.

NB - please direct all correspondence to Peter Whittington from now until the end of August 

Notes for the coming weeks meeting:

• RSVP no later than Monday 12 August 2024 6pm (best do it now). 
• Please make sure you register to assist the Wellington Club staff.
• If you have any dietary requirements, please note them in the comments section of the registration
• Include your email address and mobile phone number in the response
• If you wish to bring guests/spouse/partner, please add them when you register
• Remember to click "Save" at the bottom of the page
• If you do not receive a confirmation immediately after you have registered, you have not completed the process.
• Check the bulletin to see if you have been rostered for a duty at the meeting. If you cannot attend it is your responsibility to find a replacement and notify Nicole (nicole.barker@xtra.co.nz)

This week our speaker is

Matt Barker

Wish for a Smile

Wish For A Smile is a charitable trust run by the New Zealand Association of Orthodontists (NZAO). It is a group of specialist orthodontists  who have provided free orthodontic treatment to more than 400 deserving young New Zealanders whose families would otherwise be unable to afford orthodontic care.

NB - please direct all correspondence to Peter Whittington from now until the end of August 

Notes for the coming weeks meeting:

• RSVP no later than Monday 19 August 2024 6pm (best do it now). 
• Please make sure you register to assist the Wellington Club staff.
• If you have any dietary requirements, please note them in the comments section of the registration
• Include your email address and mobile phone number in the response
• If you wish to bring guests/spouse/partner, please add them when you register
• Remember to click "Save" at the bottom of the page
• If you do not receive a confirmation immediately after you have registered, you have not completed the process.
• Check the bulletin to see if you have been rostered for a duty at the meeting. If you cannot attend it is your responsibility to find a replacement and notify Nicole (nicole.barker@xtra.co.nz)

WELLINGTON ON A PLATE -

THE WORLD OF WELLY WONKA

Lunch – Saturday 31^st August – 1.30 p.m. Beach Babylon, Oriental Parade

Come on a fantastical journey to the World of Welly Wonka – a nostalgic and whimsical nod to the Roald Dahl classic.  Beach Babylon’s bespoke food and drinks menu and Bill’s Candy Shop inspired décor will provide an unforgettable dining experience set in a world of creativity and pure imagination.  Wonka’s brilliance with exceptional Wellington produce and mixed in a little Babs’ magic!!!

Join us for a lovely leisurely lunch (pay on consumption) on the last day of Wellington on a Plate celebrations!!  1.30 p.m. onwards so time to mow the lawns first!!  Family, friends and children welcome.  Just over the road from the beach so you might want to pack your sandcastle making bucket as well!!

RSVP by end of day 28^th August .

Any questions contact Joy Durrant – joy@prosperity.co.nz or 021-620-557.

Our speaker this week is

Neil Thornton

Neils bio reads:

Neil Thornton is an award-winning comedian, MC, writer, and life-long teacher.

As a comedian, he cut his chops in the tough New York City comedy scene before moving to New Zealand with his husband in 2014. Since then, he's performed up and down New Zealand and all over the word, with sold-out shows in New York City, the Edinburgh Fringe, and Provincetown, not to mention everywhere from Auckland to Queenstown to bowling clubs in the middle of nowhere for confused sheep farmers. He's a regular at The Classic in Auckland, produces dozens of Wellington comedy shows, and appeared in the TV3 comedy special "After Hours."

He's also been a teacher for more than 30 years, teaching university-level Writing, Composition, Creative Fiction and Nonfiction, Technical Writing, and Managerial Communication. He was also a sought-after coach and instructor for high-stakes standardized testing in the US (SAT, GRE, GMAT, LSAT) developing an expertise in the science of learning and anxiety management.

In 2017 he founded the NZ Comedy School, helping a wonderfully diverse array of people find their unique voices through the art and craft of stand-up comedy. 

Neil's topic is, "Wellington's comedy school"

Have a great weekend

Lou

Notes for the coming weeks meeting:

• RSVP no later than Monday 2 September 6pm (best do it now). 
• Please make sure you register to assist the Wellington Club staff.
• If you have any dietary requirements, please note them in the comments section of the registration
• Include your email address and mobile phone number in the response
• If you wish to bring guests/spouse/partner, please add them when you register
• Remember to click "Save" at the bottom of the page
• If you do not receive a confirmation immediately after you have registered, you have not completed the process.
• Check the bulletin to see if you have been rostered for a duty at the meeting. If you cannot attend it is your responsibility to find a replacement and notify Nicole (nicole.barker@xtra.co.nz)

Visit to Plimmerton Rotary Club

Tuesday 10 September 

In our 35th year it seems appropriate to rekindle our relationship with Plimmerton Rotary.  In past years we would pay return visits and it was thought a good idea by both Clubs to recommence this custom.  They have recently had a visit from our Club members encouraging them to join the 'Lifting the Lid;' programme. 

Our speaker this week is

Tracy Watkins

Have a great weekend.

Lou

Notes for the coming weeks meeting:

• RSVP no later than Monday 9 September 6pm (best do it now). 
• Please make sure you register to assist the Wellington Club staff.
• If you have any dietary requirements, please note them in the comments section of the registration
• Include your email address and mobile phone number in the response
• If you wish to bring guests/spouse/partner, please add them when you register
• Remember to click "Save" at the bottom of the page
• If you do not receive a confirmation immediately after you have registered, you have not completed the process.
• Check the bulletin to see if you have been rostered for a duty at the meeting. If you cannot attend it is your responsibility to find a replacement and notify Nicole (nicole.barker@xtra.co.nz)

Our speaker this week is

Gavin Knight

Have a great weekend.

Lou

Notes for the coming weeks meeting:

• RSVP no later than Monday 16 September 6pm (best do it now). 
• Please make sure you register to assist the Wellington Club staff.
• If you have any dietary requirements, please note them in the comments section of the registration
• Include your email address and mobile phone number in the response
• If you wish to bring guests/spouse/partner, please add them when you register
• Remember to click "Save" at the bottom of the page
• If you do not receive a confirmation immediately after you have registered, you have not completed the process.
• Check the bulletin to see if you have been rostered for a duty at the meeting. If you cannot attend it is your responsibility to find a replacement and notify Nicole (nicole.barker@xtra.co.nz)

Our speaker this week is

David Downs

Cancer survivor, patient advocate and ambassador for the Malaghan Institute

David Downs is a business leader, public servant, consultant, board director, speaker and genetically modified organism. David is now CEO of The New Zealand Story, an ambitious government-funded organisation marketing New Zealand to the world.

Previously David was a General Manager at New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) for 10 years, working with the Technology sector to help fast growing tech companies grow internationally. David has held various roles at NZTE, in the Services, Customer and Corporate Services teams, and led a cross-government project for the MBIE to help grow the Agritech sector.

David spent 13 years at Microsoft, in New Zealand and as regional director for South East Asia, and he has set up and run successful businesses of his own. David is a published author on New Zealand Innovation, with two highly successful books No.8 Re-wired, and No.8 Recharged.

In 2017 /2018 David was facing a terminal diagnosis and given less than a year to live, but managed to beat cancer in a remarkable series of lucky breaks. After a year of chemotherapy, and staring a terminal diagnosis in the face, David got a literal lifeline, with the chance to get on to a clinical trial in the USA. Now a genetically modified cancer-killing machine, David's reflecting on the lucky series of events that saw him beat cancer, and on his new approach to life.

He's an ex-comedian, TV and Radio actor, semi-finalist for New Zealander of the Year, and a genetically modified optimist who documented his battle with cancer in the book A Mild Touch of the Cancer now a documentary film. His charity project Down with Cancer helps raise funds to make the revolutionary CAR T-cell therapy available in New Zealand for those who need it.

A chartered member of the Institute of Directors, David holds a number of board positions, including as the chairman of The Icehouse, the Hi-Tech Trust, and the Well Foundation. He is part of the executive advisory committee to the CEO of DIA.

At the beginning of the Covid-19 lockdown, David co-founded sosbusiness.nz - a not-for-profit initiative to help bars, cafes and other small businesses sell vouchers. It quickly became a huge hit and to date has sold over $2 million in vouchers for over 2500 small businesses. All the money goes to the businesses. Based on that experience, he published a book about the innovation that happened during covid-19 in New Zealand, 'Silver Linings', published by Penguin Random House.

David studied at Massey University, the University of Auckland and Stanford University, and regularly presents and gives talks on his cancer journey and on the power of positive thinking and optimism.

His topic will be, "Innovation, technology and why you should always wear clean undies."

See you there.

Lou

Notes for the coming weeks meeting:

• RSVP no later than Monday 23 September 6pm (best do it now). 

• Please make sure you register to assist the Wellington Club staff.

• If you have any dietary requirements, please note them in the comments section of the registration

• Include your email address and mobile phone number in the response

• If you wish to bring guests/spouse/partner, please add them when you register

• Remember to click "Save" at the bottom of the page

• If you do not receive a confirmation immediately after you have registered, you have not completed the process.

Perambulators Daylight Saving Walk - Kaukau & Back

Sunday 29 September 2024

Meet at Truscott Avenue Carpark 10am

As mentioned at the Rotary meeting last week I thought it was time to have another Perambulation to celebrate the start of Daylight Saving. Mt Kaukau is an iconic spot that can seen from many parts of Wellington and similarly has some of the best views of the city and the harbour.  Most walkers will have been up Mt Kaukau, at least once, from one or more of the many access points from the northern suburbs.

We will start from the carpark at the top of Truscott Avenue.  Parking is still free there and there is lots of it. Be there ready to go at 10am.

We will walk up through the bush and tackle the 21 sets of steps leading to the Old Coach Road/Skyline Track. Don't panic many of the sets of steps have only a few steps and you can stop after number 15 to take a breather and explore the cave off to the left. Continue to the top where there is a another opportunity to catch your breath at a very kindly positioned park bench.

Follow the well marked wide track to the top of Mt Kaukau, which stays in view for most of the rest of the ascent. Spend a few minutes admiring the view from the top then descend via a couple of mountain bike tracks through the bush. At the intersection where we joined the Skyline track from Truscott Ave we will continue straight on to exit at McLintock St.

It is then a short walk down McLintock St to Truscott Ave and the cars.

All up it will be 2 to 2.5 hours depending on the length of stops.

Even if you have done this walk many times before, come and join us and test your fitness at the start of Daylight Saving, the end of winter Slothfulness.  We can do the track again at the end of Daylight Saving so you can compare how much fitter you have got over the summer months.

As usual we will have coffee after the event.  I have chosen Common Ground Cafe in the Jville Library.  It is close to the end of the walk and there should be parking around where the commuters park Monday to Friday.  Any other suggestions welcome as I do not know this area well (for coffee that is).

Our speakers this week are

Brett Holland (Chief Innovation Officer) and Alexandra Lutyens (Senior Innovation Specialist)

from Creative HQ

Brett has  a diverse background in starting businesses, developing products, and helping others to do the same. He continuously looks for opportunities to work with entrepreneurs and innovators to develop and grow new companies and create value for society. His specialties: Start-ups, innovation, business development, and new ways of working.

Alexandra is a big picture thinker with a strong interest in creative innovation. Much of her career has revolved around communications and engagement and more recently innovation facilitation. Through a greatly varied career she has built a skill combination of facilitation, marketing and digital strategy, stakeholder engagement, brand definition and management, internal culture building, and social innovation. 

Their topic will be, "Entrepreneurship for the over 50's"

Lou

Notes for the coming weeks meeting:

• RSVP no later than Monday 30 September 6pm (best do it now). 

• Please make sure you register to assist the Wellington Club staff.

• If you have any dietary requirements, please note them in the comments section of the registration

• Include your email address and mobile phone number in the response

• If you wish to bring guests/spouse/partner, please add them when you register

• Remember to click "Save" at the bottom of the page

• If you do not receive a confirmation immediately after you have registered, you have not completed the process.

Our speaker this week is one of our own

Brad Weekly

Brad is the Development Manager - Architecture & Design Innovation, Engineering and Computer Science at Victoria University in Wellington.

This is a great opportunity to hear from one of our members and get to know them a little more. 

Lou

Notes for the coming weeks meeting:

• RSVP no later than Monday 7 October, 6pm (best do it now). 

• Please make sure you register to assist the Wellington Club staff.

• If you have any dietary requirements, please note them in the comments section of the registration

• Include your email address and mobile phone number in the response

• If you wish to bring guests/spouse/partner, please add them when you register

• Remember to click "Save" at the bottom of the page

• If you do not receive a confirmation immediately after you have registered, you have not completed the process.

To you all you Port Nic Gardeners...it's that time again.

We have a garden that needs a bit of  help in Mitchell St ,Brooklyn - does that address sound familiar?? Yes - it's because it our current President Jo Douglas' address! 

On the second Sunday morning of October. A bit of weeding, and cutting things (always fun), and a little bit of lugging dirt - downhill which is good! Jo has a couple of planter boxes that need filling up with soil so she can grow some lovely organic veges.

If you are able to provide some green fingers for a couple of hours I'm sure we can make Jo's life a little bit happier. Just to recall, this is to fulfill our commitment from the auction last year - so it's already been paid for! 

I'm looking at kicking off at 9.00am and finishing up around 12.30-1pm at the latest. If you can lend an hour or two in between those times it would be appreciated.

Register by clicking below or send me an email at brent.gerrard@outlook.com and let me know if you can help.

Cheers,

Brent

Lets help raise some money for "Everybody Eats" as well as having a fun get together

As many of you will know we had Jack Rainey talk to us at the end of August. Jack is the manager of Everybody Eats which is a pay-as-you-can, 3 course restaurant made from rescued and repourposed food, situated at 60 Dixon Street Te Aro. 

Jack inspired many of us to get out and support them so we have decided to go on 13 October.

The plan is to meet at The Malthouse at 5.30 and then head up to Everybody Eats for dinner about 7pm - time for dining needs to be confirmed.

The Restaurant is open from Sunday to Wednesday each week and after a wee vote at the lastest Club breakfast, Sunday looked like the best day.

This event is open to members, partners, family and friends, so when you register dont forget to add they significant others. 

Once I know numbers I will let Jack know so he is ready for us  

Please can all registrations be in by 10 October 6pm so I can let them know.

Looking forward to this one :)

Louise

“A Grand Night Out”

A Cocktail Party, an Auction, a Mystery Dinner

Wednesday 23 October 2024, to begin at 5.30pm 

The Wellington Club, 88 The Terrace

$100pp – make up a table of 8 people for $800 

Perambulators Governor Grey's Track

Sunday 27 October 2024 10am

We will explore a new track (to me) that starts at the bottom of Kelson and ends half way up Hill Road Belmont.

The track can be narrow, a little slippery in places and you will get wet feet.  There are 3 streams to cross and their depth is totally dependent on how much rain we get in the week leading up to the walk.

There is some lovely bush, interesting views and it loops back down to the cars.

Meet at Belmont School Car Park, turn right off SH2 at Kelson and before crossing Kennedy Good Bridge turn immediately right again.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZKdjri12qWhHLZGr9

Be there ready to start walking at 10am.  I will decide where we go for coffee depending on numbers attending (and yes I know it is Labour Weekend).  I expect the walk to be about 2 hours long.

Please RSVP no later than 6pm Friday 25 October.

Our next Flashback Friday long lunch is at Bayland Brewery in Petone.

Baylands have a full service bar with 30+ taps so we can sit down and enjoy a few beers, have a feed and even buy some beer to take away.  Dont like beer? They have a big range of gins, premium spirits, wines and non alcohol drinks. 

Their Autum menu is quite varied and has Snacks, Tacos, Little Peeps, Burgers and Smashies on it. Check it out on their website https://baylands.beer/

Come along and bring friends and family. It is a short walk from Petone Station and will be another lovely way to relax and enjoy each others comany.

Please register by 6pm Wednesday 6 November, remember to register your friends or family, so I can let them know numbers attending.

See you there

Lou

Rotary xmas / end of year event 6 – 9pm at the Cable Top restaurant.