The club finally got to hear from long standing member, and now ex-speaker organiser, Darryl Ross.
Brenda Lazelle reports.
Darryl grew up in Ngahere in the Grey Valley on the West Coast. The town has a history of gold mining and 
sawmilling and is just a stone’s throw from the Blackball Hilton, Pike River and Gloriavale. He took us on a journey through the early phases of his life and the influences of living in a very small close-knit community where many were related. As a child there were seven rugby league teams in his community (across all levels) which impressively produced five international league caps.
sawmilling and is just a stone’s throw from the Blackball Hilton, Pike River and Gloriavale. He took us on a journey through the early phases of his life and the influences of living in a very small close-knit community where many were related. As a child there were seven rugby league teams in his community (across all levels) which impressively produced five international league caps.He became involved in St John when he was just seven, but in his high school years it was his reputation in athletics that resulted in him being one of four signalled out by the Principal to go for a
run with Sir Peter Snell during Sir Peter’s post Olympics visit to the school.
Darryl’s first job was in the front office of the local newspaper but it wasn’t long before he was working for Armstrong and Springhall (A&S) servicing office equipment. This was his introduction to the technology sector servicing and selling in a number of regions in New Zealand and Australia. He was part of the team that developed the first electronic workshop to service the new technology emerging on the market. Wherever his career took him, he contributed to St Johns, establishing cadet divisions and doing active first aid duty often. While working at A&S in Hastings he was introduced to Rotaract. This clearly became another passion, with him taking leadership roles at local and regional levels.
A&S was the ticket to new opportunities including his first ventures overseas. Following a stint in Perth, he travelled through Asia on his way to London where he worked as a pot washer at a 3
Michelin star restaurant! When he came back to New Zealand, A&S had been bought out by Brierly – stripped of its assets and no longer existed. So he drew on his alternative career card and started work with Wellington Free Ambulance. Unfortunately I had to leave at this point so didn’t hear the later chapter but it was great hearing Darryl weaving together his career in electronics and his passion for service in St Johns and Rotaract – and no doubt Rotary.