From the President
To anyone wh
o noticed there was no President’s Report in the last Bulletin – well spotted. To me, ‘my bad’ – I had written it on the Saturday, and thought I had attached it, but hadn’t. So a pared down version is below, along with some more new comments.
To Bill, more accolades on being announced the Winner of the Community Service section in the Welly Awards! I was pleased to be at the event, at the Embassy Theatre, to share this emotional and well deserved moment for Bill.
At the Rotary District 9940 Conference, as Chair of Wellington Hospitals Foundation, Bill formally thanked Rotary 9940 for the collective support in the raising of $500,000 for the two Rotary Whanau rooms and a portable ultrasound machine for Te Wao Nui – the new Regional Children’s Hospital. He acknowledged the ‘Rotary 9940 Childrens Health Trust’ and their committee of Judith, Adrienne, John Mohi, Carol Green, Bob Smith and Joy Durrant who lead the charge for this fundraising.
It was lovely to also see Sir Mark Dunajtschik and Dorothy Spotswood being honoured with the special Jemima Gazley Spirit of Wellington [Welly] Award for their exceptionally generous donation of $53,000,000 towards the $116M cost of Te Wao Nui. Referred to as the capital’s ‘fairy godparents’, Sir Mark went on speak of the next projects they are funding, including $10M to fund the mechanical engineering department at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington and a pledge of $60M to replace Te Whare Ahura Mental Health Centre in Hutt Valley. What outstanding generosity!
Following up on the excellent presentation by Bev Lawton ONZM and her documentary-makers, Brooke Benton and Ashleigh Roworth, an echo to sign the Petition to the Government to fund free screening for cervical cancer in NZ. [Link is above.] The value of the work that Bev and her team are doing regarding the HPV is extremely important for not only women, whose lives are saved, but also their wider whanau, as was shown. Advocacy of their work at the Te Tātai Hauora o Hine (the National Centre for Women's Health Research Aotearoa) would be warmly appreciated by Bev, its founder/director. Among the awards Bev has received is a well-earned Queen’s Honour, ONZM.
Last week, Peter Whittington’s account of the horrific damage Cyclone Gabrielle created to Brookfields and the wider region was incredibly sobering. Our hearts go out to him and all in the face of the many months of clean-up ahead.
We were delighted that DG Marilyn Stevens was able to finally attend our Breakfast and, in her presentation, remind us of International Rotary President, Jennifer Jones’, theme for the year -‘Imagine’. In broadest summation, ‘imagine’ what Rotary can do both collectively internationally and we can each do individually.
This is a perfect segue to celebrating the success of the Goal Setters Awards recipients, all achievers in the face of adversity. Urging those who have not done so already, to book for this moving event, which includes a talk by Chief Ombudsman, Peter Boshier.
Great that another school has signed up for Lifting the Lid – well done to David (S), Richard and Jane. Also pleasing to hear Darryl report on the upsurge of enthusiasm by Interact this year – thanks to him, assisted by Paula from time to time. Darryl is keen to hear of anyone willing to attend an Interact meeting to fill in occasionally. They are every second Tuesday afternoon after school at Wellington Girls’ College for an hour.
David (S) and I have had an initial meeting with Danielle Shanahan, CEO of Zealandia, Jay – President of Karori Rotary Club and Andy Foster regarding the project I mooted we are keen to help progress. More on that as it evolves.
Hope you are enjoying the Easter holiday – wherever, however… Look forward to seeing you at our next Breakfast meeting and hearing Susan Barker on the new Charities Law Reforms, and how they affect us all.
Dawn,
President
