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This week's speaker
This week we have our first evening meeting starting at 5.30pm on level 6 at the Wellington Club. We have an inspiring young speaker Grace Curtis. She currently works as a Ministerial Advisor/Media for the Government. As well as her day job, she works in community-based mental health advocacy, including being an Ambassador for Movember to raise money and awareness for men’s health.
Our Duties
23 July evening meeting (Level 6) Please note that these may differ from previously notified
Desk- Darryl Ross
Greeter- Tori Triegaardt
Kaikohau- Joy Durrant
Opening Thought- Nicole Barker
Introduction- Brent Gerrard
Thanking- Tony Herring
Sharing - Mike Selvadurai
Closing thought- Linda Wellington
Club report - Jo Douglas
The future looks good
Meetings, speakers and events coming up
30 JulyBusiness Breakfast- John Allen Ombudsman
6 August Belinda Himiona CEO- Social service providers in Aotearoa
13 AugustTina CurtisHearing loss and industry
27 August(Evening meeting)
24 September (Evening meeting) Bernadette Cavanagh, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
1 October Emily Mason Understanding Social Investment
15 OctoberA Grand Night out
2026
20-22March Rotary conference Napier (Wine and food centre of NZ ) Click here to register
24 March 2026 Goal Setters awards breakfast
Social events Rotary Club of Port Nic has a variety of social events you are very welcome to join.
Book Club30 July 5.30pm level 6 Wellington Club RSVP to David Barnes
Flashback Fridays 1 August Bar 187 owned by one of our own Click here for details Movie Night 14 August Mr. Burton click here for details and see below
Grand night out October 15th See below
Rotary conference March 20-22 Napier Click here to register
“A Grand Night Out” ROTARY CLUB OF PORT NICHOLSON
INVITES YOU TO
A FUNDRAISING EVENING WITH A DIFFERENCE A Cocktail Party, an Auction, a Mystery Dinner
Wednesday 15 October 2025, to begin at 5.30pm, off to dinner at 7.00pm
The Wellington Club, 88 The Terrace, Wellington
Charity – Lifting the Lid on Youth Mental Health in Wellington
We all have 'round-to-its' in our life. Thinking that one day we'll complete this or complete that. Well, Howard has completed what many people think they'll do but never actually 'get around to it'. It's only taken 4 years, working with his two brothers and loads of memories. Research was required to validate family trees information. Past relatives were contacted, family reunion records were tracked down and then the hard part, actually collating this information into a book.
Last meeting Howard was able to inform our members that his lengthy project has been completed. A book for family members, friends, distant relatives (like Bill Day) and not surprisingly, local libraries have requested copies.
The 240 page book ('The TONG boys of Tawa') has family history as far back as can be traced, details of Howard's parents past and of course, Howard's and his brother's stories. Along with galleries of old and not so old photos, birth, marriage and death certificates, there is a section of what life was like growing up in Tawa in the 1950/60s.
The key to Howard completing this was just starting and then focusing on getting it completed to hand to his children. He has encouraged them to think of doing the same when they retire. Howard is happy to lend his copy to members hoping it will inspire others to embark on this very valuable and rewarding project.
Latest Perambulators adventure
Here are the perambulators on their trip doing the Dry Creek loop above Lower Hutt. It was an excellent day out.
A great afternoon tree planting
Thank you Lisa for organising an afternoon of tree planting and to the members and their family members who contributed to planting 458 trees in just one and a half hours. A very impressive effort.
President Nicole
Evening meeting
We have our first evening meeting this week. Thank you for supporting this opportunity to try something new. We are looking forward to hearing from Grace Curtis and her important work supporting men's mental health.
Interviews with members
We are half way through our interviews with the members of our club. Everyone is sharing at least one gem on how we can strengthen the club for now and in the future. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts.
Richard's presentation
Thank you Richard Westlake for a spellbounding talk on your father and his role in Operation Bowler. It was very generous of you to offer a copy of the book on Operation Bowler which was auctioned for $70 for Lifting the Lid. See below for Howard's report if you couldn't make the meeting.
Opening and closing thoughts
80 years ago the first moon landing occurred.
Shouldn't we all be living on the moon by now?
We heard from John Paul Michael who is Deputy Director of Digital Safety at the Department of Internal Affairs – a lot of capital letters to start with. John started by explaining how artificial intelligence – known by us all as AI ̶ is being used generally in the world and how it is changing every day. It can be very useful in a wide variety of ways. One example John gave was how AI has been used to decipher ancient scrolls from Pompeii another was how in healthcare it is used to identify rare diseases which may not otherwise be detected.
It is always the case where a member is the speaker and the content is both interesting and leaves those present amazed at the experiences and significant role.
This week was no exception. Richard Westlake provided an absorbing presentation about his father (Group Captain George Westlake DSO) and the experience of fighter pilots during the Second World War. He covered the events of Operation Bowler that occurred over Venice in the final stages of World War Two on the 2nd March 1945.
If you are rostered for a duty and cannot make it, please arrange for someone to take your place and let Jo know at Joanna.douglas1954@gmail.com or 027 283 8981
23 July Evening Mtg
30 July
6 August
13 August
20 August
Evening Mtg
Desk 6.45am
Darryl Ross
David Quinn
Geoff Smith
David Quinn
Bill Day
Greeter
Victoria Triegaardt
Spencer Petherick
Lindsay Chitty
Tony Robinson
Geoff Smith
Kaikohau
Joy Durrant
Brenda Lazelle
Jo Douglas
Brent Gerrard
Nick Duncan
Opening Thought
Nicole Barker
Everard Aspell
Brad Weekly
Lou Bray-Burns
Heather Lucas
Introduction
Brent Gerrard
Linda Wellington
Darryl Ross
Richard Brodie
Hadleigh Petherick
Thanking
Tony Herring
Rob Whitney
Dawn Sanders
André Lategan
Joy Durrant
Sharing
Mike Salvadurai
Peter Whittington
Mike Salvadurai
Steve Lawton
Brent Gerrard
Parting
Linda Wellington
Richard Westlake
Peter Whittington
Everard Aspell
Marc Rands
Reporter
Jo Douglas
Heather Lucas
Julian Bateson
Paula McKnight
Jo Douglas
Kaikohau (Expression of hope)
Nau mai ngā hua
Nau mai ngā pai
Nau mai kia nui
Kia hāwere ai
Tihei mauri ora
Welcome all things that have grown
Welcome all things that are good
May they be plentiful and abundant
Port Nicholson Rotary Board Members 2025/26
President Nicole Barker
Treasurer Nick Duncan
Community Services Marc Rands
Club Services Geoff Smith
District Liaison Brent Gerrard Lifting the Lid David Shackleton
Membership Richard Westlake
Projects Paula McKnight
Youth Tori Triegaardt
Past President Jo Douglas
President Elect David Barnes
If you have feedback for the Editors, or content you would like included in the club bulletin, please send it to rcpnbulletin@gmail.com by midnight on Saturday to ensure its inclusion.
