Rotary Club of Port Nicholson Bulletin

Wednesday 26 August, 2020

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President
Mike Selvadurai
 
“Together we make a Difference”
Kia ora
 
What a week it has been for some of our members! A strenuous trek to the center of the New Zealand’s continental shelf in the Tararua range and Jean being winched out of the bush by helicopter! New Zealand covers about 6 million square kilometres of territory - about 14 times the size of California, eight times the size of Texas and about 1 per cent of the Earth's surface but 95% of it on the sea floor- all of which will be revealed if you pulled the plug on the world’s oceans!
 
Jean is recovering comfortably at Wellington hospital and hopes to be discharged soon, albeit in plaster. She thanks members for well wishes, visiting her and the lovely bunch of flowers.
 
11 members of Port Nic attended the lunch meeting of The Rotary Club of Courtenay Place at Fork & Brewer brewery in Bond St on Friday. This is part of the initiative of the Wellington network of clubs to attend each other’s meetings. It may be a small club but attracted a big crowd for the occasion. Good company, food (the roast lamb just fell off the bone!) and of course the extensive selection of really good craft beer. A venue for our social dinner?
 
We have 60 people attending our breakfast meeting on 2 September – 90% of our members, Rotarians from other clubs, current and past district governors and of course Sir Anand Satyanand (and Lady Susan) who is our guest speaker talking to us about ‘doing good in the world’. Please note that with L2 Covid-19 rules, attendees are required to be seated on arrival, not just for our good but also for that of staff at Wellington Club who go out of their way to serve us.
 
A reminder that the use of a mask on public transport is obligatory from Monday. If you have not yet got one please get or make one. Even your socks can be transformed into one!
 
Stay safe
 
ngã mihi
 
Mike
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Guest Speaker Report
Dr Karen Oldfield
 

 
 
Is legalising cannabis a good
or a bad move?
 
That was the question underlying the presentation by Dr Karen Oldfield, of the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand to an absorbed audience at the club this week.
 
Dr Oldfield, who is a medical doctor now studying for her PhD focussing on medicinal cannabis is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute.
 
She reviewed the state of knowledge about the claimed benefits and downsides of using cannabis and concluded that the evidence for both sides was mixed and inconclusive, despite the claims by both sides in the legalise cannabis debate.
 
She noted that cannabis had been used a medicine for at least 10 000 years and was also used for religious and recreational purposes.
 
Dr Oldfield drew a clear distinction between the two active ingredients of cannabis: THC which gives the user the euphoria high associated with getting stoned; and CBD which is said to have therapeutic effects such as relieving stress, pain and anxiety.
 
CBD is used in Sativex, the only medical cannabis product currently licensed for use in New Zealand, under the Medical Marijuana regime which came into effect in April this year.
 
The new regime allows GPs to prescribe medical marijuana and thereby frees up access to the drug for those who would benefit from it. Access is still controlled but is now easier to get than under the previous regime where would be users also required approval from the Ministry of Health.
 
Recreational marijuana is mostly THC, but does contain some CBD, and can be smoked or eaten – in cakes and cookies for example.
 
Critically for the debate leading up to the referendum later this year, Dr Oldfield said genuine scientific research, as opposed to anecdotal evidence, was inconclusive about both the benefits and dangers of cannabis use.
 
She cited a large and authoritative 2017 study from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in the United States which reviewed the health effects of cannabis and cannabinoids to support her conclusion.
 
John Bishop
Club reporter
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Interact News
 
At last week's meeting the Interact Club held a ZOOM meeting with a club in Guatemala (pictures below). 

The Board and club members are busy organising a Quiz night on Tuesday 8 September with the proceeds going to the Blue Dragon Children's Foundation in Hanoi, Vietnam. It will be held at Wellington College starting at 6.30pm.

It would be great to have a table from Port Nicholson.......see Gillian Robertson if you are interested.

 
 
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The Innovative Young Minds (IYM) Programme
The programme is designed to encourage young women to explore science, technology, engineering, mathematics and high-tech manufacturing.

It's a programme that that our club actively supports as part of our youth support goals. This year we jointly sponsored with IRANZ two on-line sessions to IYM. Karen Oldfield our speaker this week was one of the role-model young women who contributed to our sessions.
 
Covid-19 has brought new challenges to raising funds and organisations like IYM are not immune to it. The following message from IYM explains:
 
As you know, COVID 19 has had a big impact on funding opportunities but we are being innovative in our approach to this challenge. 
We felt that it was some time for some FUN that would bring our faithful supporters together for a great night out but also, give us an opportunity to raise some money.
 
IYM, in partnership with Rotary Hutt City, have organised an IYM Quiz night. We have a professional quiz master, food platters, a cash bar and lots of free parking! 
 
Thursday 24th September 6 pm for a 6.30 pm start
20 teams of 8 @ $25.00 per person
Venue: Boulcott Farm Heritage Golf Club, 33 Military Road, Lower Hutt
 
This is a fantastic opportunity for our club to  make up a table of 8 to pit its general knowledge against other clubs and have a fun time doing it!
 
Rob Whitney has kindly offered to organise a team or two if there is support. If you are interested in joining please contact him rsw703@gmail.com. See flyer below.
"Together we make a Difference”
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The Perambulators walked the
Mt Reeves track from
West of Greytown
 
 



On Sunday 23 August a keen group of 22 people which included friends and family plus 3 Rotaractors. The track is not officially open to the public as it crosses private farm land. We were very lucky to be able to get permission from the farmer.

It was a steep walk up and we all made it to the centre of continental New Zealand where there is a plaque.

Some of the faster ones continued on to the summit of Mt Reeves. We returned the same way and on the way down Jean unfortunately took a tumble and injured her ankle. Jean was in a lot of pain and unable to walk out so our call for help was quickly responded to by 2 paramedics from  Wellington Free Ambulance and a rescue helicopter from Palmerston North.

We were able to clear some of the thick overhead branches to provide a window for them to be able to winch Jean out safely into the helicopter. She was flown to Palmerston North Hospital where she was found to have 3 broken bones. She is now back in Wellington awaiting realignment surgery. Jean is very grateful for all the help she received from the Perambulators and rescue teams.

We wish her a speedy recovery.
 
Linda Wellington
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An extra "Funny" worth a read....
 
Medical experts were asked if it is time to ease the lockdown.
Allergists were in favor of scratching it, but...
Dermatologists advised not to make any rash moves.
Gastroenterologists had sort of a gut feeling about it, but ... 
Neurologists thought the government had a lot of nerve.
Obstetricians felt certain everyone was laboring under a misconception, while ... 
Ophthalmologists considered the idea shortsighted.
Many Pathologists yelled, “Over my dead body!” while Pediatricians said, “Oh, grow up!”
Psychiatrists thought the whole idea was madness, while Radiologists could see right through it.
Surgeons decided to wash their hands of the whole thing and Pharmacists claimed it would be a bitter pill to swallow.
Plastic Surgeons opined that this proposal would “put a whole new face on the matter."
Podiatrists thought it was a step forward, but Urologists were pissed off at the whole idea.
Anaesthesiologists thought the whole idea was a gas, and those lofty Cardiologists didn’t have the heart to say no.
In the end, the Proctologists won out, leaving the entire decision up to the assholes.
Speakers
Sep 09, 2020 7:00 AM
IT Security Awareness
Sep 16, 2020 7:00 AM
Port Nicholson Rotary
Sep 23, 2020 7:00 AM
Inner City Wellington - the issues
Sep 30, 2020 7:00 AM
Walking New Zealand
Oct 07, 2020 7:00 AM
View entire list
Upcoming Events
Rotary Weekly Meeting 9 September 2020
The Wellington Club
Sep 09, 2020
7:00 AM – 8:30 AM
 
Rotary Weekly Meeting AGM
The Wellington Club
Sep 16, 2020
7:00 AM – 8:30 AM
 
Te Araroa Trail - Pukeatua Track
Tararuas - Otaki Forks to Waikanae
Sep 20, 2020
8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
 
Rotary Meeting - Inner City Wgtn The Issues
The Wellington Club
Sep 23, 2020
7:00 AM – 8:30 AM
 
Social Get Together - Wednesday Sept 23
Istana Malaysia
Sep 23, 2020
6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
 
IYM Fun Rotary Quiz
Boulcott Farm Heritage Golf Club
Sep 24, 2020
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
 
Rotary Meeting - Walking New Zealand
The Wellington Club
Sep 30, 2020
7:00 AM – 8:30 AM
 
Waterfront Clean-up & Show Case of Rotary
Frankitts Park
Oct 04, 2020 11:00 AM
 
Social Breakfast at Leuven Belgium Bar & Cafe
Leuven Belgium Bar and Cafe
Oct 07, 2020
7:00 AM – 8:30 AM
 
Martinborough Round the Vines Fun Run and Walk
Martinborough
Oct 17, 2020
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
 
View entire list
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Club Duties and Roster:         
NB: If you are rostered for duty and cannot make it, then please arrange for someone else to take your place and let Brent know at brent.gerrard@outlook.com or 021 725060 Txts are fine too!
 
12th August - no meeting
 
19th August Duties
 
Desk: Jane Paterson
Greeter: Paula McKnight/ Tony Robinson
Opening Thought:
Sue Walbran
Buy the Box: David Barnes
Introduction: Nicola Fawcett
Thanking: Nicholas Duncan
Parting Thought: Jeff Lee
Reporter: Anne Hare
 
See below for 4 wk Roster
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Rotary 
Spring into Alice 
Virtually - a conference
Click here to see the programme
A must read.....

The New Face of Rotary - an extraordinary story
 
An article from "The Detail", an RNZ programme

Click here to read
and listen
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RotaryNew Zealand World Community Service
To read the latest information and see brochures click the following links:
Website
Facebook
Brochure for Erks

Also see below for projects being offered to partner with in the Pacific and Africa
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Rotary - On The Move Newsletter for July 2020. This is always a valuable and interesting read Click here
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Rotary  - 4 Ways to engage members online: Click here
 
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To members of the Rotary Club of Port Nicholson
 
Many thanks to all for your kind support and for these very beautiful flowers! I will see you all again in just a few weeks!
Cheers, Jean
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Courtenay Place Rotary Club

Eleven of our club attended the luncheon at the Fork & Brewer in Bond Street as guests of the Courtenay Place Rotary Club.
 
Kelly Ryan, the brewer is giving a talk about himself and the beers he brews.

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2020 Celebrate Brighter Days Raffle
 
(instead of the annual Auction and Dinner)
 
All proceeds from the raffle will support the Malaghan Institute & the Wellington Children's Hospital 
 
There are 1000 tickets and the tickets are $20 each. We will be asking each member to sell one book of 10 tickets.
There are 12 wonderful prizes and prizes for the person who sells the most tickets.

 
 
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Face Mask pattern 3-layer,
No fog on glasses
 
Bev has found a link that she's used and it works well. Bev made the Small size.
 
This YouTube pattern link works well and you can pause the video as often as you like while sewing.
Click here for the link.
 
Fabric requirements (x3):
Small: 32cm x 22cm  (elastic 18cm each side)
Medium: 34cm x 23.5cm (elastic 19cm each side)
Large: 36cm x 25cm (elastic 20cm each side)
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Funnies!
 
 
 
 
 

 
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Rotary Predator Free Waterfront Trapping Schedule
 
Kia ora Trappers
Please find the updated schedule to take John through to the beginning of October. As always please swap if your allocated date doesn’t suit.
 
Week Ending (Sunday)
Volunteer 1
Volunteer 2
Aug 2
Richard Brodie
Peter Whittington
Aug 9
Noel Winsloe
Bev Wells
Aug 16
Jeff Lee
Steve Lawton
Aug 23
Paula McKnight
Dennis Small
Aug 30
David Shackleton
Marc Rands
Sept 6
Steve Lawton Lead
Rotary Waterfront Clean-up
Sept 13
Peter Whittington
Bev Wells
Sept 20
Jenny Flannigan Tong
Howard Tong
Sept 27
Noel Winsloe
Bill Day
Oct 4
Brent Gerrard
John Mills
Please note: Sunday is used as the service day for the week, but feel free to negotiate an alternative day to suit with your Service Volunteer Partner. Text Fraser Ebbett (WCC) 021 765 694 when you arrive and leave the site.
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