RCPN Bulletin October 13th 2024 (Oct 12, 2024)

Club News

October13th 2024

To ensure your content is included in the next bulletin, please send it to

rcpnbulletin@gmail.com by midnight on Saturday

This week's speaker

Dr Philippa Smales

Director Stakeholder Engagement VSA

Philippa is an international development professional whose strengths include staff management, policy and research skills. She joined Volunteer Service Abroard in June 2022.

Her topic is " Voluntary service in the Pacific."

Desk- Andy Ellis

Greeter-Lindsay Chitty

Kaikohau-Hayley Burns

Opening Thought-

Dawn Sanders

Introduction-

David Quinn

Thanking-
Tony Robinson

Buy the box-
Mike Selvadurai

Closing thought-
Spencer Petherick

Club report -
Brenda Lazelle

Our fabulous gardeners hard at work again

A group of 12 keen gardeners made quick work of Jo’s list of things to do under Brent’s leadership, who was an expert with a hand held battery operated saw/cutter. Although it was spitting when we started it cleared enough to keep going. Once finished we all enjoyed a welcome coffee and Jo‘s beautiful cooking.

“A Grand Night Out”

Here is the list of our stunning auction items for the Grand night out on October 23rd

1. Rotary Gardeners for half a day
- a working bee led by Brent Gerrard and Rotary club members

2. A 3-night stay at Swiss-BelBoutique in a deluxe room, Napier for 4 people including breakfast
- Royal Wellington Golf Package
- Pravda $50 voucher

3. Alison Blain jewellery maker and iconic fashion designer – a beautiful Berry Cluster Bracelet, made especially for the event hand-made in sterling silver along with its own velvet pouch.

4. A 3-night stay at Swiss- BelSuites, Pounamu, Queenstown in a Lake View Super 2 Bedroom Apartment for 4 people.

5. Sue Shore, Offshore jewellery – exquisite sterling silver handmade necklace/chain.

6. Bolton Hotel Wellington - One night’s accommodation including breakfast
- plus a Case of Ma Maison Pinot Noir – 12 bottles of the best you can buy from Martinborough
- plus a $400 Fork and Brewer voucher.

7. Juliet Best Artwork: Juliet Best has donated 3 large, limited edition unframed prints as a beautiful triptych – Wild Horizons, Eternal, and Homeward Bound II
- These fine-art archival quality prints are numbered, dated, and signed
- A beautiful New Zealand Art trio to keep or to gift on - Christmas is coming!

8. A 3-night stay at the Swiss-Belhotel Rainforest Kuta, Bali for 2 people including breakfast. - the voucher is for 3 nights but further accommodation can be reserved either before or afterwards.

Raffle: $50 per ticket

Prodigal Daughter Gourmet Lodge - 2 nights for 2 people, 2 evenings of aperitivo and 2 mornings of gourmet continental breakfast included, 9a Cologne Street, Martinborough 5711;
Plus the use of a high-end Skoda courtesy of Gazley Wellington
Palliser Ridge 100% lambswool blanket
Two Old Soldiers: Olive Oil and Olive Oil Soap
$100 voucher from One80 Restaurant, Oriental Parade

President Jo

Paula McKnight

What an absolute pleasure it was to present Paula with her Paul Harris second sapphire pin award. As the citation read, there is so much that Paula does both in front, and behind the scenes. Thank you Paula, you are a much valued club member.

Xmas Puddings

Is there someone who would like to be the coordinator for the Christmas puddings please? Let me know if it’s you.

Interact
On Tuesday, Darryl and I are going to Wellington Girl’s to present the Interact certificates. I am really looking forward to presenting these awards, the students are a very active and enthusiastic bunch. Some of you will have met some of them at tree planting, and at our Government House event.

Rotary four-way test
The closing thought on Wednesday from Darryl, reminded us, in these turbulent times, that the
Rotary four-way test is so very pertinent:
 Is it the TRUTH?
 Is it FAIR to all concerned?
 Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
 Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

Malaghan Institute of Medical Research update

If you would like to know more about the wonderful work of the Malaghan scientists join us for an update on Thursday 17 October at Prefab Hall, 14 Jessie Street. Refreshments from 5pm, starting at 5.30-7pm.

Contact Jane Paterson janejpaterson@gmail.com to register

Golf fund raiser for the Malaghan

Come and join us on Friday 22 November at the Royal Wellington Golf Club for a Charity Golf day. Teams of 4 playing ambrose with lots of food and drink around the course. Lunch before tee off at 12.30. Dinner and prizes after the event. To register contact Jane Paterson janejpaterson@gmail.com. It would be great to continue members support of the Malaghan Institute.

Perambulators Governor Grey's Track

Sunday 27 October 2024 10am

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

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

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

I expect the walk to be about 2 hours long.

Please RSVP no later than 6pm Friday 25 October.

The future looks good

Meetings, speakers and events we have to look forward to includes

16th October: Philippa Smales Voluntary service in the Pacific.
23 October: A grand night out- Fund raiser for Lifting the Lid
30 October: Dr Pushpa Wood Financial literacy and ethnic communities
30 October: Rotary bookclub 5.30pm, The Wellington Club
13 November: Rebecca Bangma House of Grace strategic direction
20 November: AGM and club forum
27 November: Clint Schoultz Vulnerable Support Charitable Trust - Take 10
4 December: Lafulafu V Ekenasio: Working with the Pasifika eldery in Newtown - keeping people moving
8 December: Rotary xmas / end of year event 6 – 9pm at the Cable Top restaurant.
11 December: David Howman: Sports integrity and Fair play

Great to have the perambulators program back

A perfect start to daylight saving, and hopefully a great summer, saw more than 15 Port Nicholson Perambulators and friends take a Sunday morning stroll up to the top of Mt Kaukau. The views were superb, the company very convivial and we were treated to Wellington on a great day with no wind. Coffee at the Common Ground Cafe followed. Photos courtesy of Ayesha Shakya from the Wellington Rotary Club who joined us for her first walk around the Wellington hills.

Predator Free update from Rick

With Miramar Peninsula now declared predator free the next phase is Hataitai and Mt Vic including our patch around Te Papa. So our efforts and impact are more important than ever. A big thanks to everyone for being involved with his important club project.

A couple of weeks ago I had a walk over our traps around Te Papa with Briony Ellis and Alastair Henshaw from PFW. The objective was to see how we could do better and see if we are missing vermin, in particular rats. Firstly they were impressed with our operation, our enthusiasm and commitment to stick with the programme and regularly check traps. They had a few comments as to the re location of a number of our traps to a nearby wall.

As a result of this visit, Alastair with our Brent have set up a camera to monitor activity between traps which run parallel with the Chaffers car park. It will be interesting to see the results which we will get them present the results to us one Wednesday.

Finally you will have no doubt heard about the huge increase in bird life in Wellington including kereru +243%, Kaka + 170 % and kiwi now being found in peoples back yard in the western suburbs. All great signs.

Brad Weekly-Back – from the USA

We did not know before his Wednesday talk that Brad Weekly was a keen Bruce Springsteen fan, but we do now. Brad, originally from Eugene in Oregon, first came to New Zealand in 2008.