Club News 23.07.23 (Jul 23, 2023)

Club News

23 July, 2023

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

rcpnbulletin@gmail.com by midnight on Saturday

Worthy of Acclaim - Indeed!

Our very own David Shackleton received a well deserved recognition from the District for his tireless and inspirational leadership as an Assistant Governor at the recent District Changeover. David, you are an incredible example to the rest of us as to what a Rotarian can ideally be.

Your demonstration of Service above Self is inspirational.

Thank you

Ngā mihi nui

High quality speaker programme

There has been significant feedback on the high quality of our speakers in recent weeks and their powerful, relevant and engrossing messages.

Well done Heather and Tony for managing such a successful and interesting programme!

This will be no different when we welcome our friends from Lifeflight on Wednesday.

From this week we will be showing our appreciation of the speakers sharing their time and expertise with a small gift of a pen with Rotary Port Nicholson engraved in it.

This is sponsored by a Rotary member.

This week's speakers

Sebastian Grodd and Judith Gray

Life Flight’s Head of Fundraising Marketing and Communications and Chair of Rotary's Children's Health Trust are coming to present to us this week.

Our speakers for the coming week will be talking to us about "Life Flight Trust's major new project".

Sebastian is a passionate fundraiser and has been involved in the Not-For-Profit sector for almost two decades. As the Head of Fundraising, Marketing and Communications he stewards Life Flight’s generous family of supporters.

Judith is the managing director of Nada Bakery and Chair of Rotary's Children's Health Trust.

Desk: Andre

Greeting: Raymond

Opening Thought: Dawn

Our Duties

For 26 July meeting:

Buy the Box: Mike

Introduction: Howard

Thanking: Robert

Parting Thought: Louise

Reporter: Brent

Thoughts from President Tony

At Changeover I said that Youth would be a major theme for the year ahead and that we would celebrate key examples of resilience and leadership of young people in our community. This week I want to share with you a powerful example of what I meant.

Shannon resident Jessica Rose Collins featured prominently in the prestigious Te Whetu Maiangi Award for young achievers for her demonstration to improve herself and her community, as well as contributing towards a better future for our nation.

In 2019 the then 23 year old was presented with the Prime Minister’s Exemplar award for her dedication towards Maori mental health and suicide prevention. Jessica, a Massey University Visual Arts graduate spent her 21 st birthday creating and leading the Mana Whenua hikoi walking 668km for the 668 people who committed suicide in New Zealand in 2017. From this Collins aided in raising $2500 for Lifeline since they had lost their government funding for crisis support and
suicide prevention.

Last year Collins had an Art Exhibition she called Resilience based on the hikoi to support Project K, a highly successful organisation which supports youth from year 10 onwards to build confidence and life skills. In 2012 Jessica was chosen to participate in this life-changing
programme while at Otumoetai College, This followed her own struggles with mental health when she attempted to take her own life at just 13 years of age. Like too many children in Aotearoa Jessica said, I grew up in survival mode just trying to make it through each day.

Young people like Jessica Rose Collins are an inspiration and thankfully there are many other young like Judith setting such a benchmark for our future leaders.

Through our Goalsetters programme, the Lifting the Lid initiative, our support of Rotaract, Interact, RYLA and RYPEN and others, the Port Nicholson Rotary Club salutes all youth leadership initiatives and our momentum will only increase in the coming year.

Casino Night
Only 4 weeks away!
Saturday 19th August

The WHWT caters for approximately fifty homeless women each year and we hope to be able to provide at least a year’s supply of support packs.

This very affordable event - $35 - including supper and playing chips - will provide these essential packs which will have a major impact and add dignity for the women as they move
on in their lives.
Organise a group and come along to this fun event.
Payment into the RCPN Trust account with your name and reference CASINO.

RYLA Applications are open!

Do you know a young person between the ages of 18 and 24 who shows leadership potential?

Our club could sponsor this person to expand their leadership skills. The RYLA programme recognises, encourages and educates current and future leaders by offering them an intensive leadership experience.

Check out this link for more details

Save the Date – 4th November

The Rotary Foundation Recognition Dinner will be held in Auckland on Saturday 4th of November at the Cordis Hotel.

Awards will be given to those who have made either Major Donor or Bequest contributions
in the 2022-2023 years. If you wish to make a contribution or increase your current contribution, please contact either Jennie Herring or Marilyn Stevens.

Tickets will be first in, first served. Keep an eye on your inbox for the invitation.

Reserve your place and/or table!

Port Nicholson Rotary’s Annual Charity Auction

Dinner & Quiz

Wellington Club | Friday 6 October 2023 | $125 pp.

Raising funds for

Rotary’s Lifting the Lid – Wellington Homeless Women’s Trust – Life Flight Trust

Click here to see the promotional flyer with payment and other details.

Dr Tony Highnam

Changing Global Breast Cancer Screening from Wellington

Ralph Highnam, is the founding CEO & Chief Scientist for Volpara Health, a listed company in Australia but based here in Wellington since 2009.

The mission is to Save Families from Cancer.

Ralph has spent his entire career working on ways to improve breast screening using Artificial Intelligence starting work on this in the UK in 1989.

As an academic researcher Ralph was happy, but he had to admit he got bored as papers wouldn’t always be published and those that did; didn’t always result in a significant change to health services.

He realised that an idea needs to be commercially viable to make a difference. Ralph admits he was surprised Wellington would be Volpara’s base, but thanks to the great support of the seed investors it is working well.