Hari tau hou - Happy New Year Everyone!!
I hope you have managed to weather the weather – whether storms, cold, excessive heat, or whatever you were ‘dealt’. Such a pot pouri this year. We had algal bloom in our bay in the Sounds for the first time ever. Swimming compromised, not to mention shellfish collection.
However, all this pales in relation to what continues to be happening globally. I taught Andrew Bagshaw’s sisters and know their parents, who are extremely community-minded Doctors in Christchurch. Reports of Andrew’s demise cannot be verified in the Ukraine as yet. However, it is indicative of the perils of working in such volatile situations. On the news last week, the Rotary ‘call to action’ in NZ for the Ukraine has resulted in not only donations and supplies, but also a much-needed ambulance being funded. Rotary in Ukraine has 62 clubs, 1111 Rotarians, and 380 Rotoractors who work with a committee set up by PDG Volodymyr. This helps ensure assistance does reach the intended recipients.
In the meantime, there is a call for more ERKS (Rotary Emergency Response Kits) for the earthquake- tsunami cyclone-torn, Vanuatu, also in the midst of the cyclone season. If you look up Haiti, you will see some of the sea of the 12,000 ERKS, still there from 2010 catastrophic earthquake, and then hurricanes. Close to home, there is all the current damage to Tairāwhiti and other parts of New Zealand from the cyclonic storms. Those affected include our own Honorary Member, Bob Moffat and wife Elaine, who thankfully managed to escape from the ravaged Coromandel.
From the end of 2022, congratulations again to Hayley! It was such a pleasure to award to her the very well-deserved Keyway Award. This was to acknowledge the fantastic range of roles she plays, from the weekly succinct, informative and attractively presented Bulletin, to coordinating the Bacon Butties for Polio fundraising to taking care of managing Christmas Pudding orders, and much more, including adeptly introducing our youngest member to the Club! Here she is again, preparing the first Bulletin for 2023. Thank you to others who have already been undertaking other Rotary roles, from Parking to Predator Free, RYLA selection, all David is doing ‘behind the scenes’, as well to Louise, for getting the first [informal] meeting notice out nice and early.
Looking forward to seeing you again this Wednesday.
All the very best for a happier and healthier 2023 and providing whatever we can via Rotary!
Dawn
President
