The newly elected Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta is now installed. He along with many thousands of others around the world have taken on leadership roles within Rotary. Welcome to the new Rotary year 2021/22. Shekhar’s theme is Serve to Change Lives. We all know that our voluntary community service is acknowledged by many, that service affects lives, it improves lives, and it changes lives. Whether it be the giver or the receiver – we all somehow changed by our service.
Rotary Insight: Brent spoke of a traumatic time in his life some years ago when he was diagnosed with a brain tumour.
He obviously recovered and his wife jokingly says that they left the tumour in and took the brain out. He had to learn to walk again using a walking frame.
From a Rotary aspect, as he could not work and wasn’t allowed to drive, Scottie and others picked him up and took him to Rotary.
He is grateful for the love and compassion that Rotary showed him, and within two years he became President.
By David Hulme, Media Support and Resources Officer D9930
Years of dedicated service, much of it behind the scenes and across multiple districts, has seen Rotorua Rotarian Fergus Cummings recognised as this year’s District 9930 Service Above Self recipient.
Fergus, who served as District Governor in 1999-2000, was humbled and shocked when presented with the honour at the D9930 changeover lunch in Napier on Sunday.
By David Hulme, Media Support and Resources Officer D9930
A chance meeting in 2019 with a specialist dentist in Brazil created a lasting impression on Havelock North Rotarian David Smith and his wife Raeanne – so much so that it spurred him into action on his return to New Zealand.
In the old saying, to cut a long story short, it is that action that saw David recognised as the Outstanding Rotarian of the Year for District 9930 in 2020-21 at the recent changeover event in Napier.
Welcome to Rotarians, families and friends to the District 9930 Changeover. Thank you all for being here. Indeed we are fortunate to be gathering today face to face.
For Rotary this has been a year like no other. The pandemic has affected how our organisation operates globally including in our part of the world.
The Australia New Zealand conference and Governor-Elect training planned for Alice Springs was held as a virtual event.
By David Hulme, Media Support and Resources Officer D9930
Outgoing District Governor Grant Spackman says the past 12 months have been “a year like no other” for Rotary globally but despite the challenges, District 9930 has had some major successes.
Near the top of the list, he says, was the Faces Project, co-ordinated by Havelock North Rotary Club which received a Global Grant from Rotary International in near-record time, while real progress is also been made on an international project in Nepal and the District is supporting Interplast’s work in Bhutan.
I would like to offer this opportunity to all local and international Rotary Clubs.
ESP Medical has an affinity with Nepal and has partnered with Rototuna Rotary to promote the supply of Ventilators to Kathmandu hospital and others.
Is it possible to circulate this opportunity for donations to other clubs? If you need me to supply more details or discuss with the new District Governor in person, I am based in Hamilton, so can easily visit to explain or demonstrate this.
On the 10th July the six New Zealand District Governors presented Dr Ashley Bloomfield with six Paul Harris Fellowships (PHF+5).
Their citation thanked him for his steadiness under fire, his integrity and his authenticity.
Each Governor spoke, providing some background or connection about this PHF and Rotary, particularly in relation to key centennial projects in two of Rotary’s areas of focus – Disease Prevention and Treatment, and Maternal and Child Health.
Rotary Give Every Child A Future (RGECAF) continues to wait for news that our first child has been immunised!
Never in the planning phase could we have imagined that this project to vaccinate 100,000 children against life-threatening rotavirus, pneumococcal disease and human papillomavirus (HPV) would be delayed by an epidemic of measles (Samoa late 2019) or rolled out in the midst of a global pandemic.
Neither could we have anticipated that this project would assist the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines in the project’s nine Pacific Islands.
Last Tuesday, on the 1st of June, Club member Trevor Page celebrated his 102 birthday with his now historic climb to the top of Sugar Loaf Hill. (Pukekura).
Trevor has been doing this daily climb for 53 years and only misses the walk because of bad weather.
The speakers were Gabby and Muruwai (pictured right) who attended RYLA in February of this year at Lake Karapiro.
They spoke about the personal gains they made by attending the course and the activities they were involved in. They described it as an eye-opening journey that will set them up for the rest of their lives.
Eid fled war-torn Afghanistan at age 14, leaving his family and his small motorcycle repair shop behind. He sold the shop and gave most of the money to his parents and siblings before leaving on an eight-and-a-half-month journey to Switzerland.
Like many refugees, Eid — identified here by his first name only, for his safety — took a path that was complicated and at times harrowing. He stayed in Iran for two months, working as a bricklayer, but discovered that his situation there was no safer or better than in Afghanistan. In Turkey, he found passage to Greece on a rubber transport ship with about 60 other refugees. But when they were halfway across the sea, the engine failed — and the boat’s pilot didn’t know how to fix it.
Guest Speakers were Sue and Phil Newdick. Sue grew up on an orchard in Riverpoint road, she met Phil at a singles club 40 yrs ago. Phil had owned London Fish Shop and Avis rentals and had done well so retired in 2005.
In 2006 he had a heart attack while mowing the lawns. That prompted them to take up traveling sooner rather than later. The ‘freestyle travel’ which is it is about the journey rather than the destination. About 3 months before winter they decide where they want to go and make up the possibilities. They have transversed America a number of times using various forms of travel.
They then decided to travel to Europe and booked a bus trip which they don’t usually choose.
A great evening was had out at the Te Puke Golf course on Thursday evening, with the Maketu hosting Papamoa and the Mount Clubs.
In excess of 50 members present from the combined clubs to hear Ronnie McQuilter – owner and driver of NZ’s largest PI firm.
Plenty of interesting stories from dressing up as a tree and the “watering of that tree” -😉 to hunting down some of NZ’s most wanted fugitives.
There was a good flow of questions from the floor keeping all entertained. We never know who is looking where! You never know There was a good flow of questions from the floor keeping all entertained.
Patrick Nolan is a New Zealander born and bred in Marton, schooled in Palmerston North, and lived in various NZ locations.
He joined the Army at 15 and proceeded through the ranks over the next 29 years. Following service in Vietnam, Singapore, Waiouru, Burnham then Sinai, he moved to England and was appointed to the position of Yeoman Warder at HM Tower of London, the first and last Colonial to be so appointed.
On Wednesday 9th June, President Phil, Past President Lynne, Incoming President Graeme, and Incoming Director Andy, traveled up to Wairoa to attend that Club's evening meeting.
Phil had promised Wairoa President Nigel Pollock, that a visit would take place sometime during the 2020/2021 Rotary Year. We only just made it!
Ironically, we made it to a meeting that Immediate Past President Deidre Jones was chairing as Nigel was unable to attend. Such is the Rotary way.
It's a small world, we have recently purchased a Gazebo and had it sign-written to promote the club, it had its first outing at our local market recently I have attached a photo. If you haven't already done it you might like to follow our FaceBook page as well https://www.facebook.com/laketauporotary Regards Ray.
Well, that’s about all there is for this issue from District Governor Ross. Don’t forget that the District website is fully operational and you will find a plethora of information about Rotary, D9930 clubs, and all activities. Please take a good stroll through the site by clicking HERE.
Rotary Insight: Brent spoke of a traumatic time in his life some years ago when he was diagnosed with a brain tumour.
tena koutou tena koutou tena koutou katoa.
On the 10th July the six New Zealand District Governors presented Dr Ashley Bloomfield with six Paul Harris Fellowships (PHF+5). 
Rotary Give Every Child A Future (RGECAF) continues to wait for news that our first child has been immunised!
The speakers were Gabby and Muruwai (pictured right) who attended RYLA in February of this year at Lake Karapiro.
Guest Speakers were Sue and Phil Newdick. Sue grew up on an orchard in Riverpoint road, she met Phil at a singles club 40 yrs ago. Phil had owned London Fish Shop and Avis rentals and had done well so retired in 2005.
A great evening was had out at the Te Puke Golf course on Thursday evening, with the Maketu hosting Papamoa and the Mount Clubs.
It's a small world, we have recently purchased a Gazebo and had it sign-written to promote the club, it had its first outing at our local market recently I have attached a photo. If you haven't already done it you might like to follow our FaceBook page as well