Friday Night Happy Hours - again I would like to thank Dylan for hosting these sessions, they have been very enjoyable. I was disappointed to miss last weeks one but here's a wee brief on what you missed if you weren't there the last 2 weeks.

 

On Friday 12th April a lovely surprise was in store for us with visitors Yara and Emma joining in. Yara Leonie was a Rotary Youth Exchange student from Austria that our club hosted in 2015, and Emma Barker (Middlemarch( is a past member (ex principal of Waituna Creek School) who was Youth Director and also one of Yara's Host mums. Both ladies updated us with how they have been over the last few years and how things are in their areas at present. It was so nice for members to catch up with them and see that they are doing well. Yara is now a fully qualified Yoga teacher so I cheekily suggested she could do an online session for our Rotary Club at some stage - she agreed!! (watch this space)

 

 

Friday 17th April - Dylan had arranged for his colleague to be our speaker. 

Joe Rush – Director of Koru Mountains, Trekking & Expeditions, NZ & Nepal
Joe is a current serving NZ Police Officer based in Timaru.  He has over 20 years’ experience in the outdoors, tramping, climbing, mountain biking, ski touring, trail running and multisport. Joe also worked as the NZ Police liaison officer for the Department of Conservation Alpine Rescue Team based in Aoraki Mt Cook, New Zealand, Chairman of the Mackenzie Search and Rescue Trust, previously chairman of the Mackenzie LandSAR team, Co-ordinator of Avalanche Rescue and Winter Response in the Mackenzie Basin.

Feedback has been excellent re Joe's talk so I am gutted I missed it. Unfortunately the photos didn't work on the night so here they are below (yes that is former PM Helen Clark in one of them)

 

 

..... but wait there's more - near the end of the session (blimin timezones) another visitor, Rick Kuehn, popped up who was unknown to most. Lucky for us Ewan and Jim have been able to fill us all in, as this guest hopes to attend our meeting again (we hope to get him to give a wee talk)

Rick Kuehn is a member of the Antioch Rotary Club which has been a sister club of ours for many years.   The relationship between our clubs developed through Antioch seeking an overseas partner for a matching grant project for computers in a school on a reservation at Indian Oaks Oklahoma. It was the first major matching grant project our Club was involved in and started the Waimate Club in supporting the World wide community.  This was the first matching grant the foundation had approved in a developed country.  Before that all grants had to be for undeveloped countries.  We used the argument that an Indian reservation was an undeveloped nation within a nation.   After that the rules were changed so grants could be approved for developed nations. 

Because we supported the Antioch Club the Antioch Club in return supported our Club with DDF $6000.00   Rick and his wife attended our 50th anniversary year to say thanks for our support and present the cheque. 

We  build three low level irrigation dams in Philippines with that.  Then later with West Australia Clubs and Antioch we funded a further 26 dams with a $300000.00 (US) 3H Grant.  

 

Since then Rick through Antioch Club, and their District, has generously supported Waimate for other projects in the Phillipines, Argentina, and Africa and he has hosted us and several members of our club at his home in  Antioch many times. - (Ewan McKenzie)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rotarians continue to be busy, with many still working in essential industries (big thumbs up to you), doing other voluntary work, supporting family/friends/neighbours, and keeping their own home fires burning. I am certainly finding out about a whole range of other skills that Rotary friends have that they have kept hidden... or are they new found skills? Other gents have joined the culinary talents of Russell this week, I am sure there are others but my spies only have so much reach... Check out the devine looking crusty french bread made by Ewan, Simnel cakelets from Raymond, and WOW look at those pies made in Savoy pie tins that Russell helped Christine make! Nice work team.

 

 

Rotarian Jane has been doing some fantastic work helping the local Waimate Medical Centre. The latest effort involved helping with traffic management for the drive through style flu vaccinations. Thanks for helping with this Jane as getting people vaccinated, particularly those in the vulnerable categories, is vitally important at present. Both medical centres and our local pharmacy have been doing a terrific job in such rapidly evolving and stressful circumstances, and we thank them very much for their care and efforts. Please remember that they are all still open (ring first) so don't delay any medical attention that you may require.

 

 

The Inner Wheel ladies are an active bunch, with lots of things always on the go and even in lockdown its no different. Quite a number of the ladies are also Rotarians so I thought I'd share some of what they have been doing. Rebecca has hosted another online cooking session making cupcakes this time, which drew a good number of ladies and gave a chance for a good natter, Raewyn has been busy knitting beanies for those who need them, Pauline has been busy making gifts, an Inner Wheel banner, and ANZAC wreath, and other members have been putting together toiletry packs for hospital patients and a range of other tasks. Fantastic efforts, and goes to show that we can keep on keeping on, even in different ways.

 

 

Sadly Donald has not been overly well recently (not COVID 19 related)and has needed some extra love and care - and so too has Rotadog (Blind dog) Nero. Bridget has kindly taken him in for a wee holiday, and I think the pair of them are getting on like a box of birds. He has pushed all the limits of trying to score some sausage rolls, sleeping in the bedroom, and generally being cute and slobbery all at the same time. Bridget has been noted out and about doing "walkies" and being a good responsible pet caretaker pooper scooping - Nero's bell did get a tissue stuffed in it to stop it jingling as they walked though....... not sure why Bridget found that annoying/embarrassing..... doesn't everyone want to sound like santa's coming on his sleigh? Thanks Bridget for your help and we wish Donald the best with his return to good health

 

 

Speaking of dogs, and getting away with murder - I couldn't resist sharing this photo of Cara in her (amazing) office, but what else do you spot? I believe that the Gregan household has a "no dogs allowed inside" policy haha

I also had to share the second photo as I just love it! John, Cara, and "kids" had a lovely restaurant style evening dressed up all classy with menus and all. What a fabulous memory for them all to have, and they look gorgeous. Note to self - less trackpants!