A beautiful morning for Trees for Families, our Rotary Dunedin partnership with Keep Dunedin Beautiful. Sixty trees were planted on Sunday, Father’s Day, at West Harbour. Everyone enjoyed the still quiet morning and loved their opportunity to celebrate special family members and at the same time give to the evergrowing native plantings and gorgeous harbour side landscape being created in this space. With the Rotary Gazebo looking proud and Keep Dunedin Beautiful banners in sight, members of the public gathered for the formal opening before planting. Acknowledgments of thanks for the trees, for the organisation of the event and blessings for the trees were given by Jan Tucker of Keep Dunedin Beautiful, Dunedin city councillor Marie Laufiso representing the DCC, and our own club President, Gordon Tucker.A beautiful morning for Trees for Families, our Rotary Dunedin partnership with Keep Dunedin Beautiful. Sixty trees were planted on Sunday, Father’s Day, at West Harbour. Everyone enjoyed the still quiet morning and loved their opportunity to celebrate special family members and at the same time give to the evergrowing native plantings and gorgeous harbour side landscape being created in this space. With the Rotary Gazebo looking proud and Keep Dunedin Beautiful banners in sight, members of the public gathered for the formal opening before planting. Acknowledgments of thanks for the trees, for the organisation of the event and blessings for the trees were given by Jan Tucker of Keep Dunedin Beautiful, Dunedin city councillor Marie Laufiso representing the DCC, and our own club President, Gordon Tucker.
Special thanks go to club members Peter Jackson and Neil Lyons, with help from President Gordon Tucker, who braved a chilly Dunedin morning to get the site preparation underway for the new bolt on bike repair station on the West Harbour Bike Trail.Funding for this project and a similar undertaking at the top of Signal Hill’s “Big Easy” was provided by our club, matched by a grant from Rotary District 9980.
Around 80 cans collected at last weeks meeting were added to the total in the Octagon, along with some money that members had donated.A modest contribution to their overall total of more than 10,000 but nevertheless very worthwhile.
A new area of focus.The Rotary Foundation Trustees and Rotary International Board of Directors have both unanimously approved adding a new area of focus: supporting the environment.
Supporting the environment becomes Rotary's seventh area of focus, which are categories of service activities supported by global grants. It joins peacebuilding and conflict prevention; disease prevention and treatment; water, sanitation, and hygiene; maternal and child health; basic education and literacy; and community economic development.
In recent years “Changeover” has varied from the formal “Black Tie” event to a themed (e.g. “Scarfies”) party. This years function was billed simply as a “relaxed affair with cocktail/finger food... and a cash bar.”
Our resident magician Jonathan was M.C. for the evening, but not until he had demonstrated what NOT to do with someone elses $20 note!
Outgoing President John then narrated his original cautionary tale (in the style of Hilaire Belloc) “The story of Will (who was disobedient and died of CoVid-19)” before summarizing the Clubs achievements during the past twelve months – quite impressive despite the disruptions of the pandemic. Cameron replied and thanked John for his vision and leadership. A bouqet was presented to Louise, in appreciation of her support to John during his term of office.
Craig Radford presented some interesting facts and figures discovered while researching material for a forthcoming book (the club centennary history).
Then – the handover of the “Bling” (value $1,312.20 in the annual accounts) to incoming President Gordon who spoke briefly about his plans within the new R.I. Theme “Rotary Opens Opportunities”.
It was promised that this years Changeover would be “Family friendly” and it was good to see a number of youngsters present, one of whom (Gordons ten year old daughter) concluded the evening with a tap dancing routine – and received a standing ovation.
