Lunch arrangements:
Tea and coffee available and it's a BYO lunch. Food outlets nearby range from Sushi to Subway, Kebabs to Night & Day, and local cafes like Bru located on Moray Place. Alternatively, just make yourself a cuppa!
Members are encouraged to attend Thursday lunch meetings whenever they can. They are an opportunity for fellowship, to hear interesting speakers and to catch up with our Club activities.
Remember that if you are unable to join our lunch meetings in person, we can still provide a Zoom option.
Last week as there was no guest speaker, we used the time to catch up, have fun, share stories and talk about projects. Highlights were:
President Lynne started off by sharing something some of us may not have known before, and that was that she was once a school teacher. Comedy erupted almost immediately with the antics of some of the more cheeky ‘students’ in the room! Lynne went on to share her interest in an ODT article published recently that connected to our last week's speaker on neuroscience. The article discussed the critical importance to brain development that a steady permanent person has in the life of a new born infant.
Greg Angell updated us on progress with the charity luncheon project planning. With the countdown to 24 September the special project planning team are working very hard and asking for help to sell sponsorship packages and secure at least 10 high value raffle and auction prizes, which is something we can all help with. Greg told us that the team has already received committments for 10 of the 18 tables (of 10) and are progressing ticket printing. Greg said the goal is that this event will raise $50,000, with 70% going to the new hospital for specific uses, and 30% going to Rotary Park.
Bruce Collier thanked us for our support for the Foster Hope PJ appeal, and Bruce is still accepting donations
Our joker jackpot is reaching new highs, the pot contained $575.50 and was not won, see separate story!
Our ‘sargent’ Bruce Cowan, very cleverly weaved a quiz around interesting highlights from his fairly recent road trip to the top of the South Island. He told us he was very impressed with the Omaka Aviation History Museum, particularly for WW1 and WWW2 aviation stories.
Bruce Collier presented an intriguing book review (see separate story)
Bulletin editor Fiona, reminded members their contributions for the bulletin are very welcome. This week we have a contribution of interest connecting our Orokonui Valley Track project celebration in 2010 to Sam Neill, see separate article.
When contacting the bulletin editor, Fiona pointed out that if you reply to her from the email that delivers your incoming bulletin, it won't work. Please use the link for the editor in the bulletin itself, or just email ‘fiona.robin@outlook.com’
A Letter to the club from Sam Neill
It was a sad week last week with the passing of Sam Neill. Thank you Bruce Cowan for forwarding the copy of the letter received from Sam at the time of the function to mark the conclusion of the building of the new track through Orokonui.
The handwritten words read ‘half deafend by the wonderful sound of bellbirds and tuis who have assumed ownership of my garden- I’m happy to concede my rights to them!
A very selective ‘who-dunit’ Book Review by Bruce Collier
The Rotary Club Murder Mystery
by Graham Landrum
It's Rotary Day in Borderville and attendance is way up. But the eagerly awaited district governor is late. Shot with his own gun in his chain-locked motel room, it is arguably a suicide. The club members, however, deduce murder. And feisty octogenarian widow Harriet Bushrow is dispatched on a discreet visit to the victim's North Carolina hometown. There she learns--from informants that include a sour ex-wife, a gossipy born-again masseuse, and Harriet's own best friend from her school days--that this good old Rotarian boy was not a model citizen.
This book is available to borrow - see Bruce Collier (on condition you keep secret ‘who dunit’).
It's the luck of the draw!
Our lucky winner of the opportunity to draw the lucky card for a high stakes prize in this week's Joker Jackpot was Don McEwan. Sadly, for Don he did not pick the joker. The now $575.50 plus some prize will be up for grabs again by another lucky draw winner at our next lunch meeting!
UPCOMING EVENTS
24 September, Dunedin Rotary Clubs Fundraising luncheon in support the new Dunedin Hospital & Rotary Park.
There is a call out for members to assist our event planning committees with table sales, raffle and auction prizes, and selling sponsorship packages.
The five week roster is the most accurate and members are urged to check the Duty Roster webpage regularly.
Instructions for setting up and tidying the room
The duty team are responsible for setting up the room which involves placement of the tables & chairs (in sets of six chairs per table, tables placed lengthwise down each side of the room), please ensure that you arrive in time to assist with this. We also have to put the tables and chairs back after the meeting, please ask members to help the duty team if they can. Place used cups and spoons in the white bin on the trolley to take to the dishwasher. Duty officers are asked to load the dishwasher but not to turn it on.
SPEAKER HOSTS please remember to send a summary of the Speakers presentation complete with photo to Fiona fiona.robin@outlook.com
The weekly speakers list has been updated through to 17 Dec 2026. Click on the ‘see more’ link to view.
As you may have heard the H5 strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has now been detected in New Zealand. For information about Bird flu and how to minimize the risks please read the information on the MPI website by clicking here.
