Dunedin Rotary History 1998-2023
Gordon Parry wrote a history of the Rotary Club of Dunedin to mark its 75th anniversary in 1998. The Board has asked me to add to that by writing on the period since then and have it ready for the centennial in April 2023. Lockdown gave me an opportunity to make a start and in fact I have gone much further and been able to complete a substantial part of the publication in the time granted by Covid 19. Although it covers only a third of the period traversed by the earlier publication it will be substantially larger and goes into more detail than a longer history could justify.
I still have some material to include and I will be adding new content over the next two years obviously but I am now at the point where I want to ask members for two things. The first is for a selection of interesting photos from that period – whether they be project-based or of members just having fun. Clearly there will have to be some careful selection of material so not all pictures can be included. Secondly, because of necessity a history has to try and capture times and events, it runs the risk of being a little dry. Although I have included quite a lot of people-focused material, I still want to intersperse throughout the book a few vignettes supplied by members – very brief stories, anecdotes, incidents or opinions. I would be happy to “interview” folk about these matters or accept your written stories (max. 400 words approximately) which I could either adapt or include verbatim.
If you can help, or can point me in the direction of someone else who may be able to, then please sidle up to me furtively at a meeting, alternatively you can email me.     Craig Radford

 

Steven de Graaf (chair of Cargill's Castle Trust) gave an enlightening presentation on the fascinating and somewhat chequered history of Cargill's Castle, culminating in its being abandoned in the 1970's whereupon the Council wanted to demolish it.  Built in the 1870's it was once a magnificent 21 room mansion and although in ruins, it remains one of Dunedin's most significant historic structures.  Various plans over the years to restore it to its former glory have all faltered but the Cargill's Castle Trust, established in 1997, is going to save it!  Not to restore, but nonetheless to develop the site as a local and international visitor attraction.   The vision of the Trust is to continue to stabilise the ruins with steel reinforcement, landscape and develop the grounds (visualise family picnics!) and develop a walking track to Tunnel Beach.  The castle, while once in the same league, will never again be an Olveston or Larnach's Castle but I can already see it as a "must do" in the Lonely Planet Guide!
 

July 27 is designated as Bagpipe Appreciation Day (who makes these things up?)
Bagpipes have long been associated with the Scottish Highlands, although they have come from many different places, and there are many variations of them (in the third chapter of Daniel the “symphonia” in Nebuchadnezzar’s band is believed to have been a bagpipe).
The playing of the Bagpipe was banned in Scotland after the uprising of 1745. They were classified as an instrument of war by the loyalist government.
Celebrate on July 27 by playing your bagpipes! If you don't have any, here are a couple of Youtube videos to enjoy...
Traditional     or   Non - traditional