Visiting Our Northern Clubs

We headed North leaving a blustery Wellington behind to visit the Rotary Club of Marton.  Here we looked at a number of projects around town with President Mark looking at Targa Rally sites where the club marshals (great for a petrolhead like me), their street numbering project, and park and street beautification projects.  During the meeting we presented a Centurion certificate to a club member.  We stayed the night at Holly Farm.  It was great to see the young lambs which made if feel like spring, however the cold temperatures soon reminded us that winter still has a bite in its tale.  Our thanks to our wonderful hosts, Maureen and David.

Next day we headed north over Mt Curl in atrocious weather to Taihape.  There President Brendan showed us some club projects including the train turntable,  development of Mt Stewart, and then he took us on a tour to Mokai Gravity Canyon and around some of the stunning surrounding farmlands.  There was a great turnout with a number of guests at the club meeting where we presented a Club PHF and Sapphire Pin and a well deserved Community PHF.  We left the meeting to find snow lightly falling!  The Taihape Club are keen to embrace change and have been looking at different meeting formats to bring about that change which we discussed at length at the Board meeting.

 Wednesday dawned rather cold and overcast.  As we headed towards Waiouru the snow became thicker and thicker.  Finally we ended up in Ohakune where we met President Jim and Margaret for lunch.  Snow showers continued through the afternoon as we were shown around the District ending up in Raetihi to meet the Board and for the evening meeting, held in a lovely old homestead.  We awarded two further PHFs and inducted a new club member.  The club is very active in youth programmes and they were pleased to hear that the GSE/VTT programme has be reinstigated as they had been very active in this programme in the past.  Our thanks to Tiri and Diane for hosting us in their lovely home.

On Thursday we headed to Feilding via the Wanganui River – a great drive.  We arrived in Feilding and got the opportunity with President Ngaire to view a number of projects including support to the new Old Coach House Museum hosting a great collection of old horse carts and buggies and agricultural equipment.  We had a fun filled meeting where we 'Pushed the Boundaries' and I had a mountain to climb!  

This was the culmination of a great week.