Big Shelterbox Week Advertising

ShelterBox New Zealand will shortly launch Big ShelterBox Week – an international week of fundraising packed full of activities to raise awareness and funds to help families across the world who have lost everything as a result of a disaster.

From today, courtesy of iSite Media Ltd, Buses in Auckland and Hamilton are displaying the new awareness campaign and will continue to do so until the end of June.

From 1 - 8 June ShelterBox supporters can show their support for the cause by taking part in a whole range of events. For one week people all over the world will be uniting to help the millions of people who are affected by natural and manmade disasters each year.

More information is available on the ShelterBox website www.shelterbox.org.nz and at www.bigshelterboxweek.org

From - Michael Cahill MBE | Director, ShelterBox New Zealand 

DG Weekly Update - District Assembly

Project Fair at District Assembly

Last Sunday saw our District Assembly with over 300 attendees from around our District.  In a break from tradition both the DG and DGE spoke during the opening session highlighting the past year and setting the scene for the coming year.  There were over 20 projects represented at the project fair which gave many ideas for incoming Presidents and club committees.  It was also great to see a number of Rotaractors in attendance.  All in all a great day and with a lot of positive feedback for the new format.

President Dave (right with precipitants of the
Pride of Workmanship Awards

Monday saw Chris and I attending the Rotary Club of Hutt Valley's Pride of Workmanship awards in Upper Hutt where 15 employees from local businesses were given awards.  It has been great for us to attend these functions and to see Rotary Clubs working in the community with local business and increasing awareness of Rotary.  Our congratulations to all winners and those nominated.





We also attended the Rotary Club of Waverley-Aotea's 40th Anniversary which doubled as their changeover.  Although only a small club they do a huge amount of work in their local community.  The event saw a great turn out of past and present members.

The week ending with a get together lunch with the VTT/GSE inwards and outwards committee to have a debrief on the very successful Canadian exchange.  We all agreed that this was a successful exchange and one we would like to see more of in the future.  Our thanks to Andy, Mitch and Marilyn for the huge amount of work they did to bring this all together.

All the best for the coming week.
DG Graeme

Shelterbox Week

Local Rotarian receives prestigious award

One of the most prestigious awards at the recent Rotary Conference in Rotorua was the Stan Rowe Award which was presented to Eastern Hutt Rotarian Dave Wilson.

This award was first presented in 2005. It is for services to humanity and recognises initiative, enthusiasm and determination displayed in order to carry through a humanitarian project.

Dave has worked tirelessly to promote and raise funds for Emergency Response Kits (ERKs) which were introduced to New Zealand by the Rotary Club of Eastern Hutt in 1983. By promoting the importance of the programme and motivating Rotarians, Dave has raised well over $120,000 in the last 3 years.

The ERKs are first response survival kits distributed to affected families in Oceania and the South Pacific immediately following catastrophic weather and environmental events. They support them through the first days after disaster.

 Prepositioned stocks are held in readiness by Rotary Clubs in Samoa and Fiji for immediate distribution, with replenishment stocks held in Auckland and Christchurch, ready to be airlifted to any disaster areas in the South Pacific Islands. 2960 ERKs have been distributed over the last 5 years

The criteria for the presentation of the Stan Rowe award are so high that it has only been presented 5 times, three of the recipients being members of the Rotary Club of Eastern Hutt.

John Cole was the inaugural recipient of the award in 2005 for his work raising funds for the Sewa Sadan Eye Hospital in Bophal, India. John’s dedication to this cause, over a 2 year period, enabled equipment to be purchased which resulted in 4,000 additional cataract operations being carried out each year.

In 2011 Colin Alford also received this award - for working tirelessly over 5 years, to help improve the lives of the rural poor in Himachal Pradesh in the Himalayan foothills. Funds were raised to enable a check dam to be built resulting in year round water supply. Other schemes included improved sanitation and the development of “Rainwater Harvesting Villages.”

The eye hospital project in India and the Himachal Pradesh project were both supported by Matching Grants from the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.

The recognition of the work of these three Rotarians with this prestigious award has been thoroughly deserved.

Article supplied by Jaye Howey, Rotary Club of eastern Hutt

Petone Sponsors Ambulance for Solomon Islands

The Rotary Club of Petone is proving an Ambulance for the Solomon Islands.  They are seeking sponsorship for this project.  The letter below comes from the Rotary Club of Petone.  Please consider supporting this very worthy project.

Hello fellow Rotarians,

It’s likely that every one of us has been touched in some way by the urgent need for medical assistance. The fast and efficient response to our urgent need for aid is something we New Zealanders often take for granted. The proven life saving capabilities of a functioning ambulance service profoundly affects the injured, their families and friends, their community and ultimately everyone in the country.

The provision of this ambulance allows us the opportunity to have a positive impact and influence in a country that is struggling to provide improvements to life that we are easily familiar with.

The ambulance is a 1990 Chevrolet Sierra. It has seen service and helped save countless lives, injury and illness, mainly in the Wairarapa and is well suited to continuing that service in the Solomon Islands.  Mechanical servicing and maintenance are important to ensure the ambulance is operational whenever it is needed. Proven durability, readily available spare parts and a lack of sophistication and computers mean this ambulance is likely to have a minimum of down time and can be confidently maintained locally. Its robust chassis construction means it is well able to cope with some of the poorer roads it is likely to encounter.

The Ambulance has been purchased from Wellington Free Ambulance (WFA) in an arrangement that includes uniforms and wet weather clothing, medical equipment and supplies. It also includes the provision of two professional Ambulance personnel to travel to the Solomon’s to train and instruct the local medical staff.

One of the challenges is getting the ambulance to its destination. We are incredibly fortunate in that we have the assistance of the New Zealand Defence Force. The ambulance will be transported from Wellington to Auckland aboard an army transporter to be loaded on to the HMNZS Canterbury. After arriving in Honiara the ambulance will be transferred to the USS Pearl harbour for delivery to Gizo, where the Solomon Island Medical Authorities have decided will be home base and where the ambulance will help fill a large need.

Local companies have been quick to assist with the preparation of the ambulance and our thanks go in particular to Computaleta Ltd and Concept Signs Ltd for supplying the materials for and providing design and installation of the new graphics. Looks great!

The funding for the ambulance is in two parts.

Firstly the purchase and equipping, including the paramedics, travel, uniforms and refurbishment. The delivery and transportation. Unbelievably all of that has been done for $20,000! I know ! Brilliant just Brilliant.

Secondly the continued support for operation, servicing and maintenance. The Solomon Islands Medical authority is like many, under budgetary stress. Couple that with the change to increased independence and the need for a period of further support is clear. This means we need a group of 10 clubs agreeing to provide $200 per year for up to five years. This will be managed by Petone Club who will be one of the funders.

Please consider pledging an amount to the Solomon Islands Ambulance.

Thank you for your consideration and support.

Yours in Rotary

The Petone Rotary Ambulance Team.

Colin Partington

Tel: 021 869 231  

 email: president@petonerotary.org.nz

Big Shelterbox Week

Club Celebrations

Over the past week Chris and I have had the pleasure of attending our club's, the Rotary Club of Plimmerton, 40 year anniversary.  It reminded us of the long tradition that many clubs have in our District and the huge amount that they have contributed to the community over that time.  What was also remarkable was that we still have 2 foundation members active in the club and the number of past foundation members, including our foundation President, that turned up for the occasion.  On the same evening the Rotary Club of Wanganui South held its 50th year anniversary and it was a pity that we were unable to attend both events.  Our best wishes to both clubs for continued service in our communities.

On Tuesday it was also our great pleasure to be invited by the Rotary Club of Petone to the handing over of the Ambulance which is being sponsored by the club to go to the Solomon Islands.  The event took place at the Wellington Free Ambulance Headquarters and was attended by Defence personnel who will ship the ambulance to the Solomon's and also a representative from MFAT.  A great project supporting some of our less fortunate neighbors.

We also attended a special evening with the Rotary Club of Wellington North in the Khandallah Town Hall when they presented a Community Paul Harris Fellow to Beth Pethig for her outstanding services to the community.  This was a very special evening and again highlighted to Chris and I the huge amount of work that volunteers do in our community. Well done Wellington North.

We also had the opportunity for a get together with many of our District 9940 conference committee for a debrief of the conference and to again express our thanks for the amazing effort that both committees put in to ensure a successful conference.

Tomorrow is District Assembly and we will look forward to meeting many Rotarians from across our District at this very important training event.

All the best for the week ahead.

Graeme
DG 9940

Harbour City Rotary Garage Sale

Harbour City Rotary Garage Sale 

Saturday 25 May 2013
380 Karori Road, Wellington

To Raise Funds for a automated external defibrillator (AED) to be installed at the Penthouse Movie Theatre in Brooklyn

The Spirit of Sharing

Milton Rotary Tramping Club

Ruby’s Conference Tea Towels for Starship and Cure Kids

Ruby’s Conference Tea Towels for Starship and Cure Kids

Ruby Seeto, daughter of DG 9920 Ron and Sharon, was diagnosed with a rare liver cancer when she was 9.  After a 1.5kg tumor was removed and after a year of intensive chemotherapy Ruby is now free of this.  In wanting to give something back to Starship Children’s Hospital Ruby has over the last 5 years being designing and selling a series of tea towels and to date has raised over $300k for Starship. 

Ruby kindly designed a tea towel especially for our Joint 9920/9940 Conference with the proceeds going to Starship and Cure Kids.  A number of these are still available and this your opportunity to help these great causes.  These could be used at home or make great club speaker gifts.  Please contact me if you would like to order a number at $10 each.

Sharon Seeto with daughters Noon and Ruby at conference 

selling tea towels for Starship and Cure Kids

I look forward to hearing from you.

DG Graeme

Relaxing After Conference

Chris and I enjoyed a couple of days relaxing following our Joint District Conference in Rotorua.  We were pleased with the way the event went and all of the positive feedback that we have received.  It was great to work with and meet many of our Auckland fellow Rotarians.

Last weekend we were DG Reps for the District 9970 conference held in Methven. This was a lot small than our event with around 220 attendees.  It was an enjoyable conference where we could just relax and enjoy the speakers and Saturday Country and WesternDance.

During the week we attended the Joint Hutt 1 and Hutt 2 Cluster Forum, which attracted a great speaker being Judy Bailey talking about the Brain Wave Trust.  This event saw over 150 attendees present and was the second forum held by the clubs in the Hutt Valley.  It was great to see the joint meetings working so well and supporting such a great cause.

In a few days Faye Elliot from Takaro Rotary, sponsored by District, and Samuel Stevens, sponsored by Wellington Rotary, will be heading out to the Peace Forum in Hiroshima. We wish them well and look forward to hearing of their experience on their return.  

We wish you all the best for the coming week.

Graeme and Chris

Outbound Peace Fellow – Sarah Agnew

Outbound Peace Fellow – Sarah Agnew

District 9940 is pleased to be sponsoring Sarah Agnew as a 2013 Rotary Peace Fellow to Uppsala University in Sweden.  Sarah has provide a brief bio below.  We wish Sarah all the best for here studies.

DG Graeme

My name is Sarah Agnew and I am the 2013-15 Rotary Peace Fellow from District 9940, sponsored by the Port Nicholson Rotary Club.

From August 2013, I will be undertaking a Masters in Peace and Conflict Studies at Uppsala University in Sweden.

My area of expertise is in human rights law.  I currently work as a solicitor at John Miller Law, specialising in Accident Compensation work, Criminal and Civil law.  I previously worked at the Ministry of Justice in the Human Rights Team.

Outside of my vocational interests I enjoy salsa dancing, learning Spanish and Japanese and learning about other cultures, travelling, reading and playing the guitar.

While in Sweden I intend to become involved with my host Rotary Club as well as other community and volunteer activities.  I am looking forward to flying the kiwi flag and promoting the work of New Zealand Rotarians. 

On completion of my scholarship, I cannot wait to see what opportunities will arise and what doors will open. I aim to use the skills and education I have gained to help in whatever way I can to implement human rights standards, both in times of peace and conflict, in developing countries.  My career aspirations are also to work in a Non-Governmental Organisation (such as the International Committee of the Red Cross), at the United Nations, or in an international tribunal or criminal court.  

I cannot express how happy and grateful I am to the Rotary Foundation and Rotarians for this life changing opportunity.  

An update on our involvment in Timor Leste

This joint project involving Rotary Clubs of Hutt City, Pencarrow, Johnsonville and Wellington North is at the implementation stage. The equipment – theatre linen manufactured in Dili ($NZ20,000), shelving system($NZ10,000) and computers, have all been ordered and will be in place in time to be received by four team members arriving from New Zealand and Australia at the end of May and early June 2013.

The  team will set about training local nursing staff in the correct ‘handling’ of the linen and instruments with further training taking place back in New Zealand at a later time. The anticipated success of the Project will result in local nursing staff using up to date methods and equipment that will support the surgical staff provide better outcomes for their patients.

 It is interesting to see that the original budget of $85,000 has been eroded by the ‘exchange rate’ to $80,000. The Royal College of Australasian Surgeons (RACS) has been instrumental in overseeing the project alongside Rotary and the Rotary Club of Dili has provided guidance and support along the way.

Provided by the Rotary Club of Hutt City

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