Fairfield Rotary’s reputation for friendly and efficient meetings established under Charter President Alf Ward has continued throughout the years. Project involvement has been significant both locally and in the South Pacific, gradually extending internationally with Polio Plus and Student Exchanges, Rotary Friendship Exchange and now Shelter Boxes.
The club’s local activities have involved the hands-on construction of a children’s play court at Chartwell Park; then a combined project led by Fairfield enlisting the co-operation of the then six Hamilton clubs to provide and equip Hamilton’s first Life Support Ambulance.
In 2000, Fairfield Rotary’s Millennium Project
created a dramatic Portico to transform the Hamilton Gardens glasshouses into an attractive Music Conservatory. Recognising a need for specialist operating equipment for very young children, the club funded paediatric laparoscopic surgical instruments for Waikato Hospital. Club Members have visited Fiji with hands-on help to provide water supplies, renovate school buildings and construct Rotahomes. Over many years the club, with wonderful community support, has successfully targeted graffiti in its Fairfield area, an activity since taken over by the city council.
In 2000, Fairfield Rotary’s Millennium Project
created a dramatic Portico to transform the Hamilton Gardens glasshouses into an attractive Music Conservatory. Recognising a need for specialist operating equipment for very young children, the club funded paediatric laparoscopic surgical instruments for Waikato Hospital. Club Members have visited Fiji with hands-on help to provide water supplies, renovate school buildings and construct Rotahomes. Over many years the club, with wonderful community support, has successfully targeted graffiti in its Fairfield area, an activity since taken over by the city council.
“Window on Waikato”, a fundraiser to benefit Red Cross and Hospice, initiated visits
to fine gardens and native bush, running successfully for many years and was subsequently adopted by Hospice themselves. Today club support is strong for Polio Eradication and for Shelter Box, while at the local level every week club members provide a reading recovery programme for Fairfield Primary School juniors. Hundreds of children have benefitted from this and every senior child now receives from the club a dictionary for their own personal use.
to fine gardens and native bush, running successfully for many years and was subsequently adopted by Hospice themselves. Today club support is strong for Polio Eradication and for Shelter Box, while at the local level every week club members provide a reading recovery programme for Fairfield Primary School juniors. Hundreds of children have benefitted from this and every senior child now receives from the club a dictionary for their own personal use.
Fairfield Rotary have recently adopted part of Claudelands Park and provided children’s play equipment and a sheltered rest area for the parents.
Over the years, fund raising has encompassed raffles, progressive dinners, working bees, business house appeals, auctions, celebrity debate and Window-on-Waikato. The standout fundraiser now is the annual Rotary Book Fair, enjoying wonderful member participation, its financial success enabling even greater assistance to youth, health and humanity both locally and world-wide.
40 Presidents, their directors and committees, and indeed every member, can look with pride on the achievements of four decades of Fairfield Rotary.
Submitted by the Rotary Club of Fairfield, District 9930 www.fairfield.rotarysouthpacific.org
