Waiheke
Rotary have the usual busy start to the year with their four signature events
all well supported and very successful.
 |
| All are pulling above their weight to great effect |
The first,
on the 17th January with 770 entries, was the annual Wharf to Wharf
race from Orapiu, up many very steep hills to arrive 25 kms later at Matiatia http://wharf2wharf.co.nz/. All of the
local Rotarians are Marshalls each year and guide the runners through intersections
and by passes to arrive safely – if not exhausted -at the other end. Each year
Rotarians are taken through the updated ideas of first aid and resuscitation if
we witness a collapse or injury and the local doctors ride the course
continually on their motor bikes ensuring they are all OK. The weather was
perfect and the runners had a fantastic day with many prizes allocated.
The second
was the iconic Onetangi Beach Races on Sunday 22nd February which
has being going for over a hundred years and run very successfully by Rotary
for the past 17 years http://www.onetangibeachraces.co.nz/.
It has
evolved each year attracting more visitors as the word spreads and more
exciting events happen. The first event was the world’s largest Sealegs race as
Waiheke proudly boasts the most per head in the world with over 70 on the
Island each costing at least $175,000. Then the usual tractor, kids in wheel
barrows and horse racing plus tug of war, silent auction, storytelling,
fashion in the field etc providing a fun exciting free day for all.
The next
event was Opera On The Gulf on Saturday 28th February held at the
spectacular cliff top home of Tony and Sandra Pope in Cory Road overlooking the
Hauraki Gulf http://www.waihekeartgallery.org.nz/whats-on/events/opera-on-the-gulf/
. This was an outdoor concert attended by over 200 opera lovers where they
listened to an inspiring mixture of favourites performed by Helen Medlin,
Patricia wright, Rodney McCann and Richard Greagor and the Aotea Youth
Symphony Orchestra. In between the breaks the guests were served delicious
canapés and award winning Waiheke wines.
Part of the
funds collected went to The Waiheke art gallery.
The last
summer event was the King Of The Bay on Sunday 15th March http://www.rotarywaiheke.co.nz/photo-gallery/king-of-the-bay-2012.
This was the day that Cyclone Pam decided to wreak havoc around the island with
high winds starting around lunch time. However, with 60 entries there was still
had a lot of fish to weigh and auction. This year, instead of the largest fish,
to preserve the breeding stock it was decided to have a mystery weight which
was 1.2kgs. Over 200 locals were in attendance and the proceeds of the event
will be going to Living Without Violence.
The
proceeds from the first three events came to around $40,000 which has been
distributed already to:
Waiheke
High School (Goal Post Pads) $1,440.00
Takapuna
North Rotary (Challenge Camp) $330.
Dictionary
Project (School Dictionaries) $1,080.00
Science and
Technology Summer Science School [2 x Students] $3,200
Youth Rypen
[ 6 students]$1,500.00
Hip Hop
Foundation $500.00
RNZWCS for
Vanuatu $500
Waiheke
Youth Trust [Friends Of The Street vehicle] $6,000.00
Waiheke
Health Trust (Wheelchairs) $3,000.00
Waiheke
Dirt Tract (fireworks donation) $500.00
Waiheke
United Football Club $1,200.00
