THE SAVEALIFE PROJECT

Words: Dave Woodhouse, Rotary Club of Tauranga Sunrise, NZ

 

Surely what must be one of the simplest and yet most effective ways of raising awareness and fundraising is the Savealife Rotary project which is administered by the Rotary Club of Tauranga Sunrise, NZ.

 

It all started in 2015 when two enterprising Rotarians, John Dentice and Brian Rickard from Palmerston North, NZ saw an opportunity for selling capsule keyrings. The big difference was that each capsule was to contain a 300mg soluble aspirin which could be used if someone was experiencing signs of a heart attack. The simple act of chewing that aspirin, or having it dissolve if placed under the tongue, may help to keep that person alive for up to what the paramedics call 'The Golden Hour' - that being the time between having the attack and the paramedics arriving on the scene and transporting the patient to hospital. John and Brian explored all the aspects of this idea and soon had the backing of medical consultants.

 

All the components were sourced, the capsules were filled and bagged and the big sell began! Pretty soon, it became obvious that this idea was going to be bigger than they imagined and, after a fortuitous meeting at a trade show with Rotary Club of Tauranga Sunrise President Ron Fyfe, a collaboration was deemed necessary in order to roll out the project to a wider network. Thus, Tauranga Sunrise Rotary took over the national distribution of the capsules (originally named ‘Lifesavers’, subsequently re-branded to 'Savealife').

 

The early days were tentative as we tested the market and introduced three different selling tiers:

Retail :                $NZ4 (No minimum)

Retailers:             $3 (100 minimum)

Rotary clubs:      $2 (100 minimum)

All prices include Goods and Services Tax (GST)

 

It quickly became apparent that the best way to publicise the project was to encourage other Rotary clubs to take over distribution for their respective areas by whatever means they saw fit, thereby making a $2 profit on each one they sell at retail level. The tiered selling also allowed for clubs to make a $1 profit if they on sold to retailers.

 

Rotary clubs in District 9930 joined in initially and then the word got round, so we started getting enquiries from clubs further afield. We also saw a niche market which gave the opportunity for enterprising companies to purchase the capsules as a corporate giveaway with their own logo and contact details – for this we charge a $1 per unit premium. 

 

Website www.savealife.co.nz was launched with further information on the project and a contact form.

 

Orders soon started rolling in, especially with companies seeing the value of being part of such a caring and potentially life-saving project. Pdf images are always supplied for approval prior to manufacture.

 

Home shows, women's expos and other trade shows were very successful, with very few refusals, so the next stage was to run a newspaper promotion. The publishers needed no encouragement to feature the capsules on pages 1,2 and 3 of their free edition Bay of Plenty Times and orders followed thick and fast. A call by one of our founding members to the Newstalk ZB radio studio (following a feature on defibrillators) saw enquiries from all over New Zealand and further afield.

 

Our mission statement is to encourage as many people to have a Savealife capsule on their keyring. It is perhaps surprising – and not a little scary – that we are receiving regular reports and stories of people who had had to use their capsule. Incidentally, each sale is accompanied by a purse or wallet sized card which gives all details in relation to procedure, not the least of which is checking for the existence of a MedicAlert medical identity bracelet or necklace and, of course, to dial 111 emergency service. In the vast majority of cases, the paramedics have asked the caller, “Does anyone have an aspirin with them?”

 

As a club, we feel that we are only just scratching the surface of this great fundraiser, especially as ALL the profit that we make goes back into the community and even after the first eight months, this is proving to be a significant sum, so we encourage any other clubs to contact us to help fulfil our dream while saving lives.

 

Internationally, there is the opportunity for our Rotarian friends across the Tasman to participate and, whilst we are not able to export filled with aspirin capsules, we are actively seeking national distribution partners to work towards a mutually beneficial end.

 

Interested? For more information, please contact Savealife Project Coordinator Dave Woodhouse via +64 27 513 2345 or email info@savealife.co.nz.

              

Is $4 a fair price to pay for the potential of saving a life?  We think so.    

 

Tauranga Rotary’s goal is to help Pacific Islanders see

Words: David Garland, Rotary Club of Tauranga, NZ
Photos: Marine Reach

Over many years, the Rotary Club of Tauranga and the people of Tauranga have supported the humanitarian organisation Marine Reach as they take dental, eye health, general medical and community development assistance to the people who live on the small islands of the Pacific.

Because these people do not have ready access to the services that people in New Zealand take for granted, their health and life expectancy is significantly reduced.

Marine Reach has been taking these services to the Pacific for over 25 years using small specially fitted hospital ships.

Their current ship, the MV Pacific Hope, has recently arrived back to its home port Tauranga, after her first voyage of mercy to the Pacific. View the video of her first voyage and about this great organisation by visiting www.marinereach.com.

Two years ago Tauranga Rotary and its sister Rotary clubs in Japan and Australia provided the equipment to furnish the dental clinic aboard Pacific Hope.

Tauranga Rotary, again with the support of its sister clubs and others in New Zealand and international, including a Rotary Foundation Global Grant, have set a goal to now furnish the ophthalmology clinic.

The fundraising project has set a sum of $90,000 as it target.  Already there are commitments of around $75,000 with additional donations being received daily.

Tauranga Rotary, whose motto is “Service Above Self”, invites the people and businesses of Tauranga, New Zealand and overseas to come aboard and join us as we make a difference to the lives of our neighbours in the Pacific.

Donations can be sent by cheque to P O Box 609, Tauranga or via Give a Little using your credit card via https://givealittle.co.nz/org/tgarotary.    

All donors will receive charitable donation receipts and donors of over $500 will be recognised by an inscription on a panel to be installed in the ophthalmology clinic.

For more information, contact Project Coordinator David Garland on +64 7 543 2012 or david.beverley@paradise.net.nz.

Community partnership brings day of fun

Max getting instructions:
The soon-to-be 5-8 year old final winner, Max receives instructions before the start of the race

What happens when the Whakatāne Menz Shed, Whakatāne Blue Light and the Rotary Club of Whakatāne get together? You get the seriously fun Grass Track Trolley Derby, which was on a sunny February afternoon at a farm in Awakeri, Whakatāne, NZ.

The three community-based groups collaborated to organise and host the trolley derby which saw 59 children and 16 adults ranging from age five to 70 years old scooting down the hillside on trolleys of all shapes and sizes. There were plenty more watching the action and righting spilled trolleys or dusting off their children.

The Menz Shed held two Saturday morning trolley-building workshops for those who didn’t already have a trolley of their own. These were a great opportunity to share and learn skills, and were well attended by enthusiastic children.

The trolley derby was a great family event which was carried out with very little expense, thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Whakatāne Rotary and a minimal entry fee. Whakatāne Rotary will be looking to host the event again next year, so get your trolley-building plans in place for next summer!

For more information, please contact Rotary Club of Whakatāne Director of Community Services Janie Storey via janie.storey@hotmail.com. 

Concert by the Lake

The Beatles Tribute band during their second set.

Words and photos: David Hulme, President, Rotary Club of Matamata, NZ

 

The Rotary Club of Matamata’s second annual Concert by the Lake event is being hailed as a success with organisers now looking for ways to draw an even bigger crowd in 2017.

 

Almost 300 people attended the concert which was held on the property of Rotarians Peter and Ineke Thissen, in Matamata, New Zealand.

 

Peter, an engineer, designed and built the pontoon which the artists performed from out on the water in what can only be described as picturesque surroundings.

 

He dreamed up the concept of a concert on a pontoon at his property several years ago and 2015 saw that dream become a reality as 350 people attended the inaugural event.

This year’s crowd were entertained by Kiwi songstress Jamie McDell, who performed a number of her solo hits before teaming up with her younger sister Tess in a world debut performance of their new collaboration called Dunes.

 

The McDell sisters were joined on stage by the Tim Armstrong Beatles Tribute Band who literally had the pontoon bouncing as they pounded out the Fab Four’s hits while Tauranga-based jazz/blues band Kokomo provided a melodic accompaniment during their time on the pontoon.

 

Matamata Rotary event director Lynette Stanley said overall the club was very pleased with the way the concert had gone.  “We have received nothing but positive feedback from concert-goers and we know there were several other huge events nationally that clashed with ours, meaning ticket sales were down on last year,” Lynette said.  “We are confident that next year with the positive publicity that we have achieved, numbers will grow and we will be able to give even more money to worthy causes.”

Proceeds from this year’s concert are being split between two local charities – Pohlen Hospital (the town’s privately operated hospital) and Starfish Social Services (a counselling/mentoring programme for at risk youth in area).

“Both of these charities have a large impact on our community and it is great that we can support them in any way we can,” Lynette said.

 

Work will begin shortly on getting ready for the 2017 concert with the first priority being signing the acts to perform.

Stand tall as a mountain

Letty Tumangan and Rotary International Director Guiller Tumangan, Rotary Club of Rotorua Sunrise Past President and Rotary Oral Language Programme Coordinator Sue Gunn, WHPS Assistant Principal Megan Marshall, and Rotary District 9930 Governor Mike Smith at WHPS.

Rotary International Director Guiller Tumangan and his wife Letty, visiting from the Philippines on February 17, picked up the book Sam Goes Wild to be read to them while viewing the Rotary Oral Language Programme run at Western Heights Primary School (WHPS) in Rotorua, NZ.

Guiller and Letty were very impressed with the programme where volunteer tutors work one-on-one with Year 1 students to improve their oral language and set them up for formal learning in school. 

The school’s vision is E Tu Hei Maunga (stand tall as a mountain). 

Cleaning up our waterways

For 25 years, the Rotary Club of Huntly, NZ has been involved with the New Zealand Bow Hunters’ World Koi Carp Classic which is held over the first weekend of November to coincide with the spawning season of the carp. 

Koi Carp are classified as an unwanted organism under the NZ Bio Security Act with huge fines or imprisonment for anyone caught releasing, spreading, selling or breeding them. 

The idea of NZ Bow Hunters member Alan Metcalfe has seen approximately 75,000 kilograms of Koi Carp caught from its inception in 1990 to 2015. These have been caught by both local and overseas bow hunters from the Waikato River and 18 lakes surrounding Huntly. 

This annual event is sponsored by the NZ Department of Conservation, Waikato Hunting and Fishing, Waikato River Authority, Fulton Hogan - HEB Construction Alliance and Rotarian Peter Sweetman of Sweetman's Ltd. 

Huntly Rotarians under the guidance of Peter, have weighed in and tallied all the monsters and minis caught. What happens to the caught fish?  Presently the surplus fish that are not winners of the many categories are minced up in a Hogger. 

Members of the public make a monetary donation to Huntly Rotary for berley.  This has allowed Huntly Rotary over the last five years to put more than $5000 back into the local community. 

However, this only known one of its kind event is under threat of closure. 

Unless a satisfactory solution can be found for the disposal of the excess fish, and the impending closure be stopped, the Waikato, Bay of Plenty recreational waterways are under threat from these pests.  They absorb the nitrogen from the lakes compromising the water quality, but as a fertiliser they are extremely rich in nitrogen, and the annual fundraising for our club’s community projects is also under threat.

Perhaps there is a solution out there that we haven't yet found, in which case Huntly Rotary and New Zealand Bow Hunters will be receptive to all suggestions. Please email Huntly Rotary President Dennis Murdoch via ldm2@clear.net.nz.  

A new generation for The Maunga Challenge

Rotarians Elizabeth Wright and Chris Kay present the bikes to the cycling club

After nine great years based in Te Awamutu, 2015 sees the Maunga Cycle Challenge operating from a new home and under new management for the 10^th anniversary event on November 15.

Previously the event has been organised by the Rotary Club of Te Awamutu, NZ with the assistance of Te Awamutu Sports Cycling Club and Sport Waikato Energizers from 2006 to 2014, bringing hundreds of local, national and international riders to the district each year, with events off and on road, catering for all ages and abilities. 

Instigator of the event Rotarian Vic Richards says, “The event brought the community together, with great support from local businesses, volunteers, Rotarians from neighbouring clubs, schools, Waipa Council and Waikato businesses”. Over the years, the community profited in the form of scholarships, purchase of road bikes and $15,000 to the Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust’s education facility.

Increased event management demands and the retirement of several key members of the organising group have resulted in exciting changes for the event.

Relocating to the magnificent venue and facilities at Karapiro, a new chapter in the history of this iconic event will begin.

New management team Red Events operate many of their existing cycling and triathlon events from Mighty River Domain which has become one of the best event locations in NZ.

Vic added, “It’s clear that The Maunga Cycle Challenge has a great future and thanks to everyone for their past involvement”.

Rotary are thrilled to see the event continue evolve and grow and also look forward to continuing to support its future development.

New information about the event is easily accessed at www.themaungachallenge.co.nz or www.redevents.co.nz or email Errol Newlands errol@onyabike.co.nz for more information.

The 10^th Maunga Cycle Challenge will be on November 15.  Online registrations will open on September 14 to save your slot. 

Healthier Rotarians means a healthier community

Credit: Hawke’s Bay Tourism.

District 9930 Rotary Health Challenge 2015-2016

A Rotary imperative is for clubs to engage Rotarians in projects that meet a real need in the community.  A willing volunteer is only going to be as productive as their body and mind allow them to be.

District 9930 Governor Mike Smith has challenged his clubs to take part in a health-related project during the 2015-2016 Rotary year that addresses both of these ideals, and more, in a way that adds a sense of purpose among Rotarians and an increased vibrancy to club activities.

Clubs have been encouraged to develop and implement a Healthy Rotary Plan that includes improving the health of Rotarians, educating Rotarians about health topics and supporting health-related community activities and projects.

Working together with mutual support towards a common goal is much more interesting than going it alone, so this challenge is likely to be motivating for those for whom improving their health is on their “to do” list for some day. 

Starting with the baseline measurement of each member’s health and regular measurements to monitor progress, a steady improvement to health will be achieved through the development of a club Rotary Health Challenge plan that implements activities within and by the clubs to support active, healthy and nutritious decisions and lifestyles.  As members tend to be more comfortable with the familiar and therefore more willing to participate, such a plan can easily leverage off activities already the norm in the club, such as health and wellbeing-related speakers once a month, possibly coupled with a review of catering to ensure meals are nutritious and support good health. These would be excellent monthly meetings to invite guests or open them to the public.  Exercise is a must do part of any health programme, so doing something entirely different, such as holding a walking club meeting would get the blood pumping, as would including active options in the social programme, such as cycling, tramping, learning yoga or even a healthy cooking class.

Extending such a programme into fundraising and/or community activities is easy.  There is the annual swimarathon for polio, or create a sponsored walk or run, or simply volunteer members to support active events in the community in roles, such as marshalls.  There may be a need in the community for facilities that support healthy lifestyles, such as playgrounds, cycle pathways and skateboard parks … the options are only limited by imagination.

The success of this programme will become apparent in June 2016 when clubs’ results submitted for the Rotary Health Challenge Award are evaluated.  Imagine the healthier and more committed Rotarians and a community much more aware that Rotary can make a lasting difference to the wellbeing of its citizens.  It will be great public image for Rotary which should grow membership.  And everyone will be the better for it! 

International volunteering at the remote Kioa Island School in Fiji

My Rotary Moment - PDG Raewyn Kirkman

Seven members of my Rotary Club of Waikato Sunrise, NZ headed to remote Kioa Island in Fiji - home to 300 people and a four room school for around 100 children - to refurbish a school building. Apart from a beautiful beach and stunning sunsets, this was not the resort version of Fiji - we had a flush toilet that worked for the first three days, the shower was a bucket and bowl and our beds were mats on the floor. 

Each day, the village women would bring lunch, welcome us to the communal area and we shared a meal. 

On the first day, a woman thanked us for helping changing the lives of the young people of the island, for giving them hope for their children’s futures and for opening up the world beyond Kioa for the next generation. Every day, the welcome would be the same – thank you for giving up a week of your lives to make a difference to the rest of the lives of our children.

And I thought I had just gone there to fix up a rundown building. 

For 18 years, I had heard Rotarians talk about their Rotary moments - those special moments when they went from Rotary member to Rotarian - and while I have had many special moments in Rotary, as I sat there on the ground in Kioa that first day listening to the village matriarch talk about changing the lives of their children, tears streaming down my dusty, paint splattered face, I truly understood the magic of Rotary. 

- Words and photos: PDG Raewyn Kirkman, of the Rotary Club of Waikato Sunrise, NZ

Students raise roof on charity house

Waiariki Institute of Technology’s Charity House roof is now on with carpentry students Adam Woods (left), Matthew Bennett, Andrew Flett, Matthew Stephens and Farrin Wihopi. Photo courtesy of Stephen Parker, Rotorua Daily Post

Celebrations went through the roof at Waiariki Institute of Technology with the latest development at the Charity House.

It is the third house to be built by the institute’s carpentry, electrical and interior design students, and will be auctioned after its completion in early December.

Proceeds will be distributed by the Rotary Club of Rotorua Sunrise, NZ to community groups.

A roof shout was held at the construction site mid-June which was combined with the Rotary Club of Rotorua Sunrise cheque presentation to recipients of last year’s auction proceeds totalling $13,800. Students, staff, partners and community groups attended.

The Rotary Club of Rotorua Sunrise president Mike Bannister said it was always good to work with Waiariki for the benefit of the community.

“It is good to have the roof shout and this year’s ceremony for the local charities together at one time so both parties can appreciate and respect their involvement in a more meaningful way.”

Eight local community organisations were given cheques, with further funds still to be distributed. Recipients of the 2014 Charity House proceeds were:

· Bay Trust Rescue Helicopter: $3,135

· Big Brothers Big Sisters Rotorua: $2,000

· Love Soup Rotorua: $700

· Mokoia Community Association: $2,018

· Myalgic Encephalopathy/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: $489

· Rotorua Children’s Art House: $1,639

· Rotorua Community Menz Shed: $1,010

· Te Roopu a Iwi o Te Arawa: $900

Big Brothers Big Sisters Rotorua Darryl Parker said the funds will be used to support their mentoring matches which cost $1,000 so it is a great help to support two matches.

Rotorua Children’s Art House Alan Solomon said the funds are for materials for the kids with the art pilot programme at the Art House.

Love Soup Rotorua Gina Peiffer said the funds would be used to buy a 4.5m dome enclosure and a 3x3m service tent for when they need to serve outdoors.

Carpentry tutor Tony Perks said the students were working hard on this year’s mono-pitch, Dutch coastal-style house that is a more energy efficient house.

“This year’s build has been going really well, we have the roof on and are just getting ready to clad. Timing is everything, keeping to the work schedule with sub-contractors like plasterers and painters, however that’s all part of the learning experience for the students. They are keen to learn knowing that there are plenty of jobs at the end of their programme in the Christchurch rebuild and Auckland housing market.”

My Rotary Moment - Raewyn Kirkman at the remote Kioa Island School

Seven members of the Waikato Sunrise Rotary headed to remote Kioa Island in Fiji – home to 300 people and a four room school for around 100 kids to refurbish a school building. Apart from a beautiful beach and stunning sunsets this was not the resort version of Fiji – we had a flush toilet that worked for the first three days and the shower was a bucket and bowl. Our beds were mats on the floor. 

Each day the village women would bring lunch, welcome us to the communal area and we shared a meal. 

On the first day, a woman thanked us for helping changing the lives of the young people of the island, for giving them hope for their children’s futures and for opening up the world beyond Kioa for the next generation.  Every day the welcome would be the same – thank you for giving up a week of your lives to make a difference to the rest of the lives of our children.

And I thought I had just gone there to fix up a rundown building.

For 18 years I had heard Rotarians talk about their Rotary moments – those special moments when they went from Rotary member to Rotarian, and while I have had many special moments in Rotary, as I sat there on the ground in Kioa that first day listening to the village matriarch talk about changing the lives of their children, tears streaming down my dusty, paint splattered face, I truly understood the magic of Rotary.