Moving forward in Christchurch - Poolz in Schools

Last Wednesday morning, half a dozen Rotary Club of Bishopdale-Burnside Rotarians helped Sport Canterbury and the Christchurch City Council erect a portable pool at Queenspark School.   

Thanks you to Wayne, Keith W, John W, Neale, Bill, Rev and Lindsay for turning out to what became an enjoyable and fulfilling mornings work – everything planned and we didn’t have to think too much about what we had to do – good morning tea too!

So what is Poolz in Schools?

The Feb 22 EQ effectively destroyed learn to swim facilities for 32 schools in the eastern suburbs of Christchurch. This included the major loss of QEII pools which many schools used. Sport Canterbury has organized temporary facilities, in the form of three portable pools, funded instructors and transport to the pools, and generally organized a great program.

The three pools were located at Kaiapoi, Queenspark and Linwood.

Rotary was one of three funding benefactors and contributed $85,000.

Rotary also helped to erect the pools last year when became available.

Christchurch City Council looks after the operations of the pools (filtration equipment, etc).

Thank you very much the manpower from Bishopdale Burnside Rotary for the install of the Queenspark Pool. We are very proud to facilitate the delivery of swimming and water safety to the young people of Christchurch. Your continued support is greatly appreciated.
Kind regards
Julie Reynolds HOLIDAY AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMES MANAGER


from RC Bishopdale-Burnside club bulletin

Cholmondeley Children's Home Receives Welcome Gift

Recently it came to the attention of members of the Bishopdale/Burnside Rotary Club in Christchurch, that Cholmondeley Children's Home, based at Governors Bay, had received structural problems with their building during the February earthquake and had to relocate all their children to Living Springs.

Added to this dilemma was the need to urgently replace one of the vans they use on a daily basis to transport children into Christchurch City for medical care and activities.

When this situation became known to members of the Bishopdale/Burnside Rotary Club, a unanimous decision was made to proceed with the purchase of a suitable vehicle for Cholmondeley.

At their meeting this week Keith de Dulin, President of the Rotary club, presented Shane Murdoch General Manager and Edwina Poynton of Cholmondeley Home with the keys for the van.

Murdoch said the gift of the van was greatly appreciated and would make a big difference to the comfort level of the children being transported to and from the city on a regular basis.

Cholmondeley has been providing care and education to children from families struggling in the Canterbury community, for over eighty five years, and since the recent earthquakes the demand for their services had increased even further.   

President Keith said "this is a very satisfying project for our club and we are pleased to be in a position to support this very worthy organisation in this way.”

The van proudly displays the Rotary Wheel logo as “it’s important that Rotary is visual in the community as we are always seeking new members” he said.

Submitted by Keith Walker, District 9970