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.

Walking a vista to remember

Waiuku Rotary Club – Sunset Coast Walk

28^th February 2016

A total of 470 visitors took part in Waiuku Rotary’s Sunset Coast Walk this year, some coming from as far away as Waiheke Island. Considering the previous day’s weather forecast for heavy showers, (which thankfully did not eventuate), this was considered an excellent turnout.

The route of the walk encompassed an ever changing vista of the west coast, to the north as far as the eye could see, and to the south with breath-taking views over Karioitahi towards the Waikato River. Many walkers, on their return to base commented that the views this year were the “very best”.

In planning and preparing for the walk a small group of Rotarians were involved in choosing the various routes for the walk which were carefully surveyed to avoid any major hazards. On the day prior to the walk all the base and route tents were thankfully able to be put up in fine weather.

Contrary to forecasts, Sunday morning dawned fine. The first registrations took place around 7.30am, and the morning soon became very busy with many groups of families, sportspeople, friends and individuals setting off armed with maps of the various routes available.

The Waiuku Scouts group manned the free sausage sizzle and drink tent throughout the day, and also very ably helped direct the many cars into the parking spaces. It was good to see the involvement of the young people. Special thanks to Franklin Vets for the use of their Mobile BBQ.

Many participants brought picnic lunches with them and with the lovely shade trees around, it was an ideal time to relax and create a happy atmosphere. The local Coffee Van was available for that very welcome cup of Coffee throughout the day, and they donate a share of their profits to help with our fundraising.

The Club sincerely thanks the owners of the property, John and Andrea Sturgess for their continued support in allowing their farm to be used for this annual fundraiser. The Club also wishes to acknowledge and thank sponsors who continue to support this fund raising project; Waiuku New World, Pukekohe Harcourt’s Real Estate, McConnell Stafford-Bush and NZ Steel. They have over the years been extremely generous in supplying Waiuku Rotary with goods, donations, and loan of tents.

All funds raised will be used for local projects, particularly those supporting the youth of the district.

Fashion and incontinence becomes talk of the town

The silent epidemic of incontinence became one of the most talked about topics at New Zealand Fashion Week this year, thanks to fashion designer Frantisek Riha-Scott and business partner Mark Davey, who is also Chair of Rotary Club of Downtown Auckland’s Community Committee.

Their product is Confitex, an innovative and stylish range of underwear for men and women with incontinence.  A fine example of Kiwi ingenuity, the Confitex range marries high-tech sports fabric with fashion and is sleekly styled, absorbent, waterproof, pad-free and eco-friendly. 

Almost one million women and men in New Zealand experience incontinence or occasional bladder leakage. In Australia the figure is around 4.5m and in the USA 115m. 

Mark Davey says New Zealand Fashion Week was an important step forward for an essential conversation. “It was a world first to have lingerie designed for incontinence on the runway at a fashion show,” he says. “When we first researched incontinence products, we were shocked to see what people had to wear - they were big and bulky, and look like adult nappies - it’s no wonder people’s self-esteem is low.”

While developing Confitex, Mark and Frantisek met Dr Lynsey Hayward, an Auckland Urogynaecology Specialist and Vice-President of the International Urogynaecology Association. “It’s very common for women to be so embarrassed they don’t tell their family or partners.  Sometimes they won’t even leave the house, play with their children, or even laugh,” she says.

Following New Zealand Fashion Week, Dr Hayward was delighted to accept from the Rotary Club of Downtown Auckland a Confitex donation of 120 pairs of underwear to help women who can’t afford incontinence pads that can cost over $2,000 a year.  “Some women with this condition will lie on a bed of newspaper because they can’t buy pads anymore,” she says.

The range is being marketed across Australasia by Pharmaco Ltd, a specialist New Zealand owned healthcare sales and marketing company.

Pharmaco Chief Executive Officer Chandra Selvadurai says Confitex is a fantastic example of Kiwi innovation that’s set to disrupt its category by improving people’s lives through innovation and design.  “Up until now incontinence products have been functional, uncomfortable and ugly, and do nothing to boost confidence,” he says.  “As a Kiwi company, we are delighted to be working with another to grow its business in New Zealand and Australia.”

Confitex on the runway at NZ Fashion Week.

Building for literacy

Chairman of the Rotary Club of Ashburton Development Trust, Roger West (left) and Trustee Don Williamson work on landscaping the house section.

Rotary Club of Ashburton, NZ members are delighted their six month house build and landscaping project raised $70,000 for the club’s literacy projects.

The completed house at 41 Braebrook Drive was sold to local couple James and Jo McCloy.

The successful house build project was a first for the club, and the proceeds will fund children’s literacy projects in Samoa and locally in Ashburton.

The club has led an aid project in Samoan schools with support from other clubs in Rotary District 9970, including the neighbouring Rotary Club of Ashburton Plains, since the devastating tsunami of 2009. 

To date hundreds of library bookcases have been built and thousands of new and used books delivered to Samoan schools by Ashburton Rotarians with help from the Rotary Club of Apia.  Medical equipment and wheelchairs have also been delivered.  

The next step of the project is to provide thousands of early readers to schools.

Locally the proceeds from the project will fund the club’s Books for New Entrants programme for the next two years. The programme which has been running for two years delivers a NZ authored book to every five year old starting school in the Ashburton District.

Rotary Club of Ashburton Development Trust chair Roger West said the success of the project was very satisfying.  “We are so grateful to the many businesses and tradespeople who pitched in and helped us. Their support was quite overwhelming.”

The businesses who supported the build were recognised at the club’s Rotary meeting on June 23 with certificates of appreciation.

New Zealand’s largest Motorcycle Show

The Rotary Club of Papakura, NZ held their third Motorcycle Show on August 15 and 16 at the ASB Showgrounds in Greenlane, Auckland. This year, the show was open to both classic and custom bikes. It was sponsored by Star Insurance, Indian Motorcycles, the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) Ride Forever national training programme and Motorcycle Trader magazine. 

 

Four thousand visitors enjoyed the spectacle (and noise) of 475 bikes, 25 bike clubs and numerous trade stands selling everything from new bikes, through to clothing, accessories, spare parts, services and bike related information.

 

From the Indian and Victory Motorcycle trade stands to the Auckland Veteran Motor Cycle Club, from Ducatti to Triumph, from $1 million machines to the most basic and ancient of motorcycles waiting to be restored, and from top names in the motorcycle racing community to amateur enthusiasts, they were all there, and so to were the public who turned up in their droves to support Papakura Rotary’s fundraiser. 

 

Indian Motorcycles prepared a 2015 Indian Scout prepared as a tribute to Burt Munro.  It was themed with Burt’s racing colours, 35 race number and “Spirit of Munro” logo on the tank. Then they donated the bike to the Rotary club and it was auctioned on Trademe raising $36,700 which enabled the show to open with expenses covered.

 

This fundraiser for the Rotary club was well supported by 34 club members assisting over the weekend, some of whom braved the rain on the Saturday as they stoically endured their time on the gate and car parking duties. Overall $70,000 was raised which will go to charity, including further education for staff at the National Burn Unit at Middlemore Hospital in South Auckland, as well as many Rotary programmes, including Rotary Safety Education (formerly called RYDA), Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) and Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment (RYPEN).

 

The most enriching part of this project is the fellowship of working together both before the weekend and during the long hours which need to be put in over the show weekend to ensure its success.

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. 

Matakana wine event a hit

Well Foundation team and the balloon arch created by Katrina Matich from Waitemata District Health Board.

(L-R): Andrew Young, Angela Vircavs, Carol Painter and Laura Stenberg.

Over 150 wine enthusiasts flocked to the stunning Ascension Wine Estate in Matakana, NZ on May 9 for the Rotary Club of Warkworth’s Raise A Glass Wine Tasting and Charity Auction.

The wine tasting gave attendees the opportunity to sample wines from more than 12 local wine growers before the exciting auction. 

Over 27 wine and non-wine action items went under the hammer on the night, giving bidders the chance to battle it out for “one of a kind” or “last ever” bottles of wine and special experiences. 

Top selling items on the night included a catered excursion on the Mahurangi River for up to 50 people which went for $2,650 and three bottles of 2010 Larose from Stonyridge Vineyard that sold for $1,050.

Warkworth Rotary Club then president Robin Dixon says the team was thrilled with the event which would not have been possible without the support of the local community. 

“From our generous sponsors, Withers & Co, Webster Malcolm Law and New World Warkworth, to all of the wineries and organisations that donated fantastic auction items or came to sample wine at the event, we are incredibly grateful,” says Robin. “We were so pleased to have so many people get behind the event and help make it a success with great money raised for our charity recipient.”

The event raised a much appreciated $10,000 for the Well Foundation, which is the official fundraising body of Waitemata District Health Board which operates North Shore and Waitakere hospitals and health services for Auckland’s North, West and Rodney communities. 

The foundation will put the money towards a new $195,000 mobile health clinic which will visit early childhood centres, schools, community events, and many other communal areas within the Waitemata district right out to Kaukapakapa and Helensville. 

The mobile clinic is focused on doing ear checks, general health check-ups, throat swabbing as part of the Rheumatic Fever Prevention Programme, and providing instant treatment where possible. Without this mobile service, many would miss out on getting the health care they need, often only ending up in hospital when their problem develops into something more serious.

Raise A Glass will return next year in May, and with the organising committee already focused on planning, it promises to be bigger and better in 2016.

To be the first to know when tickets go on sale and keep up with new announcements, like the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/RaiseAGlassMatakana.

Are we really good Samaritans?



The Rotary Club of New Lynn multi-cultural collection brigade.

Each year Rotary Club of New Lynn, NZ members and friends wave charity boxes at passing motorists next to a busy set of traffic lights, asking for funds to help local disadvantaged youth. The collectors are a multi-cultural mixture of all colours and genders. But it’s interesting that the most generous people, those most willing to part with their loose change, are inevitably our Pacific Islanders. Few cars driven by these folk pass without giving, yet disappointingly, the least likely to part with money are, like myself, our more mature Caucasian male elders, many not even happy to acknowledge the presence of the collector. 

It’s certainly hard to fathom why our island born neighbours, many on the minimum wage and trying to support large families both here and abroad, should be so generous, and equally hard to reason why those of us, who are purportedly more educated, certainly with a larger share of disposable funds, should be among those who are the most close fisted. 

Why is it that we in the more mature brigade don’t reciprocate our neighbours generosity. Perhaps we haven’t suffered enough hardships, endured unemployment or incurable illness and poverty. Maybe in our daily lives we only see light-hearted, bright, well fed kids and when we travel to their shores, only blue lagoons, swaying palm trees and sun. Perhaps we have become too insulated from the huge imbalances and growing inequalities in our own society and with our neighbours.

Certainly, every day we read stories of children living in our Pacific Islands without adequate health or educational needs. Tales of children suffering from floods, endemics or tsunamis, without doctors or teaching provisions; children enduring unbearable ailments leading to early deaths. Our own Rotary service activity, Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children (ROMAC) for example, receives many more requests for help from island children needing surgery to prevent an early death or a vestige of dignity than they could possibly satisfy. Yet this same Rotary charity seriously struggles to secure adequate funding, especially from our own kindred sources. 

But when those same Pacific people settle in NZ, they are our most generous and certainly when asked, top the group who will give the highest portion of their income to our local kids. When we flash our charity boxes at them and ask them to help our youth in need, we invariably report more social connection and spontaneous generosity than with any other group. Perhaps as mature Caucasians we need to likewise reciprocate our neighbours generosity and when similarly faced with a donor box at the traffic lights or pay-pal request for funds on ROMAC’s webpages www.romac.org.nz and www.romac.org.au, we too need to be more altruistic.

Because this philanthropic magnanimity is essential, especially if we are to have a prosperous future in our part of the world, irrespective of colour, creed, religion or race; and if we are to truly fulfill our own Rotary Objectives of being part of an organisation united in the ideal of service and providing service above self.

 - Words: PDG Geoff Dainty, Past ROMAC Chairman

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.”