Cromwell's 'Rotary Day' 2015 - 4WD adventure for all

The 21^st Cromwell Rotary 4 Wheel Drive event held on Sunday 4^th January enjoyed near perfect weather with a little cloud cover tempering the heat of the day. This was Cromwell Club’s ‘Rotary Day’ for 2014-15 bringing together Rotarians, other locals and summer visitors to the Central Otago area of New Zealand.

 

The trip, covering almost 100 km over challenging terrain was tackled by more than 70 people in 28 vehicles. The event started at the Golden Gate Hotel with an introduction by Club President Jean Morgan, a safety briefing from co-organiser Murray Dennison and the allocation of the now traditional box per vehicle of mouth-watering Webb’s peaches. The convoy then headed towards the Nevis Valley and on to seek out the source of Bannockburn’s water from the Carrick race.

 

The day’s trip was punctuated by a few vantage point pauses and a welcome picnic lunch break next to the Nevis River and then on to view the Cromwell basin from the shadow of the aerials at the top of Mount Difficulty. A steep hill descent was rewarded by a barbeque in Bannockburn to conclude this year’s Cromwell Rotary 4WD fundraising event. As always, Cromwell Rotary very much appreciates the considerable effort devoted by the team organising the event and the local landowners who permit access during the planning stage and on the day.

www.cromwell.rotarysouthpacific.org

District 9920 Rotary Day Flashmob

Also watch the flashmobs by Apia Rotaract, Samoa (very polished) and Rotary in Bora Bora, French Polynesia  .

MAKING ROTARY FUN : BUILDING PEACE

The Peace Dance held at Mission Bay early afternoon on Sat 23 February (Rotary Day and World Peace Day) was an outstanding publicity event for Rotary and heaps of fun for all. This video shows some of the 100+ Rotarians, Rotaractors, Interactors, friends and fans involved.

The day was bright and sunny and Mission Bay was chock-full of people enjoying a summer day at the seaside so it takes little imagination to understand their surprise when suddenly a large group start a dance! Fantastic!  Similar Flashmob events were also held in 4 Pacific Island nation locations.

One group from the Rotary Club of Alfriston described the event this way:

It was a dark & stormy night.  No! It was a bright & sunny day, when we found themselves picnicking at Mission Bay.

We had found a shady table & spread out the lunchtime fare.  At that point we noticed some furtive activity.

Some sort of gathering of people, slightly older than the “bright young things” that usually inhabit the beach, were seen loitering with intent.

They seemed to have the fountain surrounded, & their motives were unclear.  Some bore strange circular insignias upon their clothing.

The sound of the Nation Anthem emanating from a huge speaker seemed to be a signal, & a level of alertness went through the group. Suddenly some moved in unison & started to wave their arms around. This seemed a strange ritual dance, with the fountain as it’s focus.

A banner was unfurled & all was revealed.

It was Rock ‘N’ Rotary: Ends Polio Builds Peace.

The word was out. This was not a mid-summer Druid ritual, but sober Rotarians risking their dignity to promote polio eradication & world peace.

Once the inhibitions were loosened then they did it all again, as an ensemble, for the waiting paparazzi.

 

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LowDown

"District 9920" is a Rotary Interantional administrative area that includes half of Auckland from Queen Street in Auckland's CBD to the Bombay Hills to the south and American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kirimati, Samoa, Tonga

Contact Rotary via 0800 4 ROTARY (in NZ) or www.rotarysouthpacific.org

 

Peace Dance Swoops on Mission Bay

 

Around 100 Rotarians, family and friends are tripped the light fantastic in a Dance for Peace, at Mission Bay today.

“District 9920 Rock’N’Rotary Ends Polio Builds Peace”

They formed a flash mob making a big statement about world peace at the Mission Bay Fountain on saturday 23 February 12.30pm. Check-out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DD7WYDdYjs
The dance was specially choreographed and rehearsed. Music was written by Sons of Zion, a hip New Zealand group.

The flash mob celebrated Rotary’s leadership in this year’s international theme “Peace through Service” as well as the international organisation’s success in coming within a hair’s breadth of wiping out polio worldwide so far.

For decades, Rotary has been the major funder of vaccination programmes internationally for polio in affected nations. Recently, the organisation was joined by the Gates Foundation, creating a fund of US$450 million to continue the fight against the disease.

23 February also marks the day, 108 years ago, that Rotary was founded (in 1905). (Rotary came to New Zealand in 1921)

Saturday’s flash mob has been brought together by District 9920, which includes clubs in New Zealand (mainly in Auckland) and a Peace Dance also occurred in this maritime District’s seven Pacific Island countries.

“This event also marks our clubs’ involvement in fundraising and service in New Zealand – which continues to be very, very significant,” says District 9920 Governor Ron Seeto (who was dancing).

Rotary’s achievements in New Zealand thus far include:- Rotary brought defensive driving courses to New Zealand.

- Rotary was instrumental in establishing Outward Bound in New Zealand.

- Rotary established and funded the first Chair of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Auckland.

- Rotary initiated Cure Kids (under the banner of the National Child Health Research Foundation) in 1971, and provided foundation funding for the chair of paediatrics at Auckland Medical School.

- Planting on Motutapu. Rotary was the initiator of native tree planting schemes on Motutapu Island, that have since seen much of the island become thickly forested – attracting back native birds.

- Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, given annually to students to recognise their potential. They include a one week residential course to build leadership.