Be very, very touched

Eighteen young men and women with intellectual disabilities grasped every ounce of courage they had to enter the Rotary Best Speaker Awards.

Running it for the second year, Plimmerton Rotary held Wellington heats as well as the National Finals on Saturday 28 May 2016. The heats for the Wellington participants took place in the morning and the top three place-getters were chosen to enter the finals in the afternoon. They were joined by a further five from the North and South Island who had already got through their regional heats.

A video of the whole event is available on request, but in the meantime, this 6 minute extract will give you a taste of the pride, astonishment, humility and amazement we all experienced as we laughed at their creativity and cried as we got a taste of the mountains they all have to climb.

This initiative was originally sparked by a small paragraph in Rotary Down Under in 2014 about a fledgling Lincoln Rotary Youth Project - a public speaking opportunity for young folk aged 16–30 with an intellectual disability.

The Plimmerton Rotary Youth Committee, spearheaded by Julie McLagan, picked up the idea and ran a successful pilot in 2015. Feedback was so positive and encouraging from participants, their families and support workers, that the club has now taken on this project as an important part of its annual programme. “I know that such projects do Rotary proud!” said Julie.

The whole day was a very happy success. Each participant was presented with a framed Certificate of Merit. There were trophies and prize money for each of the national place-getters.

The project was fully sponsored by local businesses. Tommy’s Real Estate picked up the main costs. One parent said, “Many thanks to you, your team, and Rotary for the wonderful speech competition held this afternoon. We were very impressed with everybody we met and with the obvious effort that you had all gone to, to make it such a special occasion. The corsages were a lovely touch, as were the name tags, the generous afternoon tea, the technical support, the various roles you all played, not to mention the very generous prizes.”

The eventual winner, Katrina Sneath from Johnsonville, Wellington, is pictured here. She has quite recently been appointed a Youth Parliamentarian and is already very proactive in her role.

The second place-getter was Jeremy McKenzie from Whakatane (pictured here). He talked about his passion for geography.

Samuel Goddard from Christchurch was placed third. He told us that he has Aspergers and that his dream is to become independent.

His mother said, “…It really was very special and lovely to see these young adults being given an opportunity to shine. I know Sam has gained so much confidence from the whole experience.”
Editor’s note: You can read the article about Samuel that appeared in the New Zealand Herald on 10 May here.

The feedback has been amazing and very humbling. Here are just a very few extracts from the many we received …
“…One of the outcomes we would all like is for our young people with disabilities to be fully integrated into the community. This competition is one way of contributing to that end and illustrating just what these young people are capable of. Our community is all the better for it.”
“…Thank you again for giving Matthew this opportunity. His confidence has gone ahead in leaps and bounds. Starjam are doing a story on him. It is our wish that his story will give hope to other families whose children are diagnosed autistic. He entered the competition to boost his confidence as he is going to be best man at his brother's wedding early next year.  He tells me his speech is going to be awesome - and I am sure it is."
“Thank you for giving me a privileged opportunity. It was awesome listening to all the other contestants.”

“I made myself come,” said a participant who arrived knowing no-one. And as she left, her parting words were, “It was the best day! I loved it.”

“Before this he didn’t say much. We couldn’t not come. It has been the making of him!” said a beaming father of a family of four who all flew up from Christchurch for the day to support their son/brother.

 “I felt so humbled by the experience.  I had tears in my eyes, the experience was beautiful and the recognition and opportunity given to these young people just can't be expressed in words,” said a Rotarian spectator.

“We’re already planning for next year. It will be bigger and better from us,” said the organiser and co-ordinator from the Bay of Plenty

It was such a happy result that each participating area had a place-getter in the Finals, even though that is one aspect we could not have organised! It was a great day! Certificates and trophies were clutched close. The smiles were huge, the hugs many and warm.

Before concluding the day with a scrumptious afternoon tea, we were entertained by StarJam, a not for profit organisation that empowers young New Zealanders with disabilities to achieve their full potential through music and performance workshops.

The next step is to spread the word to Rotary Clubs throughout New Zealand to widen the opportunity for many more IHC youth by having more regional heats. Julie McLagan will be glad to hear from anyone around the country who’d like to be involved next year. You can contact her here.

“Hopefully next year many more Rotary Clubs New Zealand-wide will support this very worthwhile project and more young people will be encouraged to take part”, she said. "We can make such a difference in the lives of the participants and their families.

“Rotary has the power to dip deep into the community to harness resources and to really make a difference. I was so happy to see this opportunity to help others in society where there is a need. I am fully aware that, like many others, our contribution will only be a drop in the ocean. However, as Mother Teresa said, ‘Without that drop, the ocean will never be full.’ That is why I am a Rotarian.”

Reprinted on request from the Plimmerton Rotary blog

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. 

The handmade blanket

Words and photo: Patricia Cooper, Rotary Club of Mount Victoria, in Wellington, NZ

 

On a warm Wellington Monday morning in New Zealand, I opened a box marked “House 16”.  I was unprepared for what I saw; the item that caught my eye was a hand crochet woollen blanket tied up by a lace ribbon with the word “Welcome” attached to the bow.

It is moments like this that pull at the heart strings and what a wonderful gift for a refugee family settling in Wellington.

I was part of a group of people opening and checking boxes of household items for a refugee family settling in Wellington.  In the boxes being opened and checked were all the items needed to set up a household.

The call went out from the Catholic and Anglican Diocese of Wellington to parishes to please supply enough household items for 25 households.  Also requested were pantry items and housing warming gifts. Among the house warming gifts were TV, microwaves, vacuum cleaners and telephones

The response has been overwhelming, with many more items received than needed. All of these extra items will be stored for the next intake of refugee in a couple of months.

Of course planning for all this started many months ago and it’s not just about the setting up the households; there are work experience, confidence with driving and English lessons to be worked through.

Last year, I invited the Archdeacon of Wellington Father Stephen King to visit our Rotary Club of Mount Victoria to talk to us about how Rotary could help with this enormous project. Father Stephen suggested providing work experience for the refugees would be a great way for Rotarians could help.  Our club has already offered work experience for some refugees. 

If you can help with any of the opportunities mentioned, please contact Archdeacon Stephen King on + 64 272 100 780 or email stephenk@top.net.nz

A mesmerising mouthful

Assistant governor Philip Wilson congratulates a runner up in the best dressed pinnies competition who is hot stuff!  The overall winner was assistant governor Pam Deal.

-        Words and photos: Farida Master, News Editor, Times Newspapers Ltd, of the Rotary Club of Somerville, NZ

 

She’s hilarious and a selfconfessed nomad at heart. “Most of my travels were triggered either by running away from a man or running towards him,” said the feisty food author Peta Mathias as she brought the house down at the Women in Rotary, Pinnies and Pearls High Tea hosted at Novotel Hotel Ellerslie in Auckland , New Zealand on Sunday March 13.

The culinary tour host spoke about her book Hot Pink Spice Saga: An Indian Culinary Travelogue with Recipes and her romance with cuisines of India, France Vietnam and Morocco.

“If someone invites you and says come home to my mother’s place for dinner, you must say `yes’, even if it is the tuk tuk driver.

 

“Indians are very hospitable and it should be like a dance of exchange,” she told over 150 women at the Women in Rotary fundraiser as they feasted on their salmon and dill sandwiches, orange and poppy seed cake, macaroons and mini date scones with cream and berry jam.

The event was organised by assistant governor Sue Fairburn with the help of other Rotarians, their partners and Rotary International Youth Exchange students.

 

“Restaurants are for visitors. If you want to know the culture of a country you must experience its cuisine. “Don’t have continental breakfast at the hotel and act like a tourist,” the culinary queen said. The red-haired food adventurer regaled the audience with a hilarious account of her 11-hour train journey in India, where she spent all her time thinking of how she could kill her friend for suggesting train travel in a second class sleeper coach. Among the guests were Rotary district 9920 governor nominee Malini Raghwan, who travelled from Suva to support the International Women’s Day celebration, as well as Leanne Jaggs, the outspoken past district governor, also master of ceremonies for the gathering. The only three men in pinnies and pearls who were clearly outnumbered and spent all their time sportingly serving the women bubbly and high tea were past district governor Alan Eyes and assistant governors Philip Wilson and Bart Signal.

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.

Manurewa-Takanini Rotary Club recently held their annual Pride of Workmanship Awards.

This year there were 11 recipients including 2 security guards, 2 teachers, 2 supermarket supervisors, a personal assistant, a secretary receptionist, a beverages and catering manager, an artist and a team leader.  Their employers ranged from a primary school, beautification trust, real estate agency, supermarket, shopping centre, Local Board and a golf club.

Nominations came as a result of personal contact with employers known to members, a mail-out to local businesses with a personal follow up and from approaching a school principal who presented a speech to the club earlier in the year.

We all know that every business has staff members who are always excelling at their jobs or going outside the square to ensure that the duties they have been allocated are finished both accurately and on time. These same employees may also be choosing to help other employees with their tasks.  Many businesses value these employees, but due to financial restraints or company policies, are unable to reward them for their extra efforts.

The idea behind our Pride of Workmanship Awards is to help them recognise these employees and each year we select a small group of local companies to participate in these awards.   The employers nominate their staff member with a short resume of what they do and why they are nominating them.  They are all automatically accepted by the club and certificates are printed and framed.  It is not a competition.

The presentation event itself is attended by the employer and nominated employee plus any other employees the business wishes to bring or even family members.  We have our normal meal, we pay for the employee and the employer pays for themselves and any other people they bring along.

We have a short speech on what we do in Rotary, a keynote speaker on a related topic and then the presentation of certificates with the employer telling us why they have nominated the person.

It’s a great night where we all recognise excellence and the recipients go home feeling very appreciated.  We recommend it to all clubs.

Fantasy in Lights spectacular

Enthralled children listening to stories

Fantasy in Lights is now a major, biannual event which combines themed lighting shapes with sound, storytelling, bubbles and smoke, kids discos and costumed animals, wandering through the natural environment in the historic gardens at Kowhai Park in Feilding, Manawatu, NZ.  Makino Rotarians have mastered the art of making the  light shapes, based on childhood memories, supported by fairy and laser lights, all placed to enhance the large native trees, pond, wishing well, winding pathways and bridges inside the park.  Natural areas along the route lend themselves to a specific theme, such as the scary bridge, jungle, tunnel and sailing ships. Some shapes have moving parts to bring them to life with sound effects added.

The event attracts families from around the lower North Island and its uniqueness is that it is held in the middle of winter, every night, for a fortnight of the July school holidays! Children come along in their pajamas under their warm jackets, wearing gumboots, gloves and hats and to see their faces light up makes the hard work involved worthwhile, Rotary Club of Makino members say. The event continues to have great support and partnerships with local businesses, the council and the Central Energy Trust.

This year, Makino Rotary donated $5000 of the proceeds to the local Fielding Police blue light discos, where the Rotarians also provide manpower for their regular discos for the local youth.

The Rotary Club of Makino plans to maintain the project, so are always on the lookout for new ideas, new lighting  and more volunteers.  The club managed and sourced funding for the initial installation of the underground power supply, including cabling for lighting and sound in the park.  24 permanent floodlights have been added into the park, so it can be used all year round for other activities and events.  During the event, the park has directional signs, rope lighting and security volunteers to guide visitors around the winding pathways.

Rotary kick-starts social enterprise challenge

The winners, the Vogelmorn Community Group, (L to R): Phil Clatworthy, Jo Randerson and Cally O'Neill.

Social enterprise is the new wave model for the charitable sector and the Rotary Club of Wellington, NZ got involved at the ground floor level. 

 

The Rotary Club of Wellington Social Enterprise Kick-start is a challenge to support social enterprise with the club providing $10,000 to the top projects. 

 

The club partnered with the Ākina Foundation, a charity growing social enterprise across NZ, to run the Kick-start Social Enterprise Awards.  Social enterprises are purpose-driven organisations that trade to deliver social and environmental impact.

 

Ākina Foundation Chief Executive Alex Hannant said the Vogelmorn Community Group’s idea to re-envisage suburban connectivity and enterprise through developing the closed Vogelmorn Bowling Club into a community asset is an impressive inaugural winner.  “I can see this project reinvigorating the heart of Vogelmorn.  Bowling clubs were traditionally real community focus points, so re-creating that buzz and connection through social enterprise builds on our history.”

 

On behalf of the Vogelmorn Community Group, Jo Randerson said the team was delighted to receive the award of $7,000.  She said the funds would help their commercial kitchen venture, which enables locals to make and sell their own food products at markets and other outlets.

 

“It's very exciting to see Rotary supporting social enterprise, as this is a smart way to invest in communities growing with a very clear return on the investment in human terms,” Jo emphasised.

 

Alex said that competition between the six shortlisted finalists had been stiff.  The runner-up was Sew Good, a sewing co-operative within the Common Unity Project Aotearoa.  Sew Good received $3,000 with funds to be used to help empower people from vulnerable communities through the production of sewn garments and goods for gifting and sale.

 

“The Rotary Club of Wellington is the oldest Rotary Club in NZ (chartered in 1921).  They have been a supporter of some of New Zealand’s most valued social causes.  It’s fantastic to see them embracing this new generation of social enterprise,” Alex explained.

 

Wellington Rotary’s Vocational Committee Chair Andrew Miller offered that their members would also be available to support the successful ventures through access to networks, advice on accessing markets and business mentoring.

 

The community using the old Vogelmorn Bowling Club. 

Alex said the Ākina team was excited about this new opportunity to support social entrepreneurs thanks to the generosity and enthusiasm of the Rotary Club of Wellington.

 

“We are hopeful this successful partnership will challenge others to get in behind social enterprise as an innovative way to tackle social and environmental challenges,” said Alex.

 

“We want to act as inspiration for other Rotary clubs around the country,” Andrew added. 

 

Rotary members watched three-minute videos submitted by the finalists on August 31 then cast votes to determine the winner and runner-up.  View all the finalists’ videos at http://www.rcw.org.nz/news/kick-start-social-enterprise-awards-presented/.

 

Go to www.akina.org.nz/rotary or contact Andrew Miller via email andrew.m.miller62@gmail.com to find out more.

 

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. 

A simple click to save a life

Assistance alarms installed in homes of elderly people living alone

Rotary Club of Taravao Tahiti Iti president Bernadette Wasna and grateful alarm recipient Hélène Lucas

Dr Henri Loquet, of the Rotary Club of Taravao Tahiti-Iti, found an elderly person deceased in her bathroom four days after her fall. He then suggested installing assistance alarms for the elderly in their homes.

The device does not exist on the territory of French Polynesia, so Taravao Tahiti-Iti Rotary decided to order ten alarm units from France (costing Central Pacific Franc XPF 25 000 per unit), with the help of the Rotary Club of Papeete-Tahiti. It was not easy to get them, but after several months of investigations and with the permissions of the authorities, the devices finally arrived.

Older people are visited during the day (by families, carers and cleaners) but they are left alone at night. The installation of these devices to alert relatives in case of a fall is a way to help these people quickly when the consequences can be dramatic. The difficulty to get up, to move, poor vision, sleep disorders, urinary problems are a multitude of factors that will make the elderly vulnerable when night falls.

One of the first alarm beneficiaries, 93-year-old Hélène Lucas, was offered the system and installation during a visit by Taravao Tahiti-Iti president Bernadette Wasna and Rotarians Henri and Loana Loquet. After explaining the necessity and usefulness of such an installation, tests were performed. If she needs assistance, Hélène will only have to activate the base unit buttons wisely placed in the busiest parts of her house, plus there are a push button necklace and bracelet.

This safety device can indeed save lives and since its inception, the club has received additional demand, so Bernadette is considering another alarm order after the buzz created on social networks, as the article received almost 800 likes when it was first published.