Rotary success stories - New Zealand and SW Pacific

Wednesday, 19 December 2012

Rhythm Interactive "Thank you Rotary"

Rotary initiated a project with Rhythm Interactive that had an immensely positive impact upon the lives of those children and teachers that participated in the Therapeutic Education Project in Christcurch following the earthquakes. These sessions were not just hugely popular but identified students with a musical talent and as many students could not afford music lessons these session were a special opportunity for them.

Sunday, 16 December 2012

Good PR and partnerships a winner

The Rotary Club of St Johns recently won the monthly PR award in District 9920 and this has a number of interesting lessons for all clubs around community partnerships, PR, membership and more. Go to http://www.stjohnsrotary.blogspot.co.nz/2012/10/bringing-new-school-and-new-community.html

Saturday, 15 December 2012

Cyclone devastates Samoa - a way to help

Emergency Response Kits prepositioned in Apia are being distributed to those most affected and back up supplies are being shipped from Fiji.

Cyclone Evan will hit Tonga and Fiji in the coming days and reportedly is intensifying.

We have prepositioned ERKs in Fiji and Rotarians and their supporters are on standby.

Rotary is working with Disaster Management Agencies in all three countries and we anticipate that as well as ERKs, food, water and clothing will be needed.

RNZWCS will advance funds to enable these supplies to be purchased and distributed immediately.

We are therefore asking clubs to support us and have launched an immediate appeal. We are also working with the New Zealand Government through MFAT and the NGO Disaster Relief Forum NDRF.

Please refer to our website http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rnzwcs.org&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFRwCsED7etkgqCTvARaIo51iAcrw for alternate ways to donate or

send cheques to PO Box 20309, Christchurch 8543 or through internet banking 03 1702 0192208 01

We appreciate many clubs will have suspended meetings for the Christmas/New Year break, but feel confident they will be checking emails.

Best wishes
Stuart

PDG Stuart J Batty JP
Director
RNZWCS Limited (Rotary New Zealand)
PO Box 20309
Christchurch 8543
New Zealand
Ph/Fax 64 3 3599218
cellphone 027 2695615
Charities Commission Reg. No. CC26860

Monday, 10 December 2012

Building a brighter future through MIT Awards

Auckland Mayor Len Brown with recipient Benetta Faualo and her niece

The 2012 MIT Awards gave a scholarship of $1500 to two aspiring nurses, Benetta Faualo and Lucy Scott) and a secondary school teacher Lydia Zhu to assist them with their continuing studies.

The MIT Awards are organised annually by the Rotary Club of Papatoetoe West on behalf of the Chenery Memorial Trust. The Awardees have returned to education to create a better future for themselves. The Awards were presented by Auckland's Mayor, Len Brown at a ceremony held at the Papatoetoe Cosmopolitan Club and was supported by Rotarians from a number of surrounding clubs.

Friday, 7 December 2012

Rotary or holiday pictures ... do not miss the good ones

Do you have a mobile phone? Have you ever used your phone camera? Are you like me ... have played around with it and taken a few pictures but then not known what to do with them? I was caught short the other day at a Rotary event without my camera and took a really great picture that I really wanted to use, so was forced to take the time to find out how to email it to myself where I could download and put it to good use.

This monumental learning curve took me 3 minutes! Why was I so worried about learning this technology I have always with me!

And I was able to add text - a few words to remind me of a couple of points so when I went to write something to go with the picture I had some facts. The other thing that worried me was the picture would be too small in quality / size but need not have worred as it was 1.2MB so the camera setting was OK ... you might need to see if yours needs adjusting to maximum (always do maximum).

OK, you might have to get your email set up on the phone but surely a friend or the local phone retailer can help. The point is, there is no excuse for your club's project not to have good publicity and especially some good, close-up action pictures.

And if you add to the email copy line berylrobinson@rotarydownunder.co.nz you are most likely to also get your masterpiece onto the Rotary success stories blog at http://www.rotarystories-nzandpacific.blogspot.com/ as well (add your name in the text box so we know who to credit).

Still, no matter how much mobile phone technology has advanced over recent years, do not be fooled ... even a low-end camera will do a better job especially in low light situations (where a mobile camera is at its worst) so camera first, mobile phone is way better than no picture!

Rotary Club Punches Above Its Weight With Funding Support!

Over the past eighteen months, the Rotary Club of Bishopdale/Burnside in Christchurch, New Zealand with a membership of 34, has financially supported local charities in their city with a total in excess of $84,000 from their fundraising initiatives.

One of Bishopdale/Burnside Rotary’s preferred charities is the Canterbury Charity Hospital Trust (CCHT) which was set up five years ago to provide much needed medical services to people in the community who can’t wait for medical services in the public hospital, but can’t afford medical insurance to have the procedures performed in private hospitals.

The hospital is not government funded, so it is financed totally by donations, grants and support from the wider community. Numerous doctors, nurses, other health professionals and public spirited people volunteer their time and expertise weekly to help make the Canterbury Charity Hospital a success.

Many people in the community also help with the day-to-day running of the hospital. Together they all make a huge difference to the health and wellbeing of the Canterbury community as a whole.

Governor-General of NZ Sir Gerry Mateparae congratulating Canterbury Charity Hospital Manager Carl Shaw at the official opening.

Dr Phil Bagshaw receiving the van from Bishopdale/Burnside Rotary Charity Trust Chair Alistair Coleman

General Surgeon Philip Bagshaw recognised the need for a charity hospital when he realised that no government would be able to meet all the healthcare needs in Canterbury.

The East Wing of the Charity Hospital was opened in 2007 to provide day surgery facilities and medical clinics, but due to the changing needs of the Canterbury community following the 2010-2011 earthquakes, a new two storey and larger West Wing was added to provide additional theatre (endoscopy) space, a dental unit, more consulting rooms and educational/research facilities.

Many Rotary clubs support medical treatment for people in the islands around the Pacific, but since the devastating earthquakes in September 2010 and February 2011, the old saying “charity begins at home” has become extremely poignant in Christchurch.

This is one of the reasons that the Bishopdale/Burnside Rotary Club purchased a van, medical equipment, storage shed and donated car park ground preparation funding to the level of $50,000 to date.

In recognition of the superb service that Phil Bagshaw and his team are providing in the region, the new West Wing was officially opened recently by the Governor-General of New Zealand, Lt Gen Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae, at a special function to mark the occasion.

Wednesday, 5 December 2012

It's Christmas and Rotary helps bring smiles to many

What a great time Santa’s little helpers had last Saturday!

The Manurewa Christmas Parade was the best we have had in ages, with 50 participating groups and floats. The Rotary Club of Alfriston had 5 floats entered.

Thousands packed the streets to watch the annual parade.

The parade was led by Sir John Walker as the Grand Marshal, with an onslaught of clowns handing out balloons. Smiling children’s faces were the one thing that stood out on the day.

Ray Parkes handled the competing interest of Rotarians, participating groups, dignitaries, and road marshals. Ray coolly sorted it out getting the parade organised and moving.

Janet Igrisan and her crew battled with umpteen elf costumes, and other pieces of paraphernalia.

Santa’s car was mislaid for a bit, but none of this was evident during the parade itself.

Thanks also to all the club members for a fantastic effort in making this a happy and memorable occasion.

Tuesday, 4 December 2012

East Tamaki Primary Cycle Track Gets Rolling

Work started on Saturday 1 December 2012 on the construction of the East Tamaki Primary School Cycle track. This is the first of the Owen Glenn Family Trust Projects in Otara-East Tamaki area, which Rotary Club of Botany East Tamaki Inc are associated with.

A team of members began our part in the project by installing all the Safety Fencing around the Cycle track construction site and marking out the perimeters of the Track. The Team included Carey Brown (Contractor) and Peter McGlashan, Director: Sports and Wellbeing, Glenn Family Foundation with the Club Team (wearing the club's new Hi Vis Jackets).

(Picture above) Monday 3 December saw members of the Club, the Principal of the School Sarah Mirams, Peter McGlashan and other members of the Owen Glenn Foundation were present at a Sod Turning ceremony officiated by Waikare Komene from the local Maori Community, who offered a Karakia to bless the site and the work that is to follow.

The target for completion is Monday 10th December. with the Official opening Tuesday 11th December. The next major part of the project for the Club is assembling all the bicycles ready for Official opening.