Calendar
World Friendship Day
Jul 30, 2022
 
Rotary Membership and Development Month
Aug 01, 2022 - Aug 31, 2022
 
Pakuranga Rotary Meeting - 8 Aug 2022
The Howick Club
Aug 08, 2022
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
 
International Youth Day
Aug 12, 2022
 
Pakuranga Rotary Meeting - 22 Aug 2022
The Howick Club
Aug 22, 2022
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
 
Rotary Basic Education and Literacy Month
Sep 01, 2022 - Sep 30, 2022
 
Spring time
Sep 01, 2022 - Sep 30, 2022
 
International Day of Democracy
Sep 15, 2022
 
International Day of Peace
Sep 21, 2022
 
View entire list
Scribes Report
Is it that long?  Andrew Seeley, has come back into the Pakuranga Rotary fold after a seven year absence in Australia. The break was clearly beneficial for the whole family from both business and academic achievement perspectives but the thrust of Andrew’s address focussed on two aspects of the time away.
The first narrative related the story of the by-sea delivery of a new launch, purchased in Sydney but needing to be in Melbourne. Andrew and Denise undertook the adventure over a period of five days, facing the vagaries of weather, the need for updated navigational and safety devices and having sufficient fuel to reach the objective. They made it but not without some anxious moments.
 
The second related to their homecoming.  After a serious encounter with prostate cancer and the chemo and radiotherapy treatments needed to tame it, coupled with the lure of grandchildren and property in New Zealand, the decision was made to return to New Zealand. Missing the short-lived bubble allowing trouble-free entry, they managed to be two of over 30 thousand people tendering for a place in MIQ with only about 4000 getting the nod. All packed up, accommodation surrendered, boat and cars despatched, and written documentation in hand they were turned back at the airport! No warning!  A quick reversal of actions gave them breathing space for a while but it became clear that NZ citizen ship would smooth the way – back into the lottery! A stint as a handyman and especially paddock mower on Andrew’s sister’s farm in northern NSW filled the time as rules changed. With a flight approved from Brisbane, Queensland closed the border! More waiting. Then massive flooding in the area, the worst of which they managed to escape by about one day before finally being allowed through the state boundary and gratefully being admitted on to the flight to NZ. Whew!  
 
Listeners to this story could not help but be amazed at the resilience and perseverance of the couple who now have the right to remain as permanent residents – dual citizenship is clearly the key! Andrew’s address was certainly an eye-opener, giving a personal perspective to things we read about in the papers at the time.  Thanks to Andrew on behalf of the club was given by Graham Kearns.
Thanks from  St Patrick's School
Trees For Survival Planting Day
Trees For Survival
                                  Trees for Survival.
 
The growth of this programme, started by our club, has really taken off and it is developing into a major Rotary project that in future years will have a life of its own as an integral part of our community. In the current season, we have 142 schools planting and 13 are being set up so that they will be ready to plant next year. These new schools will be receiving their plant growing units and in early 2023 seed will be collected in their area for germinating and planting mid-year. The growth expected in our planning will take us to 241 schools by 2024/2025.
Schools join the programme in geographical clusters as that they can be supported by facilitators [paid contractors to TfS] and the new clusters are in Taranaki, Whakatane/Opotiki, Coromandel, Waikato, Rotorua, and another 12 schools in the Auckland area. We have standardised on 6 metre Plant Growing Units [now increasingly known as Shadehouses] and each of these receives 1000 plants and on average plants 850 of these in the ground. Each new PGU is now fitted with a rain sensor timer to save water. The PGUs are manufactured by Multistrut and assembled and delivered by Mens’ Sheds.
The programme is attracting major sponsors and the only limitation to  the rate of expansion will be finance.
ERKs
The packing of 600 Emergency Response Kits for replacement of the ERK's that were used last year in Tonga started on Saturday 23rd July. There is still work to be done. 
 
Delivery of most of the items that go into the boxes have arrived so we can start the process of defragging to enable us to send everything to Tonga free of paper, plastic etc.  We will be filling the buckets first before commencing on the ERK's boxes.
 
We are looking for volunteers to support this packing project!
 
Venue:   NZ Post warehouse,   45D Ben Lomond Crescent, off Cascades Road, Pakuranga
 
Days:       Tuesdays & Thursdays 9.00am - 1.00pm
                  Saturdays 8.30am - 1.00pm
 
If you or your Club can assist, please contact:  Gabrielle - gabbygm07@gmail or phone 021 576437  
Some lighter thoughts