The Power of Basic Education and Literacy: How Rotary is Paving the Way
September resonates with a theme that is close to many hearts – Basic Education and Literacy, a cornerstone initiative of Rotary International. In a rapidly evolving world, the significance of education and literacy cannot be overstated. The ripple effects of these fundamentals not only empower individuals but also uplift entire communities.
Lending Your Hand to the Cause
Want to be a beacon of change? There are ample avenues to contribute to Rotary's mission:
Make a difference with your donations to The Rotary Foundation, furthering global projects.
Invest your time and expertise in local Rotary club endeavors.
Advocate for the significance of education and literacy within your community, sparking a wider conversation.
President Tim Orrell
Secretary
Shirley Stratton
Treasurer
Graham Evans
Hosted by President Tim
Guests: Nicole Barker, Peter & Kim Wilson, First Lady Yvonne Orrell, Stephen & Jenny Oatley, Aileen Clark, Dennis Jackson
Kevin Trolove
Opening thought:
Coming together is a beginning,
Keeping together is progress;
Working together is success.
Parting thought:
A little progress each day
Adds up to big results.
Raffle winner: Guy
Dinner menu: Braised beef and red wine casserole with spuds, feta & spinach frittata and mixed salad, followed by banana pudding and icecream
Dugald
Homage to the socks of Doug
Gazza
Guy
Linda
Almoner Marilyn
A busy night
Nicole
Notices
President Tim
Tim reminded the people who have signed up to cook dinner for Ronald McDonald House whānau that this is on next Tuesday.
Golf for Good has paid out over $10k for our roster labour already, plus our half of the profits. It is well worth our while. Thanks to Members for volunteering.
Remember Tawa Club has invited us to attend their Oktoberfest on 22 September at the Tawa Bowling Club. $35 for a 2 course meal. Their contact details are ph 022 362 0253 or email tawarotary.club@gmail.com
Rotary New Zealand Nepal Flash Floods Relief Fund
To support Rotary projects to assist the people of Nepal following the deadly flash floods and landslides that have devastated communities and damaged critical infrastructure.
Widespread damage in Nepal will take years of intervention and support. Rotary Clubs in Nepal will support families and their communities to rebuild their shattered lives. Support will assist the Nepalese community to recover beyond replacing physical homes to restoring their long-term economic, psychological, and social well-being.
Co-Almoner Ken has been poorly recently as his leg is playing up again, and would appreciate a call or a visit.
Linda
Linda has emailed folk about collecting any spare New World Smeg stickers to buy what we can for the Kāpiti Women's Centre to give to people in need. Please bring them to the next meeting or contact Linda.
The Communications Committee has noted that Members can update their profiles and upload their photos. It is simple to do on ClubRunner, but Tony can help you if you are not sure what to do. It is helpful for others to be able to check Members' details.
Gary
Taveuni Quiz Night
Eastern Hutt Club is hosting a quiz night on 25 September. As a Club, it would be great if we can support this and make up some teams to go along. A few people have already signed up. Please let Gary know if you can join a team.
Dugald
Golf for Good
Greenkeepers please BYOB (brooms) on Thursday morning, and in the school hols it will be weekly.
Wood for Good
The next working bee is on 12 September. The morning shift (9.00am to 12.00pm) will be splitting at our Paraparaumu airport site, and afternoon shift (12.30pm to 3.30pm) will complete the splitting at the airport site, and do deliveries from 55 End Farm Rd, Waikanae. We only need a few more helpers. Please sign up on ClubRunner or contact Doug.
Ross
The trailer raffle selling starts this weekend. Sales were steady. One wee lad in a dinosaur top was so excited about buying his ticket - he dragged his dad back 3 times for another look at the loot he is convinced he is going to win. Fingers crossed, mate.
Members are also allocated 6 books to sell (or purchase) and can request more if they are able to sell to their friends and family. Please ensure you put the sold book stubs in numerical order to make the reconciliation easier. Please sign up on ClubRunner for shifts and wear a Rotary shirt if you have one. Newbies should sign up with an experienced Member to show them the ropes. Ross has sent out an email with step-by-step instructions for signing up for a shift. Partners and other whānau are welcome to help.
If any Bulletin subscribers would like to buy tickets, email Steph (dyhrbergsa@gmail.com) and we can sort you out. $10 for a book of 6.
Rotary Roadie
This is on 16 - 18 October at Foxton Holiday Park. So far, 30 people are attending. The theme is By the Seaside. Please bring your beach attire and colourful shirts. Highlights include happy hour and morning smokos. Visitors will be welcome.
Guy
Wellington Free Ambulance has requested some helpers to collect at Pak'n'Save on their street appeal day this Thursday 10 September. If you can spare an hour or 2 between 10 and 4pm please let Guy know.
Cherie
Youth - RYPEN
Candidates are being sought by 11 September 2026 for this year's RYPEN (Rotary Youth Programme of Enrichment) camp. RYPEN is aimed at young people in the 16 –17 age group who are still at school and are not likely to be selected for Youth Exchange or later for RYLA, but who possess qualities of decency, persistence and application and who deserve further encouragement.
Nicole is supporting Clubs in the area in this new role. She is making it up as she goes along! She and the other District Community Leads, and Club Presidents have a monthly meeting to swap tips and provide support. Tim turned out to be an expert in ClubRunner - who knew?? They discuss joint projects, for example the Dorothy Spotswood Charitable Hospital fundraising.
Thank you, Nicole, for performing this useful role to create a greater sense of community and support.
Ross
President Tim, Ross and Peter
Peter held us spellbound
The only slide suitable for publication
Guest speaker: Peter Wilson - Forensic Science
Every contact leaves a trace
Ross introduced Peter, who retired after a 47 year career in forensics. Peter studied in Scotland and qualified as a chemist. He became an expert in forensics before the advent and advances in DNA profiling changed the field forever. Peter worked for DSIR, then ESR, and was often called in by Police to help on cases. When he finished, Peter spent 5 years in Singapore training forensic scientists.
The main areas of focus for Peter were murders, shootings and bombings. He worked on some notorious cases including the Wellington Thomas murders. Singapore has little crime compared to New Zealand; a murder a month compared to one a week.
Peter would do scene examinations, gathering contact evidence such as tyre impressions, shoe and footprints, and blood spatter patterns. He would conduct the analysis in the lab (which can take months, not the hours it takes on TV shows), write up a report and give evidence in Court if required. Attention to detail was critical as any errors would see you cross-examined to bits.
Occasionally, Peter would need to swab a prisoner for gunshot residue, or take their footprints. In Singapore, footprints were more common than shoe prints, as people remove their shoes indoors and the ceramic tiled floors take a nice print.
Peter ran through some interesting cases he and his colleagues were involved in. This Editor took great interest, some would say too much interest, in the use of bleach for cleaning up a crime scene. Husband Murray looked a bit nervous…
Acting Sergeant Roger extracted money from most attendees. He told an entirely fictitious tale about Josie buying a chainsaw. We all know Josie can run rings around Roger when it comes to hard work and machinery.
Paul attended a Robbie Burns Night at Plimmerton Club, and was put in charge of the whisky tray. Something about a fox guarding the chicken coop…
