Service and Fellowship - Rotary Feature

Mahurangimatters 1 December 2012 | 37

service fellowshipROTARY ANNIVERSARY

First Rotary Meeting at Camp Bentzon, Jan 2008

50 Years of Service to the Community“People like you and me achieving extraordinary things”

Want to play a par t?

Want to play a par t?

To learn more call the PR team Peter Johns 0274 807 451 or Joy Paxton 422-2290

We invite You to stand tall beside us and play a part in many interesting and worthy local, social and humanitarian initiatives; making our community, our world and our future a better place for our children, our grandchildren and those less fortunate.

The Rotary Club of Warkworth & District Inc is proud to have provided

Speak to one of our Rotarians or join us for dinner phone 09 423 0200

Calling all past members and friends to join us in our 50th Celebrations on 17th February 2013Register by contacting Peter at [email protected] or 0274 807 451

While the name “Rotary” initially meant nothing more than rotating meeting places among members, today it encapsulates a global phenomenon of service and fellowship that has benefited Warkworth for 50 years.One of some 30,000 Rotary clubs worldwide, Warkworth is part of New Zealand’s northern-most Rotary district encompassing Auckland’s northern and western suburbs and north, as well as Noumea, Vanuatu and Norfolk Island. What began with 25 dedicated members in 1962 is now a 40-strong group with around a dozen honorary members, who will celebrate the 50th anniversary at a dinner with past Rotarians and friends on February 17.A founding member, GP and father of four, Dr David Cross remains a Rotarian today and recalls an early project was building a playground in Bertram St. Hands-on help has always been a part of Rotary service, including working bees to pour a concrete boat ramp at Camp Bentzon, building the community hall at Totara Park, establishing the Warkworth scout den and more.Club rules have relaxed considerably over time, abandoning strict limitations to one individual of each profession,

Well-rounded service network chalks up first 50 yearstheme of the first district conference ever held in Noumea. The ambitious project, at a time of strained relations between France and New Zealand, resulted in a sister club arrangement between Noumea and Warkworth, a sister city relationship between Whangarei and Noumea and a previously unheard of $50,000 profit. The 1990 Conference Trust Fund has since doubled in value and continues to fund projects today. Current president, barrister Joe Koppens, is keen to welcome anybody who wants to be involved, “provided they accept the requirements of integrity that Rotary prides itself on.”This year the club plans to expand into more local projects including Adults in Motion’s work with the intellectually disabled, while continuing its support of groups such as Springboard. Long established fundraising activities, including production and distribution of the local telephone directory will be supplemented by new ideas, including a dedicated wine auction on Easter Sunday at Ascension, following last year’s successful pilot that raised $5000 for Hospice.

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Children enjoy Camp Bentzon, just one of the many beneficiaries of Rotary support.

See more photos of Rotary in action at

www.localmatters.co.nz

involvement by invitation only, compulsory ties and men-only edicts, but important core principles of service and fellowship remain the same. “Even though I was talking to people all day, I was mostly listening to their problems. I found that Rotary meant meeting a lot of people in different fields from me and you could talk about anything under the sun. It broadened my outlook,” David says.It’s a benefit that others, like long-serving member Arnold Nichols, also recognise.“I never went into Rotary to get

anything out of it personally, but it just happens. While you’re giving to the community, Rotary quietly gives back to you.”Fellowship extends internationally and David and his wife Margaret made some firm friends while attending Rotary International conferences, enjoying “friendship exchanges” with Rotary districts around the world and hosting numerous exchange students. During his 1989/1990 term as district governor, Warkworth Rotarian Ken Baird made international friendship the

| Mahurangimatters 1 December 201238

ROTARY ANNIVERSARY

service fellowshipGet involvedThe Warkworth Rotary Club meets on Thursdays at 5.45pm for 6.15pm at Warkworth Golf Club, Matakana Road. Info: Joy Paxton, email [email protected], 422 2290; Peter Johns, [email protected] or 425 7855 or www.warkworth-rotary.org.nz

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Fundraising Rotary-style could just as well be called “fun raising” as Warkworth members have found innovative ways to engage with the community including dining, dancing and sailing their way into generating cash for the community.Current club president Joe Koppens says having fun is a key part of the Rotary philosophy.“As a club we enjoy both the process of fundraising and of applying the funds raised.”Whether maximising the potential of one-off opportunities, or establishing ongoing events, the result has been some memorable moments,.In a novel fundraiser in December 2008, Warkworth, Whangaparaoa and Kumeu Rotary clubs treated more than 2000 paying guests to bubbly, a tour, dinner and dancing to christen the Johnstone hill tunnels. The Night at the End of the Tunnel returned over $100,000 from which Warkworth Rotary’s share went towards the Jane Gifford restoration.Other events have included fishing competitions and early arts and crafts expos, while a yacht race initiative proved so popular that it endured for 19 years, delivering hundreds of thousands to community projects and lasting memories for those involved.A keen yachtie himself, 1985 president Graham Noakes initiated the race with the backing of a dedicated Rotary team and generous logistical and financial support from sponsor New Zealand Forest Products (NZFP).

Graham Noakes with a memento of the successful Rotary Yacht Race.

Memorable fundraising moments pay dividends for numerous worthy causes

Graham says Rotary credibility got him in the door to see NZFP chief executive, David Fowlds, a Rotarian himself, who instantly got behind the project, offering funds and the skills of his then assistant, Rosanne Meo.Skippers were encouraged to supply their yachts to be crewed by fee-paying corporate teams. In the first race, 37 yachts and nearly 400 people took part in a two-hour race around the islands, starting and

ending at Kawau Island’s Mansion House, before coming ashore for a catered dinner. At its peak, the event hosted around 800 participants and raised as much as $80,000 profit from a single race.“Ice buckets were dinghies full of ice and rum, and cokes were poured from watering cans, but in all the years we held it, only one person missed the boat home. It became a well known yachting calendar event,” Graham says.Rotarians would set up marquees and tables the day before and return to clean-up, right down to picking up cigarette butts the day after.In the race’s first year, Warkworth produced more money than any other Rotary club in its district with a universally-enjoyed event, benefiting the participants, the community and sponsors. The summer house behind Mansion House was later donated using yacht race funds, which also boosted numerous other projects, including building of the Warkworth Scout Den.“Some years later David Fowlds told me that the yacht race was well worth the time and money that NZFP put into it. They gleaned a lot of publicity and goodwill from it,” Graham says.Times Media Group took over sponsorship from NZFP after about eight years, but in the race’s 19th year increasing bureaucratic obstacles were capped by a cyclone, which blew catering marquees up into the trees and saw the event cancelled.

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Congratulations Rotary Warkworth! Thank you for your generous donations and support

to our local community groups and young people for the last 50 years

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Congratulations to Warkworth Rotary on 50 years of great service to the community. May the next 50 years be just as successful.

ROTARY ANNIVERSARY

service fellowshipand

Warkworth bank manager Bridgitte Turner credits Rotary’s Group Study Exchange (GSE) with a major boost to her business confidence and ongoing career development, as well as the choice to become a Rotarian herself.The exchange programme provides travel grants to enable business people and professionals between the ages of 25 and 40 in the early stages of their careers, to visit different countries. For four to six weeks, team members experience the host country’s culture and institutions, observe how their vocations are practised abroad, develop personal and professional relationships, and exchange ideas.A self-employed mortgage broker when she applied in 2000, taking a six-week absence from her business was a big decision for Bridgitte, but one that she doesn’t regret, as she has continued to reap the programme’s rewards.One of six selected for the programme after a rigorous application process, she was billeted by Rotary families in Virginia on the all-expenses-paid trip where she addressed every Rotary Club she was hosted by and met a variety of people relevant to her industry.“Talking to like-minded business people made me question how I do things and helped me grow in confidence in terms of being self-

Bridgitte Turner continues to build on the lessons she learned with Rotary.

Exchange has lasting lessons

employed,” she says.“I realised that I didn’t need to belong to a large company to generate business, it’s actually the person that counts.”The lesson is still relevant in her current role as ANZ Warkworth manager handling the merger of ANZ with National Bank, during which customers have indicated their view that “people are what makes an organisation”.Invited to join Rotary a few years ago, she accepted and although work and family commitments meant she had to withdraw after a couple of years, she stays in touch with the group and expects to rejoin it in the future.“I love what Rotary does in the community,” she says.

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| Mahurangimatters 1 December 201240

Congratulations to Warkworth Rotary

50 years as part of the Warkworth Community. You have run a Sunshine fund to help out, hosted

and sent exchange students, run innumerable local and overseas projects. May you grow with,

and continue to serve, the Warkworth Community for many years to come.

Joe Koppens Barrister

Congratulations Warkworth Rotary

50 Years of Serviceto the local, national and international community

is an achievement to be proud of.

Wade Glass: 09 921 4619Rick Middleton: 09 921 4642Catherine Gillies: 09 921 4646Jacqueline Ironside: 09 921 4645

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“Congratulations Rotary Warkworth and we look forward to the next 50 years”

ROTARY ANNIVERSARY


Warkworth Rotary Club has recognised two Mahurangi College students as future leaders in science and technology.Year 12 students Nicholas Lee and Angus Adamson have gained places at the Rotary National Science and Technology Forum at Auckland University, in January, where they will spend 14 days with 150 other top New Zealand science and maths students and six from Australia.The forum aims to introduce students to university life and some of the latest science and technology developments. Opportunities to work in laboratories and field stations of tertiary institutions around Auckland will provide insights into where science or technology qualifications could take them. Angus is hoping the forum will help him decide what he wants to do after college.“I am already interested in studying science and law but am keeping an open mind,” he says.Nicholas is interested in becoming an optometrist. He says it will be a valuable experience. He is looking forward to meeting other people who share his interests. Warkworth Rotary’s youth projects director Bruce Lambert says the boys were chosen because of their strong academic records and it’s hoped the

From left, Nicholas Lee, Warkworth Rotary’s Peter Simons, Angus Adamson, Jake Grey, French exchange student Gabrille Gieanneau and Rotary youth projects director Bruce Lambert.

Youth projects broaden student horizons

experience will promote personal growth and a better understanding of the career they wish to pursue.The college is also involved in the Rotary Youth Exchange programme, currently hosting 17-year-old Gabrille Gieanneau of France, who arrived in July for a year-long stay.“I decided to come to NZ as I wanted to improve my English speaking skills and had heard it was a beautiful place,” Gabrille says. “I will highly recommend this experience to my friends and family back home, and hope to return in the future,” he says. Meanwhile, Year 13 Mahurangi College student Jake Gray has been awarded

the opportunity to travel to Brazil for a year. His aunty and mother were both Rotary exchange students themselves and recommended the experience.“I can’t wait to get over there and experience the culture of Brazil. It’s going to be a once in a lifetime experience. Living in the largest city in the southern hemisphere will be quite a change from Warkworth.”Jake needs to raise around $10,000 for the trip and a fundraising excursion on the Jane Gifford is scheduled on December 8 at 2pm. Tickets $25, $40 for a couple. Info: 422 2521.For more Rotary youth projects, see this story at www.localmatters.co.nz

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Congratuations to the Rotary Club of Warkworth for supporting the Warkworth and Districts Community and internationally so well for

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THANK YOUfor all your help over the years

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ROTARY ANNIVERSARY


Rotary is tackling life-threatening issues around the world and Warkworth Rotarians have helped to lead the charge.With the support of clubs globally, the World Health Organisation and the Gates Foundation, Rotary International has spent 25 years and more than a billion dollars, pushing polio to the brink of eradication, reducing endemic countries from 125 to three. It’s also helped Shelterbox deliver over 120,000 boxes of survival necessities to more than 200 disasters since 2000.Warkworth Rotary has also been helping Vanuatu. In 2002, club member Ken Baird joined Orewa Rotarian Rod Dennis in supplying insecticide-treated bed nets to protect villagers from malaria. They dealt directly with village aid posts, giving locals nets to sell and refresh with insecticide, with profits going back into health.“We basically had to train each village aid post worker how to run a small business,” says Ken, who was involved for six years, before the project became independent.Now the club is focusing on Vanuatu’s other needs, working to enable NZ dentists to do voluntary service and repairing a hospital roof on Ambae Island. Rotarian and former oyster

farmer Jon Nicolson has repeatedly sailed to the region, delivering surplus medical supplies from NZ, but would like to do more.“A lot of people are very deprived and there are many things they can’t easily do themselves. Even getting corrugated iron is a big deal in a country that’s got no money. You can only do so much by yourself, but with an organisation like Rotary involved you get their muscle and credibility.”For the hospital project Rotary will provide materials and two trained builders, who will teach local building students to do the work. Local hospitality students will also be able to practise their skills on the visiting team.Current club president Joe Koppens recently joined a Whangaparaoa Rotary project to re-roof a school and other tasks on Tongoa Island, and also assisted with delivering medical supplies.“Rotary has contacts all over the world, but perhaps more importantly it has credibility worldwide. Suppliers, like Bunnings, which has been very generous with this particular project, recognise the job is for a worthy cause, the people participating are not charging for their time and therefore, whatever they give goes towards the cause.”

Healthy impact worldwide

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Service and Fellowship - Rotary Feature