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1st meeting for 2021 CHANGE OF VENUE - NOW BUZZSTOP CAFE, Hansen Road, Frankton, at 6 pm, for Pizzas. Please send any apologies by Monday midday for catering purposes. $15 per head to be paid to the Rotary bank account.
Originally scheduled for Waitiri Creek Winery, likely inclement weather on Sunday 6 December saw a change in venue to ‘Cargo at Gantley’s Pub & Café’ at Arthur’s Point.
Interested Rotarians participated in the scheduled wine tasting before lunch.
As part of this event:
- Several Rotarians were recognised for their part in the ‘’Boulder Wall Project at Lakeland Christian Camp, Kelvin Heights which took place over several Saturday mornings led by Ricky Hunter.
- New Rotarian Paul Stanfield was inducted into our club by PDG Derek Bulman (see Lee-Ann’s ‘lines’ above and photo below).
- 2 women members of our Club were welcomed into ‘Impact 100’ by member Mary Thompson. Impact 100 is a womens’ charitable organisation whose members each contribute $1,000 annually to a selected local charity. Established in the USA, a local group was established in Queenstown last year. Lee-Ann Lines and Gabrielle Schouw were selected by our Club for membership, sponsored by Mary and one other anonymous Impact 100 member.
On 1 December we visited Veolia where Jason Climo, our President Elect, is Regional Manager. A French based international company, Veolia is the ‘3 waters’ contactor to QLDC.
As well as learning about Veolia globally and its core values, we were shown robot/camera technology used for pipe inspections, technology used for relining existing pipe systems and the on-line monitoring of the water and wastewater sites within the Queenstown Lakes District.
An incredible learning experience for all, with exposure to fascinating technology, over 50 Rotarians and guests enjoyed this experience.
At the Christmas function we welcomed our newest member, Paul Stanfield. Paul has been living in Queenstown for about 22 months. He brought a section next door to David Broomfield and has built his home there.
Paul and his wife Kirsten have 2 children. Their son Jack is at WHS and he is a bit of a gun skier, representing NZ and up until COVID19, was attending a ski academy in the USA.
At the moment, Kirsten and their daughter still live in Auckland due to their daughters schooling requirements. So a wee bit of travelling back and forth goes on.
Paul’s business background started as a 17 year old working at Foodtown which started a career in supermarkets, working for Progressive Enterprises for quite a few years. He later moved on to The Warehouse Group, as a buyer.
He has also built up 2 Export Businesses, beginning when he bought his father’s building and steel materials business, exporting to Asia and the Pacific. He also went into food and meat trading with a business partner, mainly exporting NZ beef and lamb outside of the Pacific Rim.
His interests are skiing and golf, although he’s not had too much golf lately, due to shoulder surgery not too long ago.
Paul will be a valued member of our Club and brings a wealth of business experience and knowledge with many other interests.
Welcome Paul, we look forward to getting to know you Kirsten better.
Rebecca Lund and Scott Donaldson were inducted as new Queenstown Rotarians recently (see last Bulletin/no photos last edition). Rebecca is a Technology teacher at Wakatipu High School, Scott is a lawyer and is currently President of Toastmasters in Queenstown. Again we warmly welcome Rebecca and Scott to our club.
3 new members were inducted to our membership last week. Fiona van Waveren Wilshire, Tim Wilshire and Hamish Murray were inducted by PDG Derek Bulman and current DG Dylan Murray (Waimate). We warmly welcome Fiona, Tim and Hamish to our friendly team serving our Wakatipu community.
Queenstown Rotary’s diversity of membership is on the increase. Pictured here with new members Fiona, Tim and Hamish are Huia Ackerman, Darren Rewi, President Lee-Ann Lines and District Governor Dylan Murray.
An informative Rotary meeting with guest speaker Geoff MacDonald, Chief Executive of Skyline Enterprises last week. Geoff provided a brief history of the company, a global project update and details of the Queenstown projects including the ‘skyline’ building development and gondola enlargement.
Skyline is also involved with assisting many organisations throughout the region e.g. a programme for leadership and environmental initiatives.
Last Tuesday our club received a big ‘thank you’ from Kaye Parker for our financial support of the ‘Greatest Needs Fund’ this year. The fund was established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic here in Queenstown. Queenstown Rotary’s contribution specifically funding a pilot mental health seminar for Brazilians that was led by a Portuguese speaking Counsellor.
"On Tuesday Nov 24th, members very much enjoyed hearing from Aaron Fleming, currently DoC Operations Director for the Southern South Island.
After a promising gymnastics career was ended by a serious teenage illness, that required many months in hospital followed by years of recuperation and overcoming depression, Aaron went through several very difficult years, both physically and emotionally. As part of his recovery he set himself the objective of getting fit enough to complete an ‘Ironman,’ within twelve months, defying the doctors who had told him he would never be physically active again. He built his resilience by participation in Ironman races all over the world whilst raising awareness for cystic fibrosis.
Aaron has completed 13 Ironman events with the objective of finishing, not of being the fastest in the field, and of completing one on each continent. He was well on the way to achieving this before the interruption of COVID-19.
At the same time Aaron completed his education, has worked extensively in the public sector and three years ago was appointed to the position of DoC Operations Director for the Southern South Island. This is a job with responsibility for several hundred staff and a sizeable chunk of New Zealand, including the sub-Antarctic Islands and the Ross Shelf. He genuinely lives his principles of caring for the environment and the wellbeing of people.
As a member of the LGBTQ community, he is also active in ‘Proud to Play’ which encourages diversity in sport.
Aaron's is an amazing and inspiring story and we are very lucky to have him as one of the speakers at our upcoming RYLA programme - he will be an inspiration and an example to those younger leaders.
Last week we spent off site at the ‘Strike Bowl’ 10 pin bowling venue at Arthur’s Point – ‘bowling with pizzas’. A chance to enjoy each other’s company in a social environment that included partners and family. Steve and Tracy McLean earned the highest scores followed by Huia Ackerman. A fun night had by all.
This year we will be out in the community approximately 4 weekly for a vocational visit, social event, community event or fund raiser.
PP Keith McIntosh inducting new member Riki Hunter
President Ross presenting a Paul Harris Award to Russell McGrouther
President Ross presenting a Paul Harris Award to Keith McIntosh
President Ross presenting long service awards to
Brian MacPherson, Chris Taylor, Ian Johnstone, Derek Bulman and Kerry Dunlop
Heather McIntosh receiving the Pauline Haslemore Award
President Ross handing over the Presidential Chains to Lee-Ann Lines
President Elect Jason Climo
Incoming District Governor Dylan Murray
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