Click here for the Conference Program
When was the last time you had a natter with a Rotarian from Tauranga ?
Or a Rotaractor from Central Lakes ?
Have you had an opportunity to talk with the Invercargill North Club about their Playhouse design, build, and raffle?
Have you offered congratulations to the Greymouth Club for their 80th birthday celebrations last year?
Do you know the Milton Club raise thousands of dollars through their Tramping Club activities?
Or that the Blenheim Club run a Bootsale market on Saturday mornings?
And that Winton Rotary make rat traps to protect the native birds on Ulva Island?
Come to Conference to connect and share stories about your projects face-to-face ...
A keen group of 9 Rotarians ascended the skyline (via the new gondola) to clear growing ‘Wilding Pines’ from our adopted plot.
Some 3,500 young plants were pulled from the ground, according to our club Environment leader, Richard Bowman. Lisa Pond recorded the top tally of over 550.
Spread out across our adopted plot, every tree that could be found was removed. Practically all were seedlings or very small saplings that could be easily hand pulled.
Richard reckons that we are keeping the site under control and are probably only going to need one workday a year to address regrowth.
Afterwards the team retreated down to ‘The Bavarian’ for essential hydration requirements.
Thanks to John Thompson, Roger Marsh, Hamish Murray, David Tait, Gabrielle Schou, Lisa Pond, Grant Rees, Richard Bowman and Tim Wilshire.
Our Guest Speaker on 20 February was our own Ross Beal.
We are aware of Ross and Rosanna’s commitment to the ‘Fountain of Peace’ organisation and its work in developing and supporting a home village in Uganda, for orphaned children, as well as a school for their residents plus the local community.
As the earlier residents grow older, the question of what they will do, post their schooling, began to occupy their minds. Ross and Rosanna have now turned their heads to the future education needs of the children in the care of Fountain of Peace, Uganda.
They are now focusing on a scholarship program that will ensure that the children, when aged 18-21, along with 5 other students that they are currently supporting, will be resourced so that they are able to aspire to and reach their educational goals be they tertiary or vocational. They will then have careers able to add value to Uganda’s economic development. The scholarship to each child will include course fees, resources and accommodation up to a value of NZ$3,000.
Ross and Rosanna have established the ‘Connor Beal Memorial Education Scholarship’ in memory of their late grandson, Connor, who succumbed to a rare form of blood cancer in 2011 at age 11. This scholarship will be the vehicle for providing this educational support.
“The educational scholarship will be Connor’s contribution to the lives of young Ugandan’s, providing an opportunity for them while giving purpose and meaning to a life taken from us so young”.
Ross also confirmed that he has concluded his role as a Trustee on the ‘Fountain of Peace Childrens Foundation NZ Board’ following a 11-year tenure.
Beyond Water is a charitable Trust established by Sharon and her husband, both Rotarians in Auckland.
Beyond Water began in 2007 and has assisted over 250,000 people by means of deep bore wells, rain water guttering, water tanks, toilet blocks, hand washing stations and sanity products. They erect guttering to enable hand washing stations.
Sharon clearly conveyed her message to us i.e. one of hope to ease water poverty for the people of East Africa. Beyond Water is passionate about bringing clean water and sanitation solutions to communities in need across East Africa. There, 30% of schools don’t have anything that resembles a toilet. Going to school is a privilege not a right and costs parents $2 per day per child. This is unaffordable for many.
Sharon related that it costs approximately $6,000 to build a toilet block. They are squat type, but are good, culturally acceptable, and will last an estimated 20 years. Education is a big focus, and they teach health and hygiene education in schools to songs and music.
There are other related services provided including ‘Undercover Angels’, an underwear project and ‘The Girl Project’. http://www.beyondwater.global/the-girl-project/
Check them out here and consider making a donation https://www.facebook.com/BeyondWaterOrg/
Another very successful ‘Rotary Young Leaders’ camp has been completed in Queenstown at the Lakeland Park Christian Camp from 28 Jan to 2 Feb. The weather held for most of the week to enable the outdoor programme to proceed on hot, sunny days.
29 incredible young leaders from all over the South Island, plus 3 from the North Island, embarked on a week of experiencing inspiring speakers, leadership development workshops, and personal growth. Pushed to their limits at times, they all rose above the exhaustion to carry on and complete a community service project and a 3 hour, non-stop, working bee in ‘The Gully’ including tree removal and track maintenance.
The Camp Managers and Trustees are thrilled with the results achieved by this group. The RYLA legacy continues, and we are putting a big Rotary stamp on the property.
Thank you again to the Queenstown Rotary Club for your support – for the 5th year! Lee-Ann appreciates you all very much.
A special mention to Ken Fox, Neil Dempsey, Richard Bowman, Hamish Murray, Nell Hunter (and hubby Riki) plus all those who assisted in The Gully project, and of course the amazing Tony Fleming with Southern Bobcats.
Rotarians BBQ
Speaker - Dr Sam Hazeldine
Mountain Scene story about RYLA 2024
Ava Boyt – our Rotary National Science Forum sponsored participant 2024.
Ava spoke to us on 23 January. Ava was selected as the Queenstown Rotary sponsored attendee at the 2-week duration annual forum, just concluded at Auckland University. The forum provides science students with insights into a wide range of science pathways that helps participants decide their future careers in science. The participants resided in a University Hall of Residence.
Ava’s presentation provided a real insight into the value of our Club’s investment in this significant Rotary forum.
Modules included:
- Nutrition
- Food technology
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Robotics
- Games technology
- Psychology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Molecular biology
- Bio-medicine
- Bio-engineering
- Sports science
The forum began on a high note - the opening Guest Speaker was ‘Nano Girl’ – Dr Michelle Dickinson. A neurologist later spoke. Visits included the TVNZ studios and a technical visit to the Air Force facility.
Other activities included Volleyball (Ava’s red team won every game), Debating (her team reached the finals), a Talent Quest, and a Formal Dinner. A free day to explore downtown Auckland was also included.
Ava was ‘eternally’ grateful for the opportunity that Queenstown Rotary has provided her in choosing a science career. She is currently leaning towards Bio-Engineering in 2025.
This year's event was a quacking triumph, and the real winners were the wonderful folks at Kiwi Harvest. Thanks to the generous supporters, we managed to raise an astonishing $8,000 for this fantastic charity. That's food on the table for countless Kiwis in need, and this event has a significant role in making that happen.
Now, let's talk about the ducks and their extraordinary achievements. The top honours in the Corporate Duck Race went to Queenstown Ice Arena, who managed to waddle their way to victory on a very interesting designed duck. Their prize is as cool as ice – a splendid stay at Hotel St Moritz along with a delectable dinner! Ice-tacular, right?
Novotel secured the second spot, and they're quacking with joy! Well done, team!
Designa Tiles showed their tiles-to-talent skills, earning themselves a well-deserved third place. Bravo!
And who could forget the dazzling fashionistas of the duck world? The award for the Best Dressed Duck went to Findex! Their duck's sense of style has won them a fantastic Millbrook Golf Voucher prize. Honourable mentions go to Pak N Save, whose runner-up duck was dressed to impress, and Future Hospitality Group, whose winged wonder, Earl, soared into third place. Fashion-forward ducks, indeed!
In total, we had 40 ducks in the race, all competing for glory and the greater good.
We have immense gratitude to all our sponsors and prize providers. Their unwavering support and generosity made the Queenstown Rotary Duck Race a truly quackers event.
The countdown is now on until the next duck race! The plan is to run it around the same time next year.
Let's keep the quacking spirit alive!
Note: The hard work was done for many months behind the scenes by Tim and Fiona Wilshire.
Photos of the day below...
We sponsored Georgia Boulton to Blue Light Life Skills in May. Here is her thank you to Rotary. |
Dear Rotary
First of all I just want to say a huge thank you for my scholarship for the Bluelight Camp that I attended a few weeks ago.
The camp went really well, I really enjoyed everything about it. It was a great trip and a very eye opening experience. This was a great experience for me with what I would like to do when I get older with the Navy. I got experience from all aspects of the forces.
At the end of the camp we had a graduation. We had 28 at the start and for graduation we left with 28. This is very rare for the camp to leave with all the people that started at the beginning.
In the graduation I got my certificate of graduating the course but I also got an excellence award for my syndicate, which meant I was the most improved best listener etc for my group.
Thank you
Georgia Boulton
From the Editor:
On reading the Mountain Scene, I came across the article below. This is but one of the projects in which the Rotary Club of Queenstown has contributed in the past to our District. Lets be inspired to be people of action for our District now. NB I have overwritten the article so the words can be easily read.