I’m just back from a week or so up north visiting our daughter and her family in Whangarei. It was great to celebrate granddaughter Sophie’s fifth birthday and great too to spend time with her and her little sister Georgia as they grow up fast.
We have been very pleased with the last two meetings held at the Queenstown Country Club. The facilities in the Care Centre we are using are very well appointed and the meals has been excellent. At the next meeting we will discuss how everyone is finding it so far and decide if we’d like to continue using this as our permanent meeting venue.
At our next meeting on 3 March the Club must vote on the proposed Constitution. This will be done at a brief Special General Meeting about which you have been notified of. I would ask every member to attend this meeting if they possibly can. Unfortunately, there is no provision in the current Constitution or Bylaws for members to vote by Proxy, so it is essential if you want to vote, you need to attend the meeting in person. I look forward to seeing you there so we can finally resolve this issue before the deadline for submission to the Incorporated Societies office by 5 April 2026.
At this same meeting Fiona will present the results of the members survey that was done late last year. This will give us the opportunity to improve the ways in which we operate to ensure that we give members what they want and to provide a base to grow the Club. There should be some interesting and productive discussions which the Board will carefully consider. We have plenty of challenges ahead of us as a Club in a rapidly changing world, so it is critically important that we keep up with the times and keep moving forward.
An enormous vote of thanks needs to go to Ashley Adams for the great work he has put in organising our volunteer contribution to the NZ Golf Open at Millbrook this past week. It is a huge undertaking making up the rosters and liaising with the organisors. I think he told me that this is the 14th time he has done this. Assisting with parking and putting on several BBQs during the event provides us with one of our major annual fund raisers. It’s also a wonderful chance for members to be part of one of New Zealand’s premier sporting events. Thanks again Ashley for all your effort it is greatly appreciated.
We are still waiting for summer it seems. But now there is definitely a nip in the air and the days are noticeably shorter as we move into Autumn. There will be busy times ahead for Queenstown Rotarians with the visit to Monte Christo on 17 March and soon it will be all hands on deck to get ready for the Art Auction in mid-April. So as they say onward and ever upward.
President Richard
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3rd MARCH 5.30-7.30pm
A SPECIAL VOTE MEETING
YOUR ATTENDANCE IS VITAL
AT tHE QT Country CLub
WE have BEen TRIALLING A new venue
Let us know what you think
We are looking for your feedback.
Should we stay at the QT Country Club or return to the Holiday Inn?
A discussion and show of hands will be asked for at the meeting on Tuesday, 3rd March, or you can email PE Fiona at
DIRECTIONS: Please see the map below for entrance and parking.
Entry Directions: Take the 2nd Entrance (Gate 2) off Howards Road onto 3rd Avenue.
There are numbered parking bays all along 3rd Avenue that you can use. Please do not park on any grass areas or verges. Look for the sign to show the main entrance on the left.
There are 2 cafes in this building, the one we will use is the area to the western (rear) end of the building. Enter the main entrance glass doors and turn right. Walk straight ahead through the 1st Café and into the foyer area. Walk past the letterboxes and you are there! You are looking for the "Apartments Dining Room".
Note, avoid parking at the rear of the building (kitchen entrance), you won't be able to get in as a fob is required.
NO MORE OVERPRICED DRINKS OR QUEUEING AT THE BAR!
CLUB MEETINGS FOR MARCH
3rd March - AT THE QT COUNTRY CLUB $28pp BYO
NOTE: THIS IS A SPECIAL VOTE MEETING. All members are asked to attend. Please refer to Fiona's email on Wednesday 18 February for more info or contact Pres. Richard.
After the special vote, President-Elect Fiona will present the results of our recent Club Survey. Following this presentation, we will hold a vote to decide on our permanent venue: staying at the QT Country Club or returning to the Holiday Inn
10th - AT THE QT COUNTRY CLUB $28pp BYO
17th - OFF-SITE AT MONTE CRISTO WINERY $75 or $95 with Bus
24th - TBA EITHER THE QTCC OR THE HOLIDAY INN $28pp BYO
31st - TBA EITHER THE QTCC OR THE HOLIDAY INN $28pp BYO
17th March - Off-Site at Monte Cristo Winery
If you wish to attend, please contact Fiona asap
If you cannot do your Duty, please arrange your own replacement.
If you are planning to head away for the winter, please let us know in writing so we can remove you from the duty list queenstownrotary@gmail.com
SPEAKER 10 FEBRUARY
Rebeca Barnes
A relatively new member of the Club, Rebeca introduced us to her family and spoke of her childhood and career.
This is one of the clubs major fundraisers for the year and a definite highlight in our calendar.
Many thanks to Ashley Adams for all the hours he has put in to set up the rosters and organise the other logistics.
Despite the plans mother nature had for us, the Rotary volunteers showed up with a smile. Saturday was definitely the pick of days as the players will agree with! A massive shout-out to the legendary members who stepped up, you all made each day run like a well-oiled Rotary machine 👏
There was a great community spirit feeling and everyone appreciated seeing us out there on the course with our BBQ offerings 🌭️ and at times we were under the pump keeping up with demand. Well done to the cooks and servers.
The sizzle of the BBQ and the friendly waves in the carpark, proved that community service is best served with a smile and a bit of banter, and proved to be a huge win for our club image 💫
🏆 Thank you to everyone who worked hard and brought their energy. We definitely showed the community what we're all about!
Premium Tables include all of the above, plus 2 bottles of table bubbles, a premium floor position to the Auctioneers podium, opportunity for a one-on-one with an respected Art Guide, plus other table giveaways. Only 6 premium available.
The Art Auction Committee hope that you will support this event. Please feel free to share among your contacts and networks.
Tickets on sale soon through Humanitix. Link and further info will be provided to members in a separate communication.
Thanks to the members who turned up to help at recent events and fundraisers
Opera in the Garden car Parking – on the 8th Feb
The NZ Golf Open – 26 February to 1 March
COMING UP:
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - please get in touch with the lead person
March -
Art Auction Fundraiser – SAVE THE DATE
14th April.
LEAD PERSON: Joan Joan.Kiernan@queenstownnz.net if you have any minor, or even more significant Art items to donate.
ryla 2025 - queenstown
RYLA was held here in Queenstown from 1-6 February.
It was a very successful week with an incredible bunch of young leaders from all over the South Island attending. They bonded quickly to make it one of the very best RYLA's ever!
🌱 They worked hard during the Gully working bee continuing their legacy to the local community. They planted natives, weeded and cut and pasted to control the invasive willows and sycamores.
It was a lovely summer night for the RYLA/Rotary BBQ, held as a club meeting. 22 guests shared food and a few laughs while getting to know the RYLArians.
🎉 The Gala Night Dinner was well attended with special guests from Mega M10 the main sponsors for the projects, as well Kelvin Heights Local Janet Waters aka Camp Grandma, Lakeland camp managers Tim & Rochelle Wiel, DG Keith and Heather, PDG Dave McKissock as well as members from our club.
Thank you to everyone who supported or participated in RYLA 2026 👍
The new signs, top and bottom of the Gully public track
Pres. Richard in action!
Gala Dinner Night
RYLA/Rotary BBQ Night
The 2026 crew at The Playground, Arrowtown
Mountain Scene Article
We have an exciting upcoming off-site social evening at the Monte Christo Winery on the 17th of March 🍷
Stanley Paris has kindly invited the club to visit his stunning winery in Clyde and enjoy a winery tour and tasting followed by a meal.
The evening will also include a glass of rosé on arrival at the cellar door, a winery tour, followed by a charcuterie grazing board with shared plates and pizza.
The cost for the evening is $75.00 + $20pp for a seat on the bus. There are 3 spaces left if you haven't booked yours yet.
🚌 There will be several pick up points -
1st pick up at Frankton Bus Terminal at approx 3.30pm
2nd pick Quail Rise at the Shotover Historic Bridge carpark at 3.45pm
3rd pick up at the QT Country Club main clubhouse at 4pm
4th pick up at Arrowtown Junction, McDonnell Road, (approx around the construction entrance to the new golf course, opp #291-443)
Attendance is limited to 36 places, and there are just 3 seats left on the bus so get in quick! Partners are welcome to attend.
If you have any specific dietary requirements for the evening, please include that information in your RSVP.
ROTARY FRIENDSHIP EXCHANGE hosting in march plus your USA exchange OPPORTUNITy in 2026
Our Club is hosting a team from Long Island, New York, from 22-26 March. Thank you to the members who have offered to Host our Rotary US visitors during their time in Queenstown;
Hamish & Lee-Ann Murray
Neil & Jillian Boniface
David & Gabrielle
Richard & Barbara Bowman
Jim & Cora Huitt
The Club will get to meet them at the March 24th meeting.
We have been invited to send a team back to Long Island in August 2026. This is a wonderful way to make new Rotary friends, see the world through a local lens, and travel with like-minded people.
The Queenstown Cancer Society office recently moved into a beautiful new space at the Remarkable Park Centre, just around the corner from the Can Shop. Click the link to read more and also to get tickets for their upcoming Ball Fundraiser Event
RYDA is more than a program, it’s partnership which supports teachers on the journey as they provide their students with the tools and understanding they need to see themselves as active, responsible road citizens.
Rotary clubs support their nominated school by providing volunteers on the day that school attends and by making a financial contribution to ensure that no students miss out for financial reasons and that costs to schools and students are minimised.
You are invited to a live DRIVER COACH event happening at: Wakatipu High School on 16 March 2026 at 5.30pm.
There are 2 areas you can participate:
1. Volunteer your time
2. Learn how to:
Unlock the Mysteries of the Teenage Brain: What Makes Driving a Challenge?
Decode Risk Factors for Young Drivers
Learn the art of Coaching a Learner Driver
Click the link to find out more about how you can volunteer
Rob Motteram, from the Rotary Club of Adelaide, South Australia is involved in the Rotary Golfing fellowship both internationally and in Australia.
He is planning a golf week in Queenstown, late October - early November 2026, and would love us to be involved.
If you are interested in joining them on one or all of the 4 days please let our club member Alistair Forde know 0211 529 554 as they are asking for EOI now. Alistair will pass on your details to Rob. More info on dates etc will follow but put keep this timeline in mind.
During their visit they will attend a club meeting and talk about the International Golfing Fellowship.
If you would like more info about the fellowship please click the link below.
ROMAC monthly newsletters are now included in the Bulletin. See further down - click the link to access the latest and back-editions and read some incredible stories of life-changing and life-saving surgeries performed.
The latest down under rotary news
Rotary Down Under - click the link to select the edition you want to read. You will find the current and back issues of the RDU magazine as well other Rotary projects and events that are happening around Zone 8.
This is a great opportunity to visit sunny Napier, a wonderful venue for our upcoming Rotary Oceania Summit in March 2026. You may like to consider taking a road trip around the North Island after the event!
When was polio last in Europe? If you guessed 2002, the year the region was certified polio-free, you’re wrong. The last time polio affected a child in Europe was 2015. Outbreaks like the one that occurred in Ukraine that year are why, although we are so close to eradicating polio, we still need $1.5 billion more to finish the job.
Learn about the steps needed to ensure polio is truly gone forever.
Despite the plans mother nature had for us, the Rotary volunteers showed up with a smile. Saturday was definitely the pick of days as the players will agree with! A massive shout-out to the legendary members who stepped up, you all made each day run like a well-oiled Rotary machine 👏
