Hi Queenstown Rotarians and friends of Rotary.
Happy New Year to you all. We are looking forward to a busy and productive programme coming up in 2026.
Unfortunately, we can’t do much about the weather of late – it’s really been a ‘non-summer’ so far. However, this did not dampen participation in the first three events held over the holiday season.
On 6 January Rotary put on a BBQ lunch for the Camp Quality South at Lakeland Park. Great work done by Keith and Heather McIntosh and their two grandchildren, Monica Mulholland, Lee-Ann Murray, with three ladies from Inner Wheel and myself. I’m sure there were at least 100 happy campers after the meal, and it was a great event to support.
On 10 January at the Lake Hayes A&P show Tim Wilshire, Neil Boniface, Joan Kiernan, Monica Mulholland, Nigel Hawke, Stuart MacLean and Inner Wheeler Sheena McNaughton volunteered to do gate entry and parking at the Lake Hayes A&P Show. Not the easiest of assignments with the rainy weather and new parking charges but a great job done. This earned the club a worthwhile koha for our Rotary Trust.
Most recently on 25 January Rotary helped the Tucker Beach Wildlife Trust with their weeding workday down on the bed of the Shotover River. Grant Rees and I got out the chainsaw and loppers along with about 20 others to clear buddleia infestations to provide more nesting habitat for endangered native birds such as dotterels, stilts and terns. Ashley Adams, Monica Mulholland, Lee-Ann Murray, Joan Kiernan and Kit Sidwell provided a BBQ lunch with sausages from Ferg for the hungry volunteer weed busters.
So it’s been a busy start to the year and there will be plenty more to come with our visit to Monte Cristo, the Charity Art Auction and NZ Open Golf over the next few months as highlights.
It was great to meet up again with members for our first official event of the year – the Presidents BBQ - held just off the Tucker Beach trail at Quail Rise on 20 January. It was a rare fine evening a wonderful start to the year.
So, lets get into 2026 and I’m sure the weather will come back to a proper summer before too long.
President Richard
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3rd february | 5.30-7.30pm
tHE ryla BBQ
RSVP BY 29 jANUARY TO LEE-aNN
club meeting 3rd February
The Rotary / RYLA BBQ
Meet from 5.30pm
Lakeland Park Christian Camp
496 Peninsula Rd, Kelvin Heights
$35pp
Bring your own refreshments
(please prepay to the club account
01-0867-0722903-02 Ref name)
The RYLArians will host, cook and entertain us for the evening. It's always a great night.
For catering purposes, if you haven't already, please RSVP asap to Lee-Ann for catering purposes)
If you would like to sponsor or make a donation towards their team community project, click the link to find out more.
President Richard, PE Fiona and the Board have been working hard behind the scenes to find us a new meeting venue. This hasn't been easy, but they have successfully negotiated a trial period with the QT Country Club.
We will have our own dedicated chef who is excited to look after us. Cost remains at $28.
Meetings will be held in the newer apartment building block (not the main clubhouse). There are 2 cafes in this building, the one we will use is at the western end of the building.
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 end of the building. Enter the main entrance glass doors and turn right. Walk straight ahead through the 1st Café, through the rear door 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.
There will be venue staff members there to direct you to the correct location. Please call Fiona if you need help on 027 349 0313.
NO MORE OVERPRICED DRINKS OR QUEUEING AT THE BAR!
CLUB MEETINGS FOR FEBRUARY
3RD - ryla bbq $35pp BYO
10TH - AT THE QT COUNTRY CLUB $28pp BYO
17TH - AT THE QT COUNTRY CLUB $28pp BYO
24TH - NO MEETING DUE TO THE NZ GOLF OPEN
DOES ANYONE KNOW WHERE THE HIGH-VIZ JACKETS ARE?
Needed for the Golf Open Events
Please get in touch with Fiona or Richard if you have them.
If you can remember the last time you were given one, this might also help.
Thanks
speaker 26 january
Grant Hensman
An interesting talk by 'almost' local Grant Hensman provided some insight in to some long-standing and recent issues facing our community. Click below to read the summary.
Simon shared with us his special obsession - LOUIS his precious and very special 1935 Rolls Royce
The history of his Rolls-Royce known as “Louis”
Louis, a chassis-built vehicle was ordered in June 1939 by the Maharaja of Gwalior. Delivery was cancelled during World War II, and the car was placed into storage in Britain alongside other Rolls-Royces reserved for royal use in case official vehicles were destroyed during the war. Two similar vehicles were later deployed in Europe and used by senior British officers and government officials, including at the signing of the armistice in 1945.
Louis was delivered to the UK Ministry of War Transport in 1944 and shipped to Malta for use by Lord Mountbatten and senior naval commanders. The vehicle remained in Malta for many years and was used by Princess Elizabeth during visits and official engagements, including after her coronation. Photographic and film evidence places the car in Malta from 1944 through to at least 1954, including images of young Prince Charles and Princess Anne.
In the late 1950s, Louis was sold and eventually passed through collectors in the United States. In 2012, Simon, the current owner purchased the vehicle and undertook a full, meticulous restoration in Wellington, returning it to original condition down to the smallest components. Today, the car is fully operational, extensively researched, and regularly driven, serving as both a historically significant royal vehicle and a working example of Rolls-Royce craftsmanship.
Click the link to read to be taken to Louis' own dedicated website for his history, his service and more photos. https://www.wec12.co.nz/
Thanks!
Over the holiday break members turned up to help at a few events and fundraisers
Camp Quality: Thanks very much to the members who turned up at the Camp Quality BBQ on January 8th. Overall it all went very smoothly and I think we had at least a 100 satisfied customers. We had two extra helpers from Inner Wheel and the McIntosh family did a great job on the BBQ.
Thanks also to John Thomson who put our order through PaknSave and the goods received were first class.
AMP Show: Aso, thanks to the members who turned up on the 10 January to direct traffic and assist with carparking at the AMP Show at Lake Hayes Pavillion. The weather wasn't great, but spirits were high.
Tucker Beach Working Bee & BBQ: On Sunday 25 January, Grant and Richard worked the with the Tucker Beach Wildlife Trust on the Tucker Beach Reserve work day. Great progress was made and the area is looking much better. Lee-Ann, Joan, Monica and Ashley cooked up a storm on the BBQ to feed the volunteers afterwards, with the help of potential new member Kit Sidwell. Again the weather was cold, so thank you to all these volunteers for braving the conditions and supporting this community drive.
COMING UP:
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - please get in touch with the lead person
Opera in the Garden car Parking – 8th February
John Thompson is the coordinator, please contact him at 021 485 020
NZ Golf Open – 26 February to 1 March
Ashley - 0274 512 130
Southern Lakes Home Show – Events Centre, 6-8 March
Art Auction Fundraiser – mid-end April (date TBC soon). Email Joan Joan.Kiernan@queenstownnz.net if you have any minor, or even more significant Art items to donate.
An email was sent out inviting members and club friends to a few events and activities. The RYLArians would love to meet you and tell you what they have been up to.
RYLA/ROTARY BBQ - club meeting night
Tuesday 3rd Feb 5.30pm
$35pp
RSVP ASAP to Lee-Ann
RYLA GALA NIGHT
Thursday 5th Feb 5.30pm - 9.30pm
$65pp
RSVP ASAP to Lee-Ann
At RYLA, the attendees design & create a community improvement project, do community service, attend workshops and hear 1st class speakers on topics on self-development and leadership plus much more! ...including hosting you at the Rotary BBQ on Tuesday night.
If you would like to be a supporter and sponsor an event, you can make a donation to the District RYLA Queenstown account 01-0635-0320139-01
(account name is Rotary District 9999)
Please click the link for more info on how to get involved, and what you can attend.
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 + $18pp for a seat on the bus.
There will be several pick up points -
1st pick up at Frankton Bus Terminal will need to be at approx 3.30pm
Attendance is limited to 36 places, 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.
The Annual arrowtown lifestyle Village Garden Party
Save the date - You're Invited!
Sunday 8 March 11-3pm
Join us for the Arrowtown Lifestyle Village Annual Garden Party – a delightful afternoon of community, creativity, and celebration!
Residents’ Lodge, 1 Lady Fayre Drive, Arrowtown
Enjoy a vibrant gathering featuring market stalls, an art display, delicious food, a special guest speaker, and more! Come rain or shine, we’ll be there to welcome you for a wonderful afternoon.
We have received an email from Rob Motteram, from the Rotary Club of Adelaide, South Australia. He is involved in the Rotary Golfing fellowship both internationally and in Australia.
They are 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 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 perhaps keep this timeline in mind.
During their visit they will attend a meeting and talk about the International Golfing Fellowship.
If you would like more info about the fellowship please click the link below.
It’s What We Do (and We Do It Well — With Aprons, Buckets, and Hi-Viz Vests!)
Whether it’s flipping sausages, rattling a donation bucket, delivering Meals on Wheels, or channelling your inner traffic controller in a carpark — being hands-on is part of who we are.
This section lists upcoming events and appeals we’ve committed to. After all, serving the community is what we're all about — and we need you to make it happen!
Click the link to see what's coming up and where you might lend a hand (or a pair of tongs!)
monthly Quiz - test your Rotary FOUNDATION & PROJECTS knowledge
Q1. What is the oldest club in D9999?
Q2. What is Rotarys connection with 'Health Camps' in NZ ?
Q3. What are the 2 biggest local projects most recently undertaken by our
club?
See near the end of the bulletin for the answers
FUN FACT:
The 'Keyway' in the Logo
If you look closely at the Rotary wheel, there is a small keyway (the square notch in the center). This was added in 1923 at the request of engineers who argued that a wheel without a keyway was 'mechanically unsound' and couldn't actually do any work.
It symbolises that the wheel is a 'worker' and not an 'idler.'
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!
Our District will hosting a team from Long Island, New York, in March 2026 and we are 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.
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.
