The Rotarian Conversation:Marc FreedmanThis longevity expert has found that both younger and older people thrive when they work together with a common purpose — something
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"A few Lines from Lee-Ann'"
Lee-Ann Lines
For a brief moment over the past few weeks we had all been conned … Past President Ross pulled the wool over our eyes and tried to get back in the limelight. And it worked for a short while. He even dragged an unsuspecting Rosanna into his cunning plan. But he didn’t stop there, deciding to also involve our Ambulance system and finally the nursing staff at Dunedin Hospital. The only ones who saw through this, and derailed Ross’ attention seeking ploy, was the medical machinery and the brilliant Doctors who are highly trained to uncover this kind of ruse. Ross is now keeping a low profile back in Arrowtown. I just hope his pockets are full to satisfy the Sergeant upon his return to Rotary!
Club Assembly was held on 4July and it was agreed that we hold the membership levy at the same cost as last year - $240. There was also great discussion on the results of the ‘Club Satisfaction Survey’. By now you should have received an email with a copy of the results. If not, please let me know. The Membership Committee and myself encourage you all to put forward your feedback and suggestions so that effective strategies and a plan for the future of the club can be made. A big thank you to those who participated and completed the survey.
Due to COVID19, most Kiwi’s wings have now been clipped and overseas travel is not an attractive option at the moment. Not one to let the farm grass grow under his feet, Colin and Jean Macnicol have just returned from a few weeks gallivanting around the North Island. They had a great time catching up with family and friends which included a visit to see Honorary Member Bill Forsyth at his rest home at ‘Somerset’, in Flat Bush, Auckland. Colin says Bill is bright and cheerful and, although he misses Queenstown, he knows and accepts why he is now in Auckland and is enjoying being closer to family.
This week our guest speaker was Jessica Blewitt, a gutsy and talented 18 year old, Year 13 Wakatipu High student. I have a newfound respect for the athletes who do this sport especially at the elite level Jess is at. She is an amazing talent and a name to watch out for in the future.
We have another off-site meeting coming up soon and we are going to see some more talent … or not! We will be off Ten-Pin bowling on 4th August and it will be a great partners night.
Russell McGrouther
Last Monday we farewelled Past-President Russell at a memorial service at previously ‘his’ chapel at Frankton. There we learned of Russell’s long contribution to community service over some 50 years as well as his careers in the insurance industry, as a motelier, and as a Funeral Director.
This included:
Scout Leader (Bluff and Queenstown)
Masonic Lodge members including several terms as Lodge Master
Jaycees – holding roles up to Regional Governor then NZ Vice-President
Chair of the Queenstown Kindergarten Establishment Committee then Chair of the operational Committee
Queenstown School PTA member
Queenstown Rotarian including President in 2018/19
Justice of the Peace (14 years)
Member of the Queenstown Historical Society
We will miss Russell’s knowledge, mentorship, help and support given to many. Below are the flowers and card send to Ruth, Blair and Jason on behalf of our Rotary Club.
Coming Up before the next Bulletin:
28 July - Kirsten Holtzman on the very successful Impact 100 fundraiser and what happens next. Partners Night
4 August - OFF-SITE 10 Pin Bowling. Partners Night. Swiss-Bel Hotel, 61 Arthurs Point Road, Arthurs Point.
Cousins Bill Forsyth and Colin Macnicol meeting recently in Auckland.
At a recent meeting, our President-Elect Jason Climo provided us with an insight to his life and career to date.
Jason hails from Piriaka, south of Taumaranui on the main trunk rail line in the centre of the North Island. He was educated at Piriaka School then at Taumaranui High School.
Jason played Polo Cross and represented NZ in the 18-21 age group.
Jason began his career as a Cadet with Civil Construction in Wellington focusing on water treatment potable and waste water. He then moved to the building construction of water treatment plants. He became Manager of United Water back in Taumaranui. United Water later became Veolia.
In 2006, Jason travelled to China and to Austria to gain exposure to potable water treatment plant technology.
Among his achievements, Jason invented a waste water pump cutting device for which he won an Asian Pacific Safety Award.
11 years ago Jason was transferred to Queenstown to address local contract issues and is now Veolia’s South Island Regional Manager for both waters and energy.
Jason is married to Jodie, now also a Rotarian and a Funeral Director. They have 3 children aged 11 – 17.
Jason is looking forward to serving in this club and as our President next year.
Transferred from Invercargill North Club where he served 6 years, Rotarian Richard Bowman last week provided us with an insight into his life and career. A Southlander from Invercargill, Richard attended Southland Boys’ High School and Otago University where he qualified as a Geologist.
He spent the following 2 years in UK, Europe and then South Africa where he was involved in mining. Richard then spent 11 years carrying out coal resource surveying in Southland before moving to Western Australia to work in iron mining exploration.
Richard and his family returned to NZ where he completed an MBA at Otago Uni. He then joined Environment Southland where he worked for some 23 years. There he was Biosecurity Manager responsible for bio-diversity involving pest control (including wilding pines).
Richard is married to Barbara, has 3 grown up children including twins and 1 grandchild. We welcome Richard to our club.
Jessica Blewitt, NZ Under 19 Downhill Mountain Bike Champion, was our Guest Speaker at Rotary last week.
Jessica and her family moved to Queenstown, just 2.5 years, ago from Mount Maunganui. A talented sporting person, her initial focus was then on ski racing but a preference developed for Mountain Biking.
Jessica’s achievements to date include:
2019 MTB National title – Under 19 – 2nd woman overall
2020 NZ MTB National Series – U19 1st overall Woman
2020 NZ MTB National Title – U19 Woman Champion
2020 Oceania MTB – U19 Woman Champion
2020 Crankworx Rotorua DH MTB – U19 Woman Champion and 2nd fastest female time (included international elite riders and pro riders).
As part of her presentation, Jessica showed video footage of her racing down Coronet Peak at speed, filmed by a colleague travelling behind her. This video was ‘exhilarating’ for those watching and revealed her extraordinary judgement skills at speed.
COVID-19 has severely limited her plans and goals for 2020 where she was to compete overseas. We know that Jess will achieve much internationally once borders open and competition recommences.
Chris, I expect we’ll be back in NZ early September.
We had planned to return beginning of April but the C-virus and Jacinda's lockdown put an end to that. Two weeks ago we flew from Washington, DC to Los Angeles to greet our first grandchild, born to Jennifer on June 23. This Friday we’re going back to Washington, I expect for a month. Then to Los Angeles again for a couple of weeks and to NZ in early September, and almost certainly the joys of quarantine somewhere for two weeks.
Our return flights to the U.S. were on American Airlines; one way completed - AKL-LAX direct - and the other postponed on credit. The return, however, was unavailable direct but was routed via Sydney with a prompt connection on Qantas to Auckland. I’m not sure how this will work out now with the Australian regulations on minimal time for connecting flights or some sort of quarantine.
While you’ve been having unusually cold temperatures, we’re enjoying 29-32 C each day and down to 18 C at night. Each day I go for a walk of 2-3 miles, with one of Jennifer’s two Australian collies on a leash. It is a hilly area with ravines and adorned all over with protected Californian oak trees. Some of the houses perched on the edge of the ravines are remarkable for their variable designs and engineering - often with three stories to increase their considerable sq. footage within their constrained footprints. I wonder why people have gone to the expense of such construction (the substrate is granite), especially when they have no views (but plenty of shade from the oak trees).
Our experience here and in Washington is that people are taking the C-virus very seriously. Everybody in the supermarkets and stores, e.g. hardware stores, we’ve visited wears a face mask. Malls are closed. Sunday we drove to the seaside at Santa Monica and Venice Beach. All people on the boardwalks and nearby side streets were wearing masks and observing social distancing. Several signs in the area informed that face masks in the area were compulsory. At a Main St restaurant where we had lunch (outside seating only with tables reasonably distant from each other), customers removed their masks, but the servers were wearing both masks and face shields. So, if face masks arrest the spread of the virus, as the scientists assure us, we may wonder who or where the increasing incidence of the virus is occurring. Large numbers enjoying the traditional Memorial Day (31st May) and the Black Lives Matter protests have undoubtedly led to a surge.
On Thursday morning Betty and I went to Dodgers Stadium to be tested for C-virus. Thousands of cars lined up on the roads toward the Stadium and in the Stadium’s humongous carpark, snaking around barriers to finally get to the booths dispensing the test kits. Everybody needed to get a registration number online in order to get the test. Late Friday we received Emails advising we were both Negative. Good to know.
One other impression of interest is the large number of electric cars on the road, especially Teslas. And not only here in Los Angeles, but in Washington too. Petrol is cheap, so a critical factor in these decisions is the financial incentives from the Federal and State Governments to go electric. People do respond to incentives!
3 min Talk OR Toast to Rotary Project & Parting Thought
Riki Hunter (Bio)
Off Site - NA
Keith McIntosh
Thank Speaker
Bruce Boivin
Off Site - NA
David Broomfield
PLEASE NOTE: Person rostered to Introduce Speaker please forward notes of their presentation to Keith McIntosh, Bulletin Editor, for inclusion in the Bulletin.
If you will be away, or for some other reason you cannot do your duty on the nominated day, it is your responsibility as soon as possible, and certainly no later than the Monday night before the meeting, to arrange a substitute. A swap with the person who has the duty the next week is suggested.
Please be there by 5.25 pm if you are on Reception or Meet & Greet.
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