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President's Blog
Jason Climo
Hello everyone - trust you've all had a great couple of weeks. I'm certainly enjoying the spring weather.
We have had couple of great on-sight meetings at Holiday Inn. It was fantastic to hear John Thompson and Keith McIntosh talk about their careers and life stories. Their growth and their chosen pathways, leading to where they are today, is to be admired - some really great feats!
Then we had Ben Walker, a Year 10 student from Wakatipu High School. Ben was selected to attend the ‘Blue Light Life Skills’ camp experience. Ben gave insights to the course, showed some great photos and related how the experience has really changed his life and confidence.
He was accompanied by his very proud mum and our own Youth Director and Past President, Lee Ann, who initially chose Ben to attend the camp. Lee-Ann also expressed the change in Ben and his confidence and his aspirations to return to the military, likely in the air force and aircraft engineering. It is so good that the Rotary Club of Queenstown is able and is willing to support our youth in the Wakatipu.
Before I forget, we have our AGM coming up on 26 October. If any members wish to raise anything, please let David Tait know by 19th October.
John outlined his upbringing in Eastern Southland then into the dairy industry in Southland working as an inspector before he and Mary moved to Taranaki for a time. John returned to Southland in a similar role.
A pending restructure saw John and Mary buying the ‘4 Square’ store then at Frankton in 1982. At that time John and Mary worked the business themselves had just 2 part-time assistants.
Growth in Queenstown followed and their business grew. In 1987 they were the first 4 Square, likely within NZ, to introduce digital scanning to make accounting for stock levels more manageable. Then, after years of planning, John and Mary established the New World Supermarket in Remarkables Park in 1991.
With 2 daughters following in their footsteps, John and Mary retired in 2013. Their daughter Michelle and her husband later established the Pak ‘n Save in Frankton.
Keith outlined his upbring in Central Southland before moving to Port Chalmers and attending Otago Boys’ High School. He joined the Port Chalmers Volunteer Fire Brigade in 1970 then the career staff in Dunedin in 1973, firstly as a Fire Prevention Officer covering Otago. Keith continued to serve Port Chalmers as well until moving north to Hastings in 1985.
Keith became a firefighter in Dunedin 1976 and progressed through numerous ranks and roles serving in Dunedin, Hastings, Wellington (Training), Palmerston North, and 13 years in Tauranga with 2 stints in Northland. He led 3 significant national projects. Keith recognised the sacrifice that Heather and his family made in moving around N.Z.
Taking an opportunity for a job swap to return south, he and Heather moved to Queenstown in 2008 and Keith became the Area Manager for Central and North Otago after a 2012 further management restructure. He recently retired, after 51 years service, when the new FENZ ‘Service Delivery’ structure was stood up on 27 September.
Ben was born in Invercargill and is aged 15. He is currently in Year 10 at Wakatipu High School and he is studying English, Maths, Science, Maori studies, Hard Technology and Digital Technology.
During his interview to attend ‘Life Skills’, Ben struggled to make eye contact, was quite shy and didn't really know what he wanted to do when he left school, but vaguely spoke about being a Pilot. Now Ben presents as a completely different person. He's a much more confident young man with clear goals to be an Aviation Engineer or Pilot, and is keen to get his Pilot’s Licence asap. Outside of school he plays football, and is in Cadets. It is evident that attending this camp has had a significant impact on Ben with a big attitude shift, a new appreciation for self-discipline and being a team player and the responsibility and respect for others that comes with this.
Each day Ben practices the drills he learnt and exercises every day. It took a day or so for the major adjustment to what he was doing to sink in but he is glad he stuck at it and graduated.
Ben was the first of the 4 students selected to head off to the Bluelight Life Skills Camp at Burnham in September. A second student, Mason Bonn, has just returned last Friday but unfortunately couldn't attend the meeting last night, but wrote us a letter of thanks for the opportunity which was read out to the members. There are another 2 students lined up to go at the end of October. The cost for this camp is just $500pp with the students' families paying for the flights.
The Bluelight Life Skills Camp has been running for many years but is a new youth initiative for our club. Last year the Board agreed that it is important to provide opportunities for students who might not usually put themselves forward. The Life Skills Program is 2 tiered, designed for young people who are considering a career in the Armed Forces or the Police as well as for young people who may have behavioural or attitude problems but show potential. ‘Life Skills’ helps participants to improve and focus on their attitude, gain self-confidence and respect for themselves and others, and teaches how to positively align their future social and career pathways. For any Youth Programme that can do this, it is money well spent.
'Days for Girls' is an international project to help combat period poverty by providing reusable menstrual pads. Click on the link to be taken to the website for more info - https://www.daysforgirls.org/
Here is a letter from Lee-Ann on the detail for those wishing to volunteer for Days for Girls sewing etc.
IPP Lee-Ann is looking after the programme, duties, meetings and attendance. If you have any suggestions/ideas for the programme please let her know. If you have a duty and can’t attend, please make sure you find a replacement.
The 3 Minute Talk - to make sure we run to time, please keep to between 3-5 minutes, unless pre-arranged with President Jason.
Apologies - Must be received to queenstownrotary@gmail.com before 12pm Tuesday at the latest. Please be aware that you will be invoiced for your meal if no apology is received. If you are unsure if you can make it each week, you can put in a permanent apology and let us know when you do come. It is easier to inform the restaurant of an extra meal than the Club having to pay for meals not claimed.
DUTIES ROSTER
12 October
19 October
26 October
Setup 5.20 pm Meet & Greet
Ken Fox
Alex Bolton-Hogg
Keith McIntosh
Cashier
Grant Rees
Hamish Murray
Ross Beal
Introduce Speaker & Parting Thought
Joan Kiernan
Ken Fox
AGM - NA
Sergeant
David Carter
Derek Bulman
Stuart Maclean
Toast to Rotary Project OR
3 min Talk
Karen Spiers
Gabrielle Schou
Steve McLean
Thank Speaker
Lee-Ann Lines
Pat Jefford
AGM - NA
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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