Welcome to Easter weekend and I trust that you are all doing OK as you continue to navigate the challenges of the Covid-19 lockdown and ‘stayvacation’. My cell mate and I have survived another week of lockdown and have done so without any blood on the carpet.
When I spoke with Margaret Bulman last week she confirmed that Derek had also JUST managed to get through the week unscathed. So by the time that you read this we will be nearly through week 3 of the first tranche of 4 weeks in Alert Level 4. I guess the good news is that it appears that the Covid-19 cases may be being contained at a controllable level with the number of new cases identified in the last 4 days declining. However, regretfully, we have had 4 fatalities and so it is too early to be definitive about full control of the virus spread yet.
From a Southern DHB perspective, it is evident that our region does contain the largest number of confirmed cases in the country and this may determine our time on Alert Level 4. This regional position also supports the notion that we should stay at home.
The perverse consequence of both Covid-19 and the ensuing Lockdowns has been the decimation of the tourism industry and the hospitality industry in this region. There will be many businesses and many families struggling during this period, and beyond, as there is no doubt that life for many will not simply return to the pre Covid-19 norms once lockdown is over. The recovery for this region, along with the rest of the country, will be a slow burn to be anywhere near what we had been used to. Rotary I am sure may well have a role to play in supporting sectors of the community as we move forward.
Thanks to Derek and Lee-Ann who assisted me and spent a little bit of time on the phone during the week touching base with each member of the Rotary Club. It is important that we remain connected and these brief phone discussions have been valuable in confirming the ‘health’ of our members. To the greater degree everybody is in good shape and retaining a positive approach to life inside a bubble and seem to be finding things to do that provide entertainment.
Martin Chappell pictured below is continuing to work on and perfect the art of watching grass grow,
while Baxter pictured above looking forlorn with eyes saying “for crying out loud Bruce let me at the cake” !!!
On good authority I understand that Hanna is coping with the strangest cultural Youth Exchange Program in the world by being in isolation in the Adventure Capital of the World - Lakeside Estates. We also think of her family in Sweden at this time. Hanna advises that they are OK and she is keeping in close contact with them during this crisis.
Also on good authority, Bruce Boivin claims that he has the cleanest BBQ in the Wakatipu basin and his skip bin is testimony to his other achievement, an abundance of empty potato chip packets.
Huia was concerned about the responsibility of carrying an elevated workload, by comparison with her work colleagues, as she was the only team member issued with a working device enabling her to work at home before the lockdown kicked in.
Ian Johnstone and Margaret are both well and Ian is giving his 20 fruit trees the treatment. He also enjoys the arrival of his weekly delivery of groceries at the hand of his granddaughter.
David Broomfield, on the other hand, is training for an attempt on Everest. He is starting with the assent on a small mountain on his property and doing so without the aid of oxygen or a sherpa. We will update his progress and advise once he has planted his flag at the summit.
Lee-Ann & Hamish are very proud of their outstanding efforts to successfully demolish their wine stores and feel their first trip to the supermarket is imminent this week to restock. Public Service announcement - “to ensure that you can purchase a bottle of wine or two, can I suggest Rotarians that you get there before Lee-Ann”.
Keith and Heather have taken up sitting on their footpath on camp chairs (at least 4 metres apart), armed with a beer, and enjoying high volume conversations across the cul de sac with the neighbours. This is now a regular engagement. I wonder what will happen if it rains??? UPDATE: Well it did rain last night and they quickly ‘abandoned ship’.
Mayor Jim Boult has a huge amount on his plate. In light of his rapidly disappearing stock of single malt, he will now have to give serious consideration to alternative options.
Environmental Virus. Ironic that while the humans are not using the streets the bunnies are. Chris Taylor is doing his best through his private eradication plan (his aim is getting better) but sharing this responsibility with Jacinda may not necessarily speed it up.
The Rotary Club’s relationship with the Chamber of Commerce proves valuable at a time like this and I took advantage of our club’s membership of the Chamber of Commerce by accessing a Virtual Meeting for a presentation to the Queenstown- Lakes business community by Mayor Jim Boult. Mayor Jim updated the 350 participants on the Zoom Conference on the regional Covid-19 response and emergency plans for recovery post event. This was a very informative 45 minutes on line and I congratulate the Chamber and the Mayor for engaging with the business community in this way. I recommend that you avail yourselves of opportunities of this nature through our link with the Chamber.
Flu Vaccinations: Don’t forget to get your winter flu vaccination before 27th April while they are free issue. I had the pleasure of receiving mine a few days ago through the window of my car (it was wound down) - I didn’t even have to turn off the engine or the radio. Like picking up McDonalds in a drive thru - great system. (Not the McDonalds - the drive thru bit.)
Directors Meeting: in an attempt to bring the Rotary Club firmly into the 21st Century, I have asked the Directors to download the ‘Zoom’ video conferencing app onto their devices. It is my intention to have an initial Video Conferencing catch up with Directors. From there we will figure out how best we can use this facility to continue the business of Rotary on your behalf. I will report back to you all on the out comes from this meeting.
Bulletin: You will have no doubt noticed that Bulletins are arriving weekly since the Lockdown commenced. I trust that you are enjoying these Bulletins even though there is not much Rotary activity at this time. Thanks for the emails of appreciation that I have received during the last couple of weeks and also thanks to Keith and Heather for their ongoing commitment to producing them every week.
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Donald Trump goes on a fact-finding visit to Israel.
While he is on a tour of Jerusalem he suffers a heart attack and dies.
The undertaker tells the American diplomats accompanying him, "You can have him
shipped home for $50,000, or you can bury him here, in the Holy Land, for just $100."
The American diplomats go into a corner to discuss for a few minutes.
They return with their answer to the undertaker and tell him they want Donald Trump shipped home.
The undertaker is puzzled and asks, "Why would you spend $50,000 to ship him home, when it
would be wonderful to be buried here and you would spend only $100?"
The American diplomats reply, "2000 years ago a man died here, was buried here, and three days later he rose from the dead. We just can’t take the risk. |
PP Russell McGrouther: A brief chat with Russell on Friday - he reports that he is doing OK. He and Ruth are still based in Mosgiel and locked down like the rest of us but has been able to get out exercising and enjoying some fresh air. He is awaiting further information on where to next.
So in summary, all the best to you each for the week ahead, and once you have completed reading your Rotary Bulletin you can resume your crossword, another game of Monopoly, or get into a good book, or even a jigsaw puzzle. Talking jigsaws, in an attempt to alleviate the boredom, Stuart Maclean purchased a jigsaw puzzle that he assumed would fill in a significant amount of time and be a challenge, because the label on the box said 4 Years. Regretfully he had it done in 40 minutes. !!!!
We are nearly through this and we always knew that we could do it, so well done. That said my offer still stands that if any of you require any support of any type please do not hesitate to give me a call and we will endeavour to get it sorted for you.
Public Service Announcement:
Kia Kaha
Nga mihi mahana
Ross
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