I made a comment in last month’s Bulletin, that maybe Covid should be left to spread its wings. It seems that is what the Government has decided as well with its latest move to Phase 3? To me, it is a ludicrous situation that should you test positive for Omicron now, you only have to isolate with those you live with – work mates are OK. It is good news for small business however where up to now, there was a real danger that if one staff member tested positive, a good portion of the crew were isolated as well – effectively closing the business down.

 

Have you got relatives overseas waiting to come home? Well with 12000 cases in NZ this Friday and 19 at the border, they may be better off where they are for a while yet.

Gosh, I hate this pandemic – for all sorts of reasons – but mostly for the way it has affected me personally.

 

As you know I have a daughter, son in law, and beautiful granddaughter pretty much stuck in China. It is almost 3 years since I have seen them, with the likelihood of another year to go yet. Since 2005 pretty much every 2 years I have travelled overseas with Habitat for Humanity on house building projects. In 2019 I was due to go to Uzbekistan, but cancelled out as I chose to go to China with my kids when they headed off there. The Uzbekistan project was fortuitously cancelled (probably had a coup or something) and rescheduled for the following year, but Covid put a stop to that. I intended to go back to Nepal, however they have been badly affected by Covid, so not sure if that will ever happen.

 

In the past 2 years I have had 2 very good friends pass away in Auckland – both during lockdowns.

Lizzie is very travel averse at the moment, and with her working at the library face to facing with lots of unknown people, and me ferrying people out of Queenstown Airport and working face to face with people from all over the country, it is a standing joke at home as to which of us will be first.

The same issues as many other people I have no doubt, but I’m over it.

 

Ruth McNamara from Alexandra – Clyde Neighbourhood Support is seeking possible assistance from Rotary. They are offering to help those who have to go into self-isolation with collecting and delivering supplies, ie. groceries, prescriptions etc. during the time they can’t go out. She has indicated that many people are quite relieved that there is a means of assistance, and has asked if we could help if they become inundated with requests. I put it to the Board meeting on Tuesday night and there was agreement that, Yes, we would offer assistance, but it was up to the individual Rotarian as to whether or not they they would take part.

 

As per the last 2 – 3 years, money allocated to Clubs for District Grants will not all be utilised by some of those clubs so has to be returned.

Alex Rotary was advised of this a month ago, so our request for funding to assist with Poplar Grove has been resubmitted. I had an email from Joan Kiernan – District Grant Administrator, on Wednesday, backed up by our man in the know, District Treasure Paul Checketts that our request will most likely be approved. So, fingers crossed.

 

On behalf of Nev Grubb and Ren Lothian I have contacted Haehaeata Trust for assistance with plantings for that area. It seems that a plan had been done for this by someone? previously. The next step is to get Nev & Ren together with Haehaeata people at Poplar Grove to decide what is possible and where to plant it.

Another working bee at Poplar Grove?

 

There is also $10159 on term deposit.

Bob Clark – ex Dunedin Rotarian

Mike Prouting – ex Invercargill Rotarian

Rhys Jenkins – ex Kununurra Rotarian (Northern Territory, Australia)

Please make these people welcome at meetings and convince them to get applications in and join us.