I felt it was an excellent meeting this last Tuesday, partly because of the youth speakers from the Science Fair (Aimee and Caleb) and Outward Bound (Steffi).  These programs are I believe absolute core to our community involvement, youth-based ones which have such a positive impact on the participants. The kids just buzz from the experiences.

And it was good to see our assistant district governor Keith McIntosh updating us with progress from the year and our newly appointed Community Leader for our new Central Otago Region, Lee Ann Murray.  We need to work with lee Ann to make this trial of regionalisation work.

I also took time to summarise the Charity Dinner (some pictures below). It draws on wide support from the club and the business community to generate the tables, the donations and to make it happen on the night, so well done the Rotary wider team. We raised about $14k, maybe a little more, which is excellent.  Just as importantly, it was an enjoyable and fun night, better than recent years and was of a standard that we will need to meet in future years. The guest speaker, Simon McKinney was critical to that.

And to finish the meeting off Carolyn gave us a COVID rev up - test, test, test (she supplied fresh test kits), isolate, wear your masks, and report. Don’t FLIRT with it, it’s back with a vengeance.

Be careful out there!

John

 

 

 

Changeover (when the new president takes over for those who are not aware of this), will take place on the last Tuesday in June. This is the 25^th of June our normal Rotary club night. However, on this occasion the meeting to which partners are also invited, will be held at the Packing Shed in Earnscleugh rather than the Bridge club, commencing at 6pm. The cost is $50.

The duty roster has been changed to accommodate the change of meeting type, so please take note.

 

The speaker for the night is Martin Curtis. Martin is a songwriter, folk singer and bush poet. He hails from Cardrona but now lives in Earnscleugh.

 

 

 

The club directors discussed this project briefly at Tuesday’s meeting and directors have got behind it to make it a club project.

 

Jillian will also be liaising with club members as well as going out to social media and through the High School to get wider support and in doing so,encourage contact with Rotary.

 

 

 

HALFMILE RESERVE PLANTING DAY
Sunday the 9th of June
 

There has been a lot of work happening in the background with this project and we are very excited to announce that the first of our public planting days is imminent. So please put this date in your diary.

The CODC staff, councillors and contractors will be showing their support for this project in a practical way too with their own planting session on Arbor day, Wednesday the 5th of June.

Whatever your position on the pine tree removal we are excited to invite you all to embrace the opportunity to beautify the main entrance to our town and boost our native biodiversity at the same time.

The slash has been tidied away, the ground prepared and now we have our fingers crossed for a bit more rain.

Stage one AND BY FAR THE BIGGEST of a six stage project over the next five years is to get 5,000 grasses in along the side of State Highway on the reserve. We have three local species to get in the ground, Poa cita -silver tussock, Poa colensoi -blue tussock and Festuca novae-zelandiae -hard tussock.

This is our most ambitious undertaking yet and we can't do it without you. We will have a variety of ways for you to be actively involved so don't think because your back isn't up to digging holes that you won't be useful.

 

Please RSVP via our website to find out about the ways you can be involved and indicate an interest in the first instance. We will then be in touch closer to the time with more information and seeking a confirmation of involvement. We will be doing a lot more advertising of this planting day in future and we would love you to share this information with your networks too.

 

 

 

Nicola Bennett (picture below) is an abstract painter originally based at Lake Rotoiti, New Zealand, but now in Alexandra. Her work is about the pleasure and energy that comes from immersing ourselves in the exploration of sensory knowledge. She begins with the everyday natural ingredients that we cook with – like mushrooms, tomatoes, aubergines, avocados, apricots – and gradually builds her understanding of them through conversations and collaborations with specialist growers and chefs. Absorbing their sense of care, their impassioned stories, their excitement for growing and cooking is an integral part of her work.

 

Bennett’s process of making: gathering this knowledge is the groundwork for her personal journey of discovery into these ingredients through touch, taste, smell, sound and sight whilst cooking with them in her own kitchen. Only after all that does she move into the studio.

 

For Bennett cooking and painting share similarities in their search for structure and balance through opposites. She looks to the language of food for inspiration in the composition of her paintings: just as the chef layers in all the ranges of taste, colour and texture, so Bennett layers veils of paint, sometimes opaque, sometimes soft or flat; and pays close attention to how colour, line, form, shape and tone work together to create a satisfying whole. The suggestive power of colour and how it relates to flavour is particularly important in her work. She wants the viewer to eat with the eyes, to see what the mouth feels.

 

Bennett’s paintings are not a simple representation of the ingredients in abstract form but rather her sensory responses to them which come from this entire process of research and discovery. The passion of others in nurturing and pushing possibilities with ingredients plays a significant role in this, adding a rich energy to her sensory experience that Bennett captures in her paintings. In this way she celebrates the sublime aspects of nature’s humble ingredients, representing the wonder about them beyond their material form.

 

At our last meeting we resoundingly decided to support Finn Butcher in his Olympic campaign, in part due to the "local boy done good" and in part to reflect the support Rotary and the Alex community have received from the Orchard Garden, owned by Finn's parents Dale & Wendy.  

 

Directors decided to donate $2,000 to Finn. Finn's response is below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were very fortunate to proceed on our annual senior citizens bus trip under a glorious clear blue sky autumnal afternoon. 32 folks on board and off to Wanaka via Tarras and the Luggate Bridge.

 

At the Puzzle World Wanaka Robyn’s daughter Jillian joined the bus and escorted us around Wanaka showing us the very extensive new housing sub divisions and the new commercial hub at Three Parks.                 

 

Jillian gave an excellent descriptive talk with most including myself blown away how the town has grown and also the cost of real estate there. Then it was straight down to the Golden Gate at Cromwell for a lovely afternoon tea. Then homeward bound with a happy bunch of punters departing from the bus.

 

Many thanks of course to our excellent bus driver Les, to Robyn for organising the day and to Gil for his assistance. Also thank you to the Rotarians who delivered guests to the bus and back home again – Graeme, Mark, Richard, Gordon, Lynette and Phil.

A successful and enjoyable afternoon all round.

 

 

King’s Birthday Weekend Cromwell Bowling Club Alpha St, Cromwell.

 

Thursday 30^th May 5 – 7pm

 

Friday 31^st May 9am - 5pm

 

 

 

 

Thousands of items from just $1.00, EFTPOS and cash.

 

Proceeds to local community programmes.

 

I have just seen the financial report for ROMAC and want to thank Alexandra Rotary for their very generous donation of $1000.

 

Donations are essential for the success of this unique health programme.

 

 

Regards and cheers,

 

 

 

ROMAC provides medical and surgical treatment for children in Australia and New Zealand from developing countries from our Pacific region in the form of life giving and/or dignity restoring surgery not accessible to them in their home country.

 

ROMAC in New Zealand and Australia enlists assistance from medical experts, hospitals, nurses, physiotherapists, pathology and radiology services, airlines, sponsors and other supporters. Today ROMAC is providing surgical treatment to around 50 children from Oceania every year – we are making a huge difference in their lives).

 

This presentation was about the work of the youth trust in Central Otago known as Puna Rangatahi. The scale of work undertaken by these youth workers is enormous and how they manage to do all the interesting activities with youth is hard to comprehend. Obviously, the work they do is very beneficial and Central Otago is indeed fortunate to have such an enthusiastic trust looking out for young people.

 

Puna Rangatahi has been the end result of the hard work, dedication and passion of our incredible Youth Team and Trustees over the last 2 years. As a Board we pride ourselves on providing youth lead services and programs run over our 2 sites in Alexandra and Roxburgh. And aim to create a safe environment for youth to grow and build confidence and positive relationships.

We are proud of the work our Youth Team do in our community to support our young people. From their work with the Junior Youth Council and Central Otago Youth Council, giving youth a voice in the future of our community to supporting their health and wellbeing through programmes such as Blast and Base fit.

 

(Chair Alexandra and Districts Youth Trust)

 

 

 

Marley Ferguson – Lead youth worker (Lead speaker at Rotary on the night)

Marley is a local lad who grew up in Omakau. He started as a volunteer for Puna Rangatahi and is now working as a full time Youth Coach.

Marley has a passion for connecting with people and creating communities of awesome humans with diverse opinions, passions, and interests.

 

 

Tash Kane – Manager (Backup speaker at Rotary on the night)

Tash hails from the beautiful Māniatoto Valley! Tash grew up in the North Island. She moved across the ditch to Australia for 7 seven years, before moving to Central Otago. 

Tash has a passion for the great outdoors, using nature and physical activity as a tool for growing our comfort zones. She’s excited to join the Puna Rangatahi whānau and connect with the community.

 

Courtney La’ulu – Youth worker (Courtney was not part of the presentation)

 

Originally from rural Canterbury, Courtney decided to make the move to Central Otago and settle in the local area.

Courtney is passionate about working with young people and is looking forward to bringing her positive and encouraging personality to the team.