Thanks everyone for another great Monday night. So good to see you all. With all these nasty flu’s and everything hanging about it’s important you stay home and get well if you start to feel ‘under the weather’. Our thoughts are with President Robin and David Gledhill as they recover. I was able to visit our lovely friend Judy Dearsley this week and pass on your regards for her swift recovery.
Merv Theobald presented a very interesting presentation on the Petone Community Patrol, last Monday evening. He outlined the purpose, structure, and operations of the Petone Community Patrol, emphasising its role as a volunteer organisation that supports Police in keeping the community safe. He explained that any community‑minded citizen can join, provided they commit to at least one patrol a month and pass a rigorous Police vetting process similar to that required of Police applicants. Members must also sign confidentiality agreements and adhere to a strict code of conduct.
Tena koutou katoa
Well, what a wonderful speaker we had Monday evening. Belinda Wotton from the NZ Campus of Innovation and Sport spoke to us of the amazing centre within our region, and all it has to offer as a world class facility. She talked of it being grounded in Manaakitanga where it takes the holistic view of all people, their health and wellbeing, their views and goals, to heart. I’m not sure that anyone of us truly realised so much had been invested (financially and otherwise) at such a high-level right in our own backyard.
Well, what a wonderful speaker we had Monday evening. Belinda Wotton from the NZ Campus of Innovation and Sport spoke to us of the amazing centre within our region, and all it has to offer as a world class facility. She talked of it being grounded in Manaakitanga where it takes the holistic view of all people, their health and wellbeing, their views and goals, to heart. I’m not sure that anyone of us truly realised so much had been invested (financially and otherwise) at such a high-level right in our own backyard.
A timely reminder to keep thinking of those ideas for our membership discussion to be held when President Robin is recovered. I know this is an important issue that is ‘top of the list’ for his year.
Monday’s Guest Speaker was Belinda Wotton. Belinda is the Chief Executive Officer of the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport (NZCIS), a unique facility in Upper Hutt that has become a hub for high-performance sport, major events, conferencing and accommodation.
Under Belinda's leadership NZCIS has continued to grow both its national and international profile, hosting and supporting major events, including the FIFA Woman's World Cup in 2023, the World Wheelchair Rugby Qualifier for the Paralympics, the Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship, and welcoming international teams such as Wrexham AFC, Young Matilda's NRL Dolphins Rugby League, Carlton United FC, and Melbourne Demons. It also provides a training and performance base for the Phoenix Football team, the New Zealand All Blacks and Black Ferns Rugby teams, along with the Wellington Hurricanes Rugby and Poua Women's Hurricanes Rugby teams.
Under Belinda's leadership NZCIS has continued to grow both its national and international profile, hosting and supporting major events, including the FIFA Woman's World Cup in 2023, the World Wheelchair Rugby Qualifier for the Paralympics, the Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship, and welcoming international teams such as Wrexham AFC, Young Matilda's NRL Dolphins Rugby League, Carlton United FC, and Melbourne Demons. It also provides a training and performance base for the Phoenix Football team, the New Zealand All Blacks and Black Ferns Rugby teams, along with the Wellington Hurricanes Rugby and Poua Women's Hurricanes Rugby teams.
Thank you everyone for another great Rotary evening. I know President Robin wishes he could have been with you. As mentioned, he sends you all his regards as he recovers and looks forward to moving ahead with this year.
It was nice to be able to welcome our friend Pat Heffernan from the ‘chilly South’ to the ‘chilly North’ and to have him regale us with the astounding results they have had with inducting new members over the past year. Twenty-six new faces eager to become part of Rotary Wanaka, and six more to interview on his return. What a fantastic result. Pat was sure most had moved to this part of the South Island for the beautiful views and of course the snow, and all eager to meet new people. I loved the way he concluded with the saying “26 new friends, 26 new neighbours, potentially 26 new businesses and opportunities”. Interestingly, most of these people were of the average age of middle to late 40’s.
In the absence of our speaker who had succumbed to the ‘flu’, David Gledhill gave us an exercise in logical thinking.
Tena Koe
It’s nice to attend a Rotary meeting where the wind is not howling outside amidst the rain and subsequent frosts that have blessed us these past few days. A small number of us tonight, but still filled with the great feeling of friendship alongside warm hearty meals and great banter.
It’s nice to attend a Rotary meeting where the wind is not howling outside amidst the rain and subsequent frosts that have blessed us these past few days. A small number of us tonight, but still filled with the great feeling of friendship alongside warm hearty meals and great banter.
Unfortunately, President Robin was unable to be with us due to a medical appointment, and we wish him well as he returns to good health.
Notices were short but covered the events we have been talking about for some time. Due to nasty weather the visit to Gladstone Pub has had to be postponed, with a later date to be discussed. Thank you to David Gledhill for taking this under his wing. Jaye updated us with the usual Wednesday coffee meet and sought further expressions of interest for the RYDA meet.
Our speaker on Monday 27 July was Patrick Harlow.
Patrick is an automotive historian and has written books about cars and frequently writes articles in NZ Classic Cars magazine and Classic Driver magazine. On Monday he spoke to us about Forgotten New Zealand Designed cars.
Patrick talked us through the cars he has built and showed us videos and photos. He told the stories of a number of New Zealand designed cars including the Trekka (around 2500 were built between 1966-1972), the Fraser, the V8 Escartus, the supercar Heron MJ1 and the Hulme Supercar, named in tribute to New Zealand’s only Formula one World Champion Denny Hulme.
Our speaker on Monday 20 July 2026 was John Ross.
The facility now known as Silverstream Retreat is located on Reynolds Bach Drive, off the Eastern Hutt Road, Silverstream. It was first established in 1942 by America as a Military Hospital. Subsequently it came under the Wellington Hospital Board and was utilised as a rehab unit for long term patients for many years. John purchased the property from the Hospital Board in 1990 and he then donated it to a Charitable Trust now known as Silverstream Retreat. Over its many years prior to John's purchase, the facility had accommodated Service personnel, up to 20,000 patients were treated over the years, and it catered for 182 long term rehab patients at any point in time.
