Our 2023 changeover began with a performance from the Taita College Chorus who sang the two songs they had performed for the recent regional barbershop competitions where they placed second.
As usual we had a beautiful meal provided by Chalet Caterers before we moved onto the awards part of our evening. Shelley Bryant was awarded a Paul Harris Fellow. Not only has Shelley contributed amazing service through our Rotary Club, but we also heard of the service that Shelley has given the community throughout her life. Such a well-deserved and worthy recipient of this award. It was lovely that Shelley’s sons were able to be there for this presentation. David Thompson was presented with a Paul Harris Fellow sapphire pin to acknowledge his continued service to the club, most recently in the role of secretary of both the club and the Trust.
The New Incentives Award was presented to Jan Palmer and Brian Clarke. This year saw our club form a partnership with the committee that organise a major golf tournament to fundraise for the Te Omanga Hospice. Eastern Hutt Rotary were immensely proud to be one of the major supporters of this year's Hospice Golf Day. Jan and Brian were the Eastern Hutt Rotary members on the golf organising committee and who smoothly lead the valued relationships for this event. Margaret Wilson presented the Committee Cup (donated by the late Dave Wilson a number of years ago to recognize the results of a hardworking committee). This year the selection of this was so difficult as every committee had achieved so much. The Cup was presented to Annette Ruck who chaired the Environment and Amenities Committee. This year the committee has:
- Helped with the supper for the wine tasting evening
- Completed the moving of the bird aviary at Te Omanga Hospice (a project started in the previous Rotary year)
- Hutt Riverbank clean up
- Taken care of the native planting area just north of Fraser Park, maintaining the Dave Comparini memorial seat and plaque
- Organised the painting of the eastern fence at the Te Omanga Hospice
- And the huge project redoing the courtyard garden in the Dementia Unit at the Woburn Enliven home.
President Kathy Bryant then presented her speech reflecting on the year before she handed over the Presidents chain to Incoming President John Matthews.
John presented the Rotary International theme for the 2023/2024 year “Create Hope In the World”.
John announced his Board for the upcoming year:
President Elect: Mike Fackney
Secretary: June Stratton
Treasurer: Tony Cornelius
International: Mike Keehan
Community & Health: Christine Meredith
Environment & Amenities: Barrie Littlefair
Youth: Eve Bao
Foundation: Kathy Bryant
