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The
Rotary Club of Taupo
New Zealand
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TEMORA FRIENDSHIP EXCHANGE – March
2002 In March our club was pleased to host a group of Rotarians and their partners from Rotary Club of Temora. Temora is a small town "across the ditch" in New South Wales, Australia. Local Rotarians provided accommodation in their own homes and a full programme of sightseeing, events and vists to places of interest in the Taupo region was arranged. Organiser Roland Vowles, on behalf of
our International Service Committee, said “Many positive comments have been
received from the Temora visitors. This project would not have been possible
without the support of many of our members. On no occasion did I have any
difficulty finding enough willing helpers.” Special thanks to the following hosts
who offered accommodation and hospitality but also provided transport on many
occasions:
Pat and Hilary Brown, Clive and Yo Cresswell, Tom and Vida Gould, Alsitair and
Ava McLachlan, Trevor and Pamela Morgan, Tom Orr and Joan Williamson, Loris
Redstone. The
venue that Brian and Pam McGuigan so generously made available was a major
factor in the success of the BBQ (as was their dancing!). Thank you to those who
helped in many ways to make this an enjoyable evening. Our visitors also enjoyed
the visit to the McLachlan farm and orchid nursery and also the fishing trip
with Tom and Joan on the good ship "Victory". The ladies appreciated
Grace Dalton's organisation of the shopping (as did the Taupo retailers!) Dave McAlley's guided tour of the high
country farm was also a highlight for our visitors. There is no doubt that the Temora
Rotarians will ensure that a warm welcome awaits our members for the return
visit to Temora.
Changeover Night 27 June 2002 @ Wairakei International Golf Club Click on any picture below to enlarge picture.
Our GUEST SPEAKERS Staf Pearce, Ray Johnston and Bob Pettigrew, all past Presidents, gave an interesting review of the origins of the Club and its growth. 45
years ago in 1957 Taupo was a settlement town in the process of moving into a
new era. Many new young families have arrived with their specific talents. The
continued harnessing of the Waikato, the harvesting of the forests planted
during the slump and the settlement of the land that had been brought in on the
northern and western sides of the lake, had all played a role in this. There
were many ways in which service organisations could contribute to the community. Local
features in which the Club had a significant role, include the Anzac Avenue
trees at the airport and the Hell's Gate lookout in County Avenue. Initial
fundraising ventures included start up money for the Wharerangi Rest Home, two
ambulances for St Johns, the grand piano for the Memorial Hall, among many
others. The Club organised and ran the first A & P Show on the old aerodrome
and the first equalisator meeting from which the Taupo Racing Club evolved. Life
was not all hard work and the social event of the year was the annual Rotary
Ball when the Memorial Hall was transformed and the rotariannes’ catering
committee excelled. Rotary
is an international organisation and the Taupo Club has been involved in many
overseas projects: Overseas
Student Exchange: The Club has hosted 25 overseas students from 10 different
countries and has sponsored orphans through the SOS Village Orphan Scheme in
Austria and South Korea. We
are also involved with the Emergency Box Scheme, which supplies desperately
needed basics to people affected by devastating acts of nature. Club
members have gone as volunteers to the Solomon Islands six times and latterly to
the Yassawa Islands off Fiji to build freshwater tanks. Many
other projects and fundraising activities have been undertaken over the years, a
record of which the Rotary Club of Taupo can be proud.
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