Robert Armstrong
Rotary Club of Tawa, District 9940

Rotary Classification: Senior Active (previously Law). Past President (1979-80), DG's Area Rep (1981-82), and member of various District Committees including Chairman of Rotary Foundation, GSE and Friendship Exchange. PHF (1989).

Retired lawyer. Since 1995 has been an elected Wellington City Councillor. Currently Chairman of Council's Planning and Performance Committee. Plays golf, tennis and cricket at every opportunity. TV sports watcher, especially rugby. Robert and Carol (his wife of 32 years) love travelling, their favourite destination being France. They have four adult daughters. Played in previous IFCR Festivals in Chennai (1998) and Christchurch (2002), as well as the UK Tour in 2001, Victoria and NSW (Young Festival) in 2002, and all North v South IFCR NZ matches so far. Really looking forward to meeting up with Queensland's cricketing Rotarians. Regretfully Carol cannot come as she is on an extended study mission in Montreal.

Barry Blommaart and Jenny
Rotary Club of Rutherford Nelson, District 9970

Rotary classification: Building Services. Currently Club President. Vocation: Wholesale/retail manufacture and distribution of a number of products related to the building industry. Barry and Jenny were married in 1971 and have three adult children, Yvette, Carl and Michelle. Barry has been involved with cricket since primary school days. Played cricket up to age 28 then commenced umpiring and still turns out every Saturday of the season. Has umpired at First Class level.

Umpiring has permitted involvement at a far higher level than his cricket playing ability would ever permit. Umpired at the World Festival in Christchurch but was a playing member of last year's tour to Australia.

This is Jenny's first tour and will definitely be new territory. As well as attempting to keep an eye on Barry's business Jenny bakes cakes and pies at a local lunch shop.

John Dean and Rachael Barton
Rotary Club of Wellington Harbour City, District 9940
Hon. Secretary NZIFCR

John is a Barrister & Solicitor, and Principal of John Dean Law Office. He is married to Rachael (who manages the practice), and they have two children aged 18 and 16. Wellington District Law Society involvement in Law Week, Sports, Public Relations, Property Law Committee and Small Practice Interest Group. Member International Bar Association. Interested in all sports, including cricket (plays for Victoria University Presidents Team and latterly Onslow); golf off 14 Handicap, enjoys fishing (trout & sea), and tennis.

Involved in wide range of cultural pursuits, including an active interest in the Arts, especially theatre and music. Served as Chairman of Wellington Regional Orchestra and President of Wellington Repertory Theatre. Member of various professional and sporting and cultural organisations including VUW Cricket Club (Vice President), Wellington Golf Club, Wellington Chamber of Commerce, Law Society. Past President of Harbour City Rotary. Both Rachael and John are Paul Harris Fellows. Previously special projects director, club services director and HCR Weekly Editor. D9940 GSE Inwards Chairman 2000-2002, and GSE Team Leader for 2001 exchange with U K Lake and Lancs D1190. IFCR tours to Sunshine Coast Australia 1997, and both John and Rachael toured India, United Kingdom and Victoria/NSW last year.

Bryce Dunn
Rotary Club of Rotorua, District 9930

Classification: Property Investment. Bryce spent the best part of his working life in the oil industry, working for BP Oil NZ. In 1992, when he left the oil industry, he and his wife Ursula bought and operated a motel in Rotorua until they sold out in 1999. They have a daughter, Christina, who is studying at Victoria University in Wellington. Bryce is a keen fisherman and loves boating. Now semi retired he enjoys his golf, if he can several times a week. Both Bryce and Ursula love travelling and were members of the New Zealand IFCR touring team to England in 2001 and to Australia in 2002. Due to family commitments Ursula cannot be part of the touring team on this trip.

David Fookes
Rotary Club of Turangi, District 9930

Classification: Senior Active. Retired Fire and General Insurance executive. Interests are trout and sea fishing, golf, bird watching (feathered). Outboard motor boat owner. Family of three, all married and four grandchildren. Secretary of Turangi Rotary Club - Past President.

Played full time club cricket till four years ago in Taupo competition. New Plymouth Boys High School 1st IX in 1955. Off spin bowler, currently opening batsman and wicket keeper. Enjoys club umpiring in Taupo and Horowhenua. Previous IFCR involvement includes: New Zealand to Australia 1997, vs Australia 1998, umpire for IFCR Tests in Auckland 2000, and New Zealand to United Kingdom 2001

John Hannah and Henrietta
Rotary Club of Nelson, District 9970

John previously toured India in 1999 and Australia last year. Club cricketer until late '70's. Great to have opportunity to play again. Slow medium bowler and lower order bat. Interested in most sports but particularly cricket. Other interests include mussel farming, wine, travel, tramping and golf (possibly). Currently changing jobs and after tour will become Manager, NZ School of Fisheries in Nelson. Chairman NZ Aquaculture Council. President of Nelson Rotary Club in 1998/99 and currently Nelson organiser for NZIFCR .

Henrietta is a part time librarian and Mother of our three children, Rachael (23), Fiona (21) and Richard (18). Adjusting this year to life sans enfants. Interests include chamber music, cooking, gardening, travel and tramping.

Alan Lawton
Rotary Club of Wellington North, District 9940

Qualified Financial Planner for the past 12 years, Principal of New Zealand's largest independently owned financial planning company. Upper/middle order batsman, leg spin bowler. Past President of the Victoria University of Wellington Cricket Club. Past Club Captain for the Wellington Branch of the London / New Zealand Cricket Club. Toured India with the New Zealand IFCR team in January 1999, to UK in 2001 and Australia last year. Alan played against touring Australian and English IFCR teams in New Zealand. Keen golfer and sport follower. Three children, Amanda, Emily and Robert, two grandchildren, Tahlia and Jordan.

Bruce Niven and Margaret
Rotary Club of Johnsonville, District 9940

Bruce was Club President in 1995 and is a Paul Harris Fellow. He played senior cricket for Onslow and Wellington Collegians Club, and represented Wellington in the Brabin Cup and Rothmans under 23 team. He retired at 22 years to continue playing rugby where represented Wellington, NZ Juniors 1969, All Black trialist 1970. Has returned to cricket playing Presidents grade last 20 years. Vocation: Real Estate Agent 17 years and owns an LJ Hooker franchise. A farmer of red deer and sheep. Loves living in the country, the outdoors and fishing.

Margaret is an Early Childhood Education senior manager and partner in the family businesses. Interests include landscaping, travelling and exploring new places, keeping animals, including a white west highland terrier and two hand reared pet deer fawns. Continues to encourage two wonderful adult children.

Fraser Paterson
Rotary Club of Wellington North, District 9940

Fraser was born in Glasgow, Scotland - not a town noted for its cricketing prowess. Fortunately, however, his family emigrated to South Africa when he was 5 and he grew up in Johannesburg. His 10 pace run up, still in use today, was determined by the size of his front garden. He has played cricket from Primary School days. He played for every school team from 5th XI to 1st XI and for the Old Boys Club (a few cameo Premier league appearances) until he went to Rhodes University. There he captained the 2nd XI which enabled him to do much more bowling. He played country cricket in the Eastern Cape, then club cricket in Cape Town. He arrived in New Zealand in 1989, but it was several years later before he was 'discovered' by an Indoor Cricket team. Moving to Wellington in 2001 he joined Onslow Cricket Club and found that he could still survive a 40 over a side game. He joined Rotary in Gweru, Zimbabwe, and was a member there from 1986-1988. He did not join a club in Dunedin, though I was invited on several occasions, but became a member of Wellington North Rotary Club in July 2002.

Arthur Pitcher
Rotary Club of Christchurch, District 9970

Paul Harris Fellow. My interests include traveling and sports. I play golf (badly) and cricket. I've been in New Zealand for eight years, previous to that I had five years in Turkey. Before my stint in Turkey my cricket was fairly passable, playing for Rockingham CC and Great Oakley CC in Northamptonshire (best figures 6 for 9). The five years in Turkey severely affected my game and now I only play occasionally at Presidents' Grade for Old Collegians. I run the Casino in Christchurch and am involved in tourism matters locally.

My wife Averil and two daughters, Sarah and Laura believe I am too old to play cricket and feel I should have long retired. However, during the Rotary World Cricket I confused them by getting to 40 not out and having to retire in one match.

I lived in Queensland in my youth and always enjoy trips to Australia, I well remember the concrete wickets at Palmwood School.

Harry Simons and Jill
Rotary Club of Christchurch South, District 9970

Jill & I have been married for 26 years, and have 2 adult children. We own & run a large bakery in Christchurch, employing 46 staff. Jill runs the cake side of the operation and looks after the Lincoln Rd shop, also our Funtimes Party shop, whilst I look after the wholesale, and Ferry Rd retail shop, and deal with the financial side of things and the future expansion.

My cricket history: I left St Andrews College in 1972, where one of my coaches was Fred Goodall, and joined the Lancaster Park Cricket Club. I still play Presidents Grade every week and I hope to play for a few more years yet.

My involvement with Rotary has come through cricket as I have known Brian Morgan for a number of years. I umpired a Rotary match at Heathcote 2 years ago with Milton, which I guess sowed the seeds for future involvement. It was around 30 degrees that day, and put to rest any ideas I may have had about umpiring regularly.

Jill has always been a keen follower of my sporting passions, and I have been lucky enough to play cricket in 5 different countries through colts (many years ago) and more latterly Golden Oldies.

Martin Townend and Jeanette
Rotary Club of Palmerston North, District 9940

Martin has been a member of the Rotary Club of Palmerston North since 1979 holding the Classification - 'Woollen Goods Manufacture' - milling of woollen yarns & fabrics (which really means he is only trying to fleece the natives of their wool!) Past President 1993/94, District Governor's Rep 1996/97 & PHF.

Jeanette is employed as a Clinical Nurse Coordinator at MidCentral District Health in Palmerston North. She has been a member of Inner Wheel Club since 1980 & has served in all executive roles within the club & is being recycled as the current club secretary. Jeanette was Chairman of District 294 -1999/2000 & was also a member of NZ National Council the same years. Jeanette & Martin have 4 children (2 daughters & 2 sons) ranging in ages from 14yrs - 25yrs. They have a pet schnauzer dog & an aging cockatiel.

Martin has come out of cricketing retirement to resurrect his career with IFCR NZ. It is almost 25yrs as a 'Lance Cairns lookalike' opening bowler in the local Manawatu senior competition, but he is firm believer in the adage that 'old dogs still have their day'. A keen 10 handicap golfer he is also looking forward to the verdant Queensland fairways. Jeanette has willingly agreed to come on tour as well, to minister to aching muscles that Martin and others will have forgotten existed!! As first time visitors to this part of Australia both are eager to see the sights & enjoy the fellowship & hospitality of fellow Rotarians.

Paul Warren and Sherrin
Rotary Club of Eastern Hutt, District 9940

Semi-retired, they recently sold a lease on their motel in Lower Hutt which they have operated for the past 15 years. Current project - building a new home in central Lower Hutt.

Sherrin was born and raised in Lower Hutt and worked in Wellington before their family came along. Paul was raised in Christchurch and served in the RNZAF for 21 years, initially as a navigator but mostly in software development at the Defence Computer Centre just north of Wellington. They have two adult children two noisy grandsons, 5 and 2 years old.

Paul played club cricket for Onslow and Hutt District clubs for many years as a batsman - but at Rotary games these days his lollypop bowling seems to be demanded more often - hmmm! Both of them are keen on lawn bowls. Sherrin has played for 15 years and has been a Wellingon representative. Paul has been playing for 4 years and has had some success and lots of fun at club and centre level. Other interests include golf, skiing (although not so often recently), reading and if we ever get time, genealogy.

Rotary has occupied a prominent place in their lives recently with Paul being Club President last year and now Assistant Governor this year.

They both really enjoyed the tour to UK in 2001 and Paul attended the international festival in Christchurch in 2002 and is now looking forward to going on tour again.

Tom White and Maree
Rotary Club of Christchurch Garden City, District 9970

Tom and Maree have been married for 30 years and have two grown up children. Son Kieran is in London while daughter Megan lives in Melbourne and is engaged to a fine upstanding Queenslander. Megan is a former Rotary exchange student to the USA. This is Maree's first Rotary cricket tour, having missed out on the previous three that Tom has been on. Tom still plays cricket in the local competition, as well as interclub golf. In between he tries to fit in his Label Company franchise.

Tom has held several Rotary directorships and currently is his Club's sergeant and on the District Committee for the J.R.McKenzie Charitable Trust.

Tom and Maree are looking forward to renewing friendships from previous tours and the opportunity to meet more new friends.