Each year our District Governor is presented with the "Talking stick"  Taupiripiri by the Ngamotu Club in New Plymouth.  This year is no different and Marion was presented with the Taupiripiri by Albie Martin 

 

 This year, on 24 October, Rotary will again mark World Polio Day. I am writing to ask all of you to join me on that day in raising global awareness of the urgent need to End Polio Now.
I have been a Rotarian since long before Rotary committed to eradicate polio. When I was inducted as a member in April of 1980, the idea of taking on polio eradication as a corporate project had not yet been seriously raised; polio still ravaged the lives of some 350,000 people, nearly all of them children, every year.
  Today, the world is a very different place. Thanks to the vision of Rotary’s leaders then, and the commitment of the generations of Rotarians who have followed, we now have fewer cases of polio than at any time in history. 

  The Rotary Satellite Club of Stratford may only be turning one in a few weeks, but it has already made its mark on the community.

 This month, three Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) were purchased by the group, to be placed in Stratford for the community’s benefit. Chairperson Daniel Stieller says over the year members have sizzled plenty of sausages, sold thousands of raffle tickets, hosted a quiz night and tirelessly given their time and skills at a wide range of community events as part of their fundraising mission. “When we started the group we wanted to do something for our community.

  

  I am fully aware of Rotary’s commitment to have a “Polio Free World” however there is an increasing number of Post Polio Survivors that need assistance to enable them to experience a better quality of life.

 There has been a recent development with fibre bracing and I have attach a briefing on Polio NZ’s Carbon Fibre Bracing Initiative  as well as a brochure FYI.  Polio NZ is happy to provide speakers where they can to clubs. Should you require any further information I would be only to happy to assist or you can contact Polio NZ direct:

Gordon Jackman 

E: gjackman1@outlook.com

M: 021-101-8948

T: (07) 868-5248

 

 

  Fifty-four outstanding primary schoolchildren were honoured on 27 August at the Elim church in Porirua. This was the fourth Leadership Awards ceremony and a great credit to the organisers from the Rotary Clubs of Plimmerton and Porirua, with support from Porirua City Council.  

“my name is Theresa and I am from Austria. I live in a small town called Egg in a region where there are really high mountains so it’s perfect for me to go skiing and hiking there. As Austria is really far away from New Zealand, I had a really long way to come here.”

 Theresa introduced herself to the South Wairarapa Rotary Club Members when she arrived from Austria recently.  She will be staying with her Rotary host families for the next 12 months while she studies at Kuranui College.  Theresa will be immersed in Kiwi Culture and encouraged to exchange her own views and cultural knowledge with her hosts and peers.

Rotary Youth Exchange is a highly successful Rotary program that seeks to challenge and encourage young people, 15 to 19 years old, and to support leadership and learning.

Students often learn a new language, they discover another culture, and truly become global citizens. The exchanges are sponsored by Rotary clubs in more than 100 countries.

 On 13 August 2018 Johnsonville Rotary donated $600 to “Birthright”.
 The focus of Birthright's services is the children and young persons of one-parent families, although some regions include two-parent and blended families also. They work with the whole family to facilitate the growth of confidence, development of living skills and a sense of independence and self-help within the family unit and its individual members. 
 Rotarian Mike Wotherspoon for Johnsonville Rotary and Bonnie Mawson CEO of Birthright, who received the donation cheque:

 DG Marion with members, including 2 new members, from her own club  Whanganui North