Come along to hear from Festival Chair, Roger Blakeley, and other members of the Festival Board about this iconic event celebrating our region's heritage!
Make sure you come to hear from the international journalist and former Dominion Post editor for her talk "Between giants: Trump in the USA and China in the Pacific."
We extend our sincere thanks to Jane McCann and George Fairbairn as they step down from this vital role. Though much of their dedicated work took place behind the scenes to protect member privacy, their impact over the years has been immense. Jane is taking a sabbatical to support Peter. George will continue to provide ongoing support during the transition.
We are pleased to announce that Karen Coutts and William Somerville are taking over the role. They will carry on this essential work with the same strict privacy and discretion.
Member support includes:
Welfare Checks: Supporting members during illness, recovery, or tough times.
Compassionate Outreach: Sending thoughtful cards, flowers, or milestone congratulations on behalf of the club.
Home & Hospital Visits: Providing friendly companionship or practical help to housebound or hospitalised members.
Confidential Guidance: Serve as a private, secure sounding board to connect members with community resources.
If you, or another member, needs a helping hand, please reach out in complete confidence to:
Karen Coutts: 027 365 3992
William Somerville: 021 766 171
Big Crowds, Secret Homes: Don’t Miss the Rotary Mystery Dinner!
Only 3 slots left for the extra Friday night dinner
We have had a phenomenal response to this highly popular event, and tables are filling up fast! Time is officially running out to secure your spot for a mystery night of great food, and total surprise.
Action Required ASAP:
Deadline is our meeting on 12 September. Contact Derek at derek.gill@hotmail.com if you want to join the fun.
Event Snapshot:
A blind dinner party at a mystery host home to break the ice and build deeper friendships.
When: Seats only left on Friday, 2 October
Misplaced Your Badge?
Drop a line to secretary@rcw.org.nz to catch the next group order. We'll
just add the small fee to your next RCW invoice.
FYI
Save the Date!
An evening with Rotary International Past President Gordon McInally on Monday, 2 November
As the Trustee Chair-Elect for the Rotary Foundation, The dinner with Gordon will be on Monday 2nd November, at The Wellington Club – 5.30pm arrival for a 6pm start. It will finish by 8.30pm. Bookings not open yet. Gordon should be a very interesting speaker.
More on our Involvement with the Shelter Bags
Our Club is proudly supporting the national Shelterbag project, providing lightweight, waterproof, and portable emergency shelters for rough sleepers.
Led by Christine Hurley, our Community Services Committee identified a strong local need. In November, our Board approved $1,500 to fund 10 bags. Thanks to additional national funding, a much larger shipment arrived in Wellington this past June.
Our members successfully distributed 100+ total bags across the region:
57 bags to the Compassion Soup Kitchen (including our Club's 10)
40 bags to the Salvation Army (via RC Johnsonville)
3 bags to Kim’s Way Night Shelter, Masterton (via RC Carterton)
The committee will review impact reports from the Soup Kitchen later this year to evaluate our future support for Winter 2027.
We Made The Pages Of Rotary Down Under!
The RDU editors asked us to share what is driving our recent membership growth, and you can read all about it right at the end of this month's issue. Flip through to the final pages to check out the RCW feature.
Want to help keep our momentum going?
Invite a guest to our next meeting
Share the article on your social media
Rotary's Record-Breaking Impact: $477M+ Raised for Global Good
The Rotary Foundation raised over US$477 million in unaudited gifts and commitments during 2025-26, enabling the distribution of thousands of grants, the vaccination of more than 350 million children, and the opening of a new peace centre in India. These collective achievements underscore the impactful work members and supporters continue to drive in communities worldwide.
Seeking Next-Generation Leaders: RYLA 2027
We are seeking candidates for the upcoming Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA). RYLA is an immersive, life-changing five-day residential experience designed to help young adults move outside their comfort zones, build lasting confidence, and unlock their leadership potential.
Who we are looking for: Aspiring or current leaders aged 18–24 stepping into team, community, or management roles.
When & Where: 13–17 January 2027, hosted by Wairarapa Rotary Clubs at St Matthew's Campus, Masterton.
How You Can Help
Nominate a Young Leader: If you know a young person with curiosity, energy, and a desire to make a difference, contact Neil Matson at nbjmatson@gmail.com by 19 September.
Interested people can get more information from the RYLA 9940 Website to apply. To nominate someone directly,
Engage Local Businesses: Encourage employers looking to upskill their young staff to sponsor a candidate. Interested businesses can reach out to RYLA 9940 Chair, Paul Newsom, at admin@ryla9940.co.nz.
GLOBAL DISASTER ALERT: Support for Nepal
The true scale of the recent Nepal-Tibet disaster is emerging, and it is an unprecedented catastrophe. As you all know, Ayesha & her husband are from Nepal. This tragedy hits especially close to home for our Rotary family.
The Staggering Toll
Lives Lost: 1,331 people are confirmed dead, and nearly 5000 people remain missing.
Communities Erased: Landslides and heavy mud have virtually wiped entire valley towns off the map.
Total Isolation: 40 major bridges have collapsed. This leaves injured survivors completely trapped without ground access to medical care.
Ongoing Threat: Blocked rivers have created massive, unstable lakes upstream. Heavy rains could burst these natural dams at any moment.
How We Can Help
Over 10,000 households survived the torrents but have lost absolutely everything. They urgently need emergency shelter, clean drinking water, food, and medical supplies.
As People of Action, Rotary is mobilizing to bring rapid relief and long-term recovery to these communities.
How to Donate
You can make a tax-deductible donation directly through Rotary New Zealand World Community Service (RNZWCS):
Bank: Westpac
Account Number: 03-1702-0192208-01
SWIFT Code: WPACNZ2W
Reference Required: Please put your Name and the code 303N in the transaction reference field to direct your funds straight to Nepal.
Please keep the people of Nepal in your thoughts.
GLOBAL DISASTER ALERT: Support for Nepal
The true scale of the recent Nepal-Tibet disaster is emerging, and it is an unprecedented catastrophe. As you all know, Ayesha & her husband are from Nepal. This tragedy hits especially close to home for our Rotary family.
The Staggering Toll
Lives Lost: 1,331 people are confirmed dead, and nearly 5000 people remain missing.
Communities Erased: Landslides and heavy mud have virtually wiped entire valley towns off the map.
Total Isolation: 40 major bridges have collapsed. This leaves injured survivors completely trapped without ground access to medical care.
Ongoing Threat: Blocked rivers have created massive, unstable lakes upstream. Heavy rains could burst these natural dams at any moment.
How We Can Help
Over 10,000 households survived the torrents but have lost absolutely everything. They urgently need emergency shelter, clean drinking water, food, and medical supplies.
As People of Action, Rotary is mobilizing to bring rapid relief and long-term recovery to these communities.
How to Donate
You can make a tax-deductible donation directly through Rotary New Zealand World Community Service (RNZWCS):
Bank: Westpac
Account Number: 03-1702-0192208-01
SWIFT Code: WPACNZ2W
Reference Required: Please put your Name and the code 303N in the transaction reference field to direct your funds straight to Nepal.
Please keep the people of Nepal in your thoughts.
Rotary Volunteering For Mission Toy Shop + Food Sorting
We have received an invitation from the Mission to put our names down for their Christmas voluntary roles - the Toy Shop, sorting food, etc.
Please let Lynn McKenzie know if you are available using this form:
A fraudulent email is circulating that appears to come from Suzanne Snively.
The Trap: The sender claims to be busy and asks you to reply via email to help with a task. This is a gift card phishing scam.
The Fake Address: It uses the fraudulent email: executivecommittee3876[at]gmail.com.
Action Needed: Do NOT reply or click any links. Block the sender immediately.
Report It: Please send a quick note to jujuhag@gmail.com to let us know if you received it. This helps us track which mailing list was compromised.
Stay safe online!
SCAM ALERT: Phishing Email Targeting Members
A fraudulent email is circulating that appears to come from Suzanne Snively.
The Trap: The sender claims to be busy and asks you to reply via email to help with a task. This is a gift card phishing scam.
The Fake Address: It uses the fraudulent email: executivecommittee3876[at]gmail.com.
Action Needed: Do NOT reply or click any links. Block the sender immediately.
Report It: Please send a quick note to jujuhag@gmail.com to let us know if you received it. This helps us track which mailing list was compromised.
Stay safe online!
Wellington Mayor Andrew Little Speaks To Our Club
Thank you to everyone who attended our evening meeting on Monday, 31 August to hear from Wellington Mayor HW Hon Andrew Little! It was a very well-attended event, a huge number of whom were guests. Attendees saw the Mayor inducted as an Honorary Member of our Club. Some great questions were asked of the Mayor too!
Some Stats On Rotary Membership
Rotarians worldwide: 1,134,288 in 36,509 clubs in 528 Districts in 221 countries/geographic areas.
Rotaractors worldwide: 145,395 in 9,660 clubs in 504 districts in 181 countries/geographic areas.
As of January 2026 there are 5,612 Rotary members in 226 clubs in five districts in New Zealand and the Pacific.
Some Stats On Rotary Membership
Rotarians worldwide: 1,134,288 in 36,509 clubs in 528 Districts in 221 countries/geographic areas.
Rotaractors worldwide: 145,395 in 9,660 clubs in 504 districts in 181 countries/geographic areas.
As of January 2026 there are 5,612 Rotary members in 226 clubs in five districts in New Zealand and the Pacific.
Club Events
Major Events for 2026
We do other sparkling events as they arise,
but the following are in the longer term plan:
3 October - Guess Who is Coming to Dinner
16 November (evening) - our AGM
6 December - hold the date for Thorndon Fair
14 December Lunch - holiday lunch
Celebrate 10 Years of Breaking Barriers: Join Our IYM Quiz Night Team!
Form a Rotary club team for a fantastic night of fun, fellowship, and friendly competition! This quiz night fundraiser celebrates a major milestone: Innovative Young Minds (IYM) celebrating 10 years of inspiring young women.
Over the last decade, this incredible programme has empowered more than 1,000 Year 11-12 girls to explore futures in STEMM. By connecting students with industry professionals, IYM breaks down barriers in under-represented sectors. Let’s support this brilliant programme and get our club teams locked in!
Check out the event image for timing and location details. Contact Neil Matson on nbjmatson@gmail.com if you'd like to join the quiz team.
Other Relevant Events
Meetings Coming Up
All events at The Wellington Club, unless otherwise stated
