Duncan McDonald (John Ilott Trust) and Usma Azhar (new member)
Karen Coutts
31 Aug.
TBA
TBA
Christian Pera
Karen Coutts
N/A
N/A
Club News
Rotary and South African High Commission combine for Mandela Day service
On Friday 17 July, High Commissioner and RCW Member HE Col Johnny Sexwale joined President Suzanne, President-Elect Neil, and Johnny's Rotary buddy Roger to mark International Mandela Day through hands-on community service. This global initiative honours Nelson Mandela's legacy, encouraging people to dedicate 67 minutes to helping their community—representing his 67 years of public service and fight for social justice.
Hands-on work at BGI: Continuing their annual tradition of supporting Wellington non-profits, the High Commission team visited the Boys and Girls Institute (BGI) in Te Aro. The group spent their service time cleaning and maintaining BGI's vegetable garden and orchard.
Looking ahead to next year: President Suzanne announced plans to organise a major joint project with Johnny for next year's Mandela Day. This upcoming initiative will provide an excellent opportunity for all interested club members to get involved and serve together.
Well done everyone!
Breakfast, goals and good company at World Cup Final
The early birds of RCW kicked off their morning with a live viewing of the FIFA World Cup Final on Monday, 20 July.
Everyone enjoyed a good breakfast paired with good company. It was a treat to watch two interestingly different styles of football clash on the world stage, culminating in a well-deserved victory for the best team.
A big thank you to John Boshier for organising the event and the technology
Board News
Creating lasting impact: transforming
Rotary International's vision into local action
We’re actively aligning our club service with the current RI President Olayinka H. Babalola’s global theme, Create Lasting Impact.
Responding directly to member feedback requesting deeper community engagement, our Community Development Strategy Committee is building a new project framework. This strategy shifts our focus from temporary fixes to generational solutions.
Strategic Priority: Identify and advance projects that drive long-term, sustainable change.
Dual Action: Address immediate Wellington needs while building channels to reduce them over time.
Member Empowerment: Ensure our collective volunteer hours and funds create a measurable legacy.
Stay tuned as we finalise this framework to maximise our local
impact!
Board approves funding for mobile X-ray machine and mental health initiatives
The Board recently ratified two grants to support vital healthcare and mental health projects:
Hospital equipment: A $10,000 grant will help our District purchase a mobile X-Ray machine for the Dorothy Spotswood Charity Hospital.
Mental health: A $2,000 global grant pledge was approved for the "Lifting the Lid" initiative.
Volunteering Opportunities
🌿 Join the New Environment Committee!
Help shape Wellington’s green future. Join the new RCW Environment Committee today.
We already planted 100,000 trees. We achieved world-first Carbon Zero status. Now, we need your passion to expand our impact.
Why Join Us?
Hands-on legacy projects: Help drive major tree-planting initiatives and protect our local ecosystems.
Protect our city: Work on vital projects like restoring Wellington streams to prevent urban flooding.
Support biodiversity: Champion the Predator Free Wellington 2030 vision and boost urban wildlife.
Inspire and learn: Organise dynamic guest speakers, field trips, and educational visits for the club.
Empower the next generation: Help us attract, mentor, and connect younger members through global Rotary networks across Oceania.
Ready to Make a Difference?
We want to hear from you! To express your interest or find out more, please contact Roger Blakeley: roger.blakeley@outlook.com, 021 229 6928
Let’s work together to restore our environment and inspire action!
Be a History Maker: Support the 2026 Heritage Festival
RCW and local Rotary clubs are proud partners of the region's biggest heritage celebration! From 24 October to 15 November, 200 interesting events will bring our local history to life. The countdown is on, and we need your energy to make it a success.
Here are two ways you can jump in and help right now, before the gates open:
Share your talent: Join our countdown team to lend a hand with social media design, software, account auditing, brochure delivery, or event hosting.
Become a financial champion: Sign up as a Friend of the Festival to provide vital, ongoing backing.
Ready to get involved? Let Roger Blakeley know - at roger.blakeley@outlook.com or 021 229 6928 today!
Club Events
Major Events for 2026
4 August - Manon opera - sold out!
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
Rotary Beyond Our Club
Two districts, one future: our journey to 2028
Districts 9940 and 9999 are officially merging into one single Rotary district on 1 July 2028. This changes our structural boundary to meet Rotary International sustainability requirements, reducing Zone 8 from 19 districts down to 9.
Here is what you need to know and the immediate actions our club members need to take:
What this means for our club
Timeline: The multi-year amalgamation process concludes on 1 July 2028.
Transition: A funded Transition Team and Joint Focus Groups are managing the process.
Club impact: Expect minimal changes this year, with gradual joint operations starting next year.
Immediate actions required
Stop purchasing branded gear: Do not buy any new items branded with "9940" or "9999" numbers, as our new combined district number is still unconfirmed.
Consider District leadership: Past Club Presidents should look out for upcoming application details to apply for the District Governor Nominee (DGN) role by late September.
Build connections: Proactively network and collaborate with neighbouring district clubs to build early camaraderie.
