We had a very successful morning on Saturday collecting for the Child Cancer appeal, thank you John M, Colin, Peter M and Boyce. A total of $204 was collected. I’m told a good turnout at firewood working bee on Monday resulted in progress whittling the pile down, another two nights to finish?
Mayor Bryan Cadogan is our speaker next week. Bryan will update us on Milton matters and comment on the Governments Three Waters Review.
To avoid a clash with the upcoming Otago Anniversary day and Easter we have decided to meet two Mondays in a row (8th and 15th) before going back to our two weekly cycle. The 15th suits Lucy Coutts, we sponsored Lucy so she could attend Rotary Young-Person Leadership Awards (RYLA) We look forward to meeting Lucy.
At our last meeting we had the pleasure of meeting David Yilma, the new Digital Technology teacher at Tokomairiro High School. David is from the Czech Republic, born in Prague. After finishing a degree in Biology and Geography, he made the decision to do his teaching degree. David spent a few years teaching in the Czech Republic before heading off to do a charity project in the Himalayas. This was cancelled at the last minute so, because he could not get a working holiday visa to come to New Zealand, David headed to England, where he has taught for six years. At the end of 2019 he decided he needed a change and made the decision to come to New Zealand at the beginning of 2020. David bought a campervan and travelled down through New Zealand spending time coming down the Westcoast of the South Island and then ended up in Cheviot for lockdown – he stayed there for 3 months. After leaving Cheviot he headed to friends in Wellington then to New Plymouth. During this time he has been teaching Czech students online (early mornings and evenings) and working as an IT Developer. However, David wanted to go back into a school. He had the option of a few positions, however, selected Tokomairiro High School
In all the schools David has worked, he has been very involved in developing IT systems and teaching Digital Technology. While in London, David taught at Somerhill School, a very different schooling system and this has overturned his thinking about how education can be. The school was based on a very democratic system where students were very much involved in the decision making within the school. When asked where he believed education should head, he felt that education in New Zealand needed to be more flexible – both in curriculum, timetable and physical spaces, and that students and community should have more say in the rules within a school. He believes, and has experienced it at Somerhill, that if students’ ideas and contributions are valued, they will flourish.
David’s other real love is scouting – he described scouting as being “the turning point in what I do and how I think. He mentioned that scouting shaped his life, especially in terms of his interest in volunteering and trying new things. He has been involved in leading scouting in a number of years.
David not have a work visa for New Zealand as he came on a visitor’s visa, however, the work visa came through a few days before he spoke to us.
Thank you to David for giving of his time to come and share his experiences with us.
On Tuesday 16 February 2021 the launch of the Bruce Stewart Leadership Programme was to have happened on what would have been Bruce’s 90th birthday. This programme has been developed to support people from the Tokomairiro region in learning and leadership. Unfortunately, the launch had to be cancelled due to Covid level 2 restrictions.
Bruce has left a legacy to support future leaders, among people of the Tokomairiro community, in the development of leadership skills. There are two funding rounds per year (May and October), and up to $50,000 per year available.
This is an amazing contribution to the community and opportunity for individuals. It truly does represent the kind of man Bruce Stewart was, and his love for the Tokomairiro community.
Borland and Milford Track trips were cancelled the night before leaving due to Covid restrictions. Alps to Ocean was also cancelled. The club were very grateful to the suppliers of food – both Four Square and Suzie credited any perishable food.
Routeburn/Greenstone and Stewart Island went out the following week.
Kepler Tramp – Stephen reported that this was a successful although very cold in the mornings and the second day was cold – less than zero degrees for about 5 hours. One of the participants of the tramp was Barbara Hall who turns 90 in April!
Christine Cutler, President of the Rotary Club of Balclutha attended our last meeting and gave a report of things that were happening in Balclutha. The Balclutha club meet every week, although not every week is a dinner meeting. They like out get out and about into the community.
The club has been involved with supporting people in the community to get their driver’s licence. I know a person who has been involved in these lessons and has found it invaluable.
The club also run a Stewart Island Salmon sale two or three times a year as a fundraiser. They now also have access to local honey they will also be selling.
Rotary Balclutha and Milton Fellowship Meeting, Thursday 27th May, Balclutha T&C
We have been fortunate to secure Kathryn Vernal and Sarah Davies to be our clubs' Guest Speakers to share their family's Ronald McDonald House stories at this joint Rotary Clubs Fellowship Meeting
Jenny Scott has been finding it very difficult to attend Rotary while working shift work. Directors have decided to offer Jenny an Honorary membership. Jenny has accepted and is very grateful to the Club.
Directors have agreed to fund two thousand dollars towards the Dunedin Marine Search and Rescue installation of a webcam at Taieri Mouth.
Jackie made us aware of a Dunedin family whose son, Toutai Mafi is in Star Ship Hospital suffering from Encephalitis. We agreed to support them with a $500 grant. I have contacted the Dunedin and Taieri Rotary Clubs challenging them to match our grant, this has resulted in several Clubs and other individuals making donations.
Directors have decided to purchase one copy of Mana Tangata People of Action to have as part of the Club records and available for members to read. The book has been written to celebrate 100 years of Rotary in NZ and the Pacific.
Rotary supports activities that conserve and protect natural resources, advance ecological sustainability, and foster harmony between people and the environment. When you give to The Rotary Foundation, we empower Rotary members to take action to:
Protect and restore land, coastal, marine, and freshwater resources
Enhance the capacity of communities to manage and conserve natural resources
Support sustainable agriculture, fishing, and aquaculture practices
Address the cause of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Strengthen ecosystems and communities that are affected by climate change
Support education to promote behaviors that protect the environment
Advocate for sustainable consumption to build an economy that uses resources more efficiently
Address environmental justice issues and public health concerns
Our goal is to fund positive, measurable, and sustainable projects that protect our environment. Thank you for your service and for supporting this new initiative.
Our team are very excited about the event we are putting together for you all, and have tried to make it as affordable as possible by keeping the registration cost to $150pp and we also have some home hosted opportunities :)
We are hoping people will register early to help assist with planning. Families welcome :)
We hope to do visits or zoom sessions with clubs in the new year to further promote the conference - but I'm sure you've all had a good heads up from DG Dylan.
MILTON ROTARY members - Jackie and Glenis are organising a group to go to the conference. Let either of us know if you are keen to come along and join in – the conferences are always great fun! Waimate 19 – 21 March 2021
At our last meeting we had the pleasure of meeting David Yilma, the new Digital Technology teacher at Tokomairiro High School. David is from the Czech Republic, born in Prague. After finishing a degree in Biology and Geography, he made the decision to do his teaching degree. David spent a few years teaching in the Czech Republic before heading off to do a charity project in the Himalayas. This was cancelled at the last minute so, because he could not get a working holiday visa to come to New Zealand, David headed to England, where he has taught for six years. At the end of 2019 he decided he needed a change and made the decision to come to New Zealand at the beginning of 2020. David bought a campervan and travelled down through New Zealand spending time coming down the Westcoast of the South Island and then ended up in Cheviot for lockdown – he stayed there for 3 months. After leaving Cheviot he headed to friends in Wellington then to New Plymouth. During this time he has been teaching Czech students online (early mornings and evenings) and working as an IT Developer. However, David wanted to go back into a school. He had the option of a few positions, however, selected Tokomairiro High School
On Tuesday 16 February 2021 the launch of the Bruce Stewart Leadership Programme was to have happened on what would have been Bruce’s 90th birthday. This programme has been developed to support people from the Tokomairiro region in learning and leadership. Unfortunately, the launch had to be cancelled due to Covid level 2 restrictions.
