The following grants were approved by directors.

 

Brendon reminded the club of some of its past history. He quoted David Sumpters " 50 Years of Service " writen for the 50th anniversary. Some past projects included the development of Moore Park. ( which included a skating rink)  A picnic area at Clarksville and the building of McNally Track. In 1975 Milton Rotary became involved with the Otago Youth Adventure Trust Tautuku Lodge. This association continues today with working bees at Tautuku and Berwick Lodges. A significant project in 1974 was the Milton medical survey. This was only the third time in the world such an in depth survey had been undertaken. Resurveys were taken in following years. The medical surveys and the building of Murray Hall at Berwick recieved significant achievement awards. The tramping trips started in the mid eighties and as you know continue today. They finance many projects and groups. Two members have gone on to become District Governors - Stewart Ombler 1969-70 and Rob Wilton 1997-98. Rosie Burridge became our first women member and in 1997 Club President.

  Rob and Gretel Wilton being recognised for their contributions to the Tramping Club over many years.

President Stan spoke to the club about a case he was involved with in 2016 in his role as a senior police officer in Dunedin. The case related to the murder of Sharon Comerford by Stephen Findlay at Seacliff north of Dunedin. Findlay was discovered seriously injured in the Truby King reserve with a self inflicted bullet wound. Sharon Comerford was later found dead in her home with significant head injuries. The case officers assumed she had been shot with Findlays gun. No evidence of a gun shot was found at the scene and no bullet was found. Despite this the pathologist stated death was definetly by gun shot. The detectives working the case felt the evidence suggested death was from blunt force trauma. The pathologist still disagreed stating death was from a bullet from Findlays gun. Findlay in the meantime was making a slow recovery in Dunedin Hospital after numerous surgerys. Some months later the pathologist made contact with Stan requesting further investigation. This involved getting 6 pig heads and fireing into them with the same ammunition and rifle as Findlay had used. This resulted in the pathologist changing the cause of death to blunt force injuries from bludgening. Shortly after this Findlay was to stand trial for the murder of Sharon Comerford. There had been long standing issues between Findlay and Sharon Comerford resulting in a number of complaints to Police that had not been followed up. Findlay had been overheard stating he would" take matters into his own hands." Sadly he did. Findlay in disscussion with his Lawer Judith Ablert Kerr pleaded guilty. Stan spoke of the difficulties of this case - how the detectives initially had their " blinkers "on. This incident occured at the same time as the balcony collapse at a student flat during a Six Sixty concert in Dunedin stretching Police resources.

"Being positive isn't pretending everything is good. It is seeing the positive in things."