Last meeting’s two minute talk by Stephen about the dogs that are being trained to detect illness in people, was very interesting. If it helps one person with early detection this has got to be a great.
On Thursday night Jim, Rob, Stephen and myself met up with the Balclutha Rotary Club, and four from the Taieri Rotary Club, to cook a BBQ for them after they had a guided tour of McLay Boats. Thanks, Steve - It was a good night and it was lucky that Jim doubled the meat order as all the food was clean up.
Guest speaker on the 11th October will be ORC Harbourmaster, Steve Rushbrook, and it sounds like he has had an interesting career.
So, keep the wind in your face, be safe and look out to others that may need help.
The Presidents' Changeover night was held on Monday 12 July at the Country Club where members and guests met to celebrate the year and look forward to the 2021/2022 Rotary year.
A wonderful meal was provided by Kelly and her team from Kelly's Kitchen, before the formalities of the evening.
The Rotary Club of Milton were thrilled to award Helen Vollweiler a Paul Harris Fellow for her services to the community over many years.
Helen began her nursing career in Taranaki before travelling and doing further training and working at St Georges Hospital in London. Helen moved here to the Milton District following marrying David in 1983.
Community involvement includes supporting Milton Plunket for 8 years. She was secretary/treasurer for Milburn Home and School for 3 years and secretary/treasurer for the Tokomairiro High School PTA for 5 years. The Toko High role turned into a busy one as it coincided with the first two trail bike rides. A keen golfer, she has had several roles in the Toko Golf Club including Ladies Club Captain. Helen also did a number of trips as a tramping club leader in the early days. Today she is a proud grandmother of two.
The community role we really want to emphasis tonight is Helens involvement with the Milton Community Health Trust. It is our local community health organisation which offers services such as District Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Meals on Wheels and Volunteer driving. MCHT have also held a contract with the Methodist Mission for a Social work service since July 2014, have set up the Tokomairiro Community Hub and Project Bruce - the Community Development Project which now an independent Trust.
Helen first joined the Milton Community Health Trust Board in 2007 so she has been on the Board for 14 years. She became the Chairperson in 2011. Helen has been the Chair for almost 10 years which is the longest consecutive period since MCHT’s inception 25 years ago in 1996.
As I mentioned, Helen trained as a General and Maternity nurse in the North Island specialising in Theatre work, hence her early interest in health. She takes the responsibility of maintaining the high standard of community health care that is provided in Milton seriously.
Helen is a great support to the Nurse Manager Dale Wyber and she leads by example offering her time and guidance freely when it’s needed, while ensuring that the governance duties that are essential are taken care of in a timely way. During her 14 years on the Board Helen has very rarely missed a meeting. She often works her other commitments around any MCHT obligations. (Even her golf trips!).
Helen has been a representative on;
The South Otago Health Locality Network group
The Community Development Project Bruce Steering Committee
The MCHT Management committee who are responsible for the staff wage reviews and SDHB contract reviews
Attended information, negotiation and audit meetings with the Southern District Health Board
Helen also provides positive support and holds signing authority and grant funding, was engaged when the alterations at the community hub were being undertaken and generally shows interest in any activities that benefit the Bruce Districts health and wellbeing.
As the Board Chair, Helen has also been engaged with the other companies that MCHT have operated which include Eden Street Ltd (who used to own the Medical Centre), the Tokomairiro Community Health Trust (which is a subsidiary of Milton Community Health who hold funds for community health work outside of the SDHB contract), and the Tokomairiro Community Hub.
Helen has taken on all of these roles and duties in a quiet, empathetic and respectful way that garners trust and goodwill. She gives freely of her time and I am aware that Milton Community Health is delighted that she is being honoured with the Paul Harris Fellowship. They can’t think of a more deserving person!
On behalf of everyone present, Congratulations Helen!
Helen and David's family were present at the Rotary Changeover evening to celebrate with Helen.
The Presidents changeover speech is a chance to remind ourselves of the activities the Club has been involved in during the year.
Alongside our regular activities such as maintaining McNally Track, supporting the Tramping Club and Youth Adventure Trust which involved a morning splitting and moving firewood, we have continued to contribute funds to a full range of activities supporting youth, examples include school sports trips, bursary’s to Outward Bound and Toko High bursary. We also supported several families in a time of crisis and continued our support for the Milton Community Health Trust and all the other contributions Suzie outlined earlier.
Alongside these regular activities we have cut, split and sold some firewood, hosted a Dn Central Club visit to McLay Boats, hosted a Bay of Plenty Club Rotary exchange with a visit to Calder & Stewart offices and steel shed. We provided some funding and put together a glasshouse at Toko High, have potted up several hundred native trees, ran a collection for child cancer, supported an inaugural Pink Ribbon event and after lots of discussion, have commitment from our club and the Clutha District Council for an appropriate memorial for Peter Vollweiler.
We have also worked closely with Balclutha Rotary Club, the starting point for that was Tania Lowrey’s cancelled 2020 District Conference, but both Clubs followed through with funding and delivering the projects that were planned as part of conference. We jointly won the L&L Wilson Cup for best collaborative project at District Conference. We have also collaborated with Clutha to run a successful “Meet the Candidates meeting” in the led up to the election and a joint meeting where families who have stayed at a Ronald McDonald House spoke of the support their family had from the charity.
This is by no means a complete list of our activities during the year, but in my view our small club continues to have a significant positive impact on our community, when you add the Tramping Club and the Youth Adventure Trust with whom we are closely connected, the trifecta is a very special mix that delivers significant benefits for our community.
I would like to thank all Rotarians and your families for your support during the year, the range of activities the Club has been involved with means all members have been active, thank you. I look forward to being involved as our new President Colin puts his stamp on our Club in the coming year.
Treasurer, Suzie Bearman, reported on the grants made by the Milton Rotary Club over the past year.
A total of $40,569.35 was donated to the local community and another $6750 to overseas projects.
The local projects included the Fire Brigade, Toko Community Recreation Centre, Community Garden, Life Education, Tokomairiro High School Greenhouse, Milton Kindergarten, Outward Bound students (x4), National Cheer Leading participant, Blessed Box, Milton Health Community Trust, Milton Elder C.A.R.E, THS Senior Touch Team, Webcam Taieri Moth, Pink Ribbon Event, RMHC Ronald McDonald, Waihola School (Aqua Bots Kits), THS Music Lessons.
Many members of our community were supported through this wide range of donations.
Thank you to Suzie for her continuing efforts as the Club Treasurer.
Another Successful year for the Milton Rotary Otago Youth Adventure Tramping Club.
The Tramping Club has had another very interesting year. President Rob Wilton expressed thanks to all those who helped to make it successful. Firstly, to the committee members for their time and expertise, and especially to the Secretary, Emma Lister, who has had to cope with all of the changes Covid brought to us again! A special thanks also to Janine Dunlop for the amazing job she does in organizing all the food for the trips.
Rob also paid tribute to the previous President, Brian Pickard, who sadly died during the year – his dedication and expertise are greatly missed.
A special thank you also goes to all the leaders of the many trips that are held during the season. Without them the trips would not be able to operate. The commitment, time and skill of these people is what makes the trips so successful.
This past season was also affected by Covid with three trips being cancelled when Auckland went into lockdown.
Rob announced that $60K was being donated to each of the Milton Rotary Club and the Otago Youth Adventure Trust from the Tramping Club for the past season. The total amount donated since the inception of the Tramping Club, now exceeds $1million to each of these two clubs – an outstanding contribution.
Bookings for the 2021/2022 season are now open. The website had 1237 hits in the first 10 minutes of being live and began to crash. Thanks to Emma, Steve and Wendy McLay for their work in managing to keep the site going. By the end of the day there were 400 bookings – 80% of the trip bookings in the first day! We are looking ahead to another very successful season this year.
Colin Calteaux updated the club on the activities of OYATI. After a difficult year in 2020, both Tautuku and Berwick Camps are back up and running and remaining busy since September 2020. In September, Steve Prescott was appointed to the role of Operations Manager. His transition into the team was effortless and exciting work is happening.
OYATI has continued expenditure in maintaining its assets over the last year. Examples of where this expenditure is being utilized at Berwick includes replacement of the range, fridge and toaster, installation of the sterilizer, replacement of the half bunks so that all bunk s are now fit for purpose, installation of vinyl flooring in the bunk rooms, replacement of the steps and bridges leading to the flying fox and abseiling wall and some planting around the grounds. Wiring ad the bathroom have also been upgraded in the Warden’s house.
Tautuku has also had considerable work completed – carpet installed and painting in bunk rooms, doors installed between hall and outdoor area, and heatpumps are to be installed in bunkrooms. Plans for the next upgrade are being finalized and include fresh paint and upgrade of C Block, a new Warden’s house and expanding on the existing number of beds to cater for a little over 100 people.
A working bee weekend is planned for Rotary Clubs at Tautuku for 15 October.
OYATI are still trying to sell Sutton – progress has been slow however it is hoped this will come to fruition in the near future.
Colin extended his thanks to the Tramping Club and Milton Rotary Club for their efforts in supporting OYATI and for the generous donation of $60k they received this year.
2020/21 President Stephen Woodhead has handed the chains of office on to 2021/22 President Colin Calteaux.
A huge thanks goes to Stephen for leading our club for that past year.
Stephen and Colin share the RI President, Shekha Meht's banner and motto - Serve to Change Lives
Shekhar is urging members to become more involved in service projects, saying that caring for and serving other is the best way to live because it changes not only other people's lives, but also our own.
Colin is keen for our club to continue with the initiatives we have, for example, the Tramping Club, firewood and working bees. He is looking at continuing to develop our relationship with the Rotary Club of Balclutha and their new president Peter.
Colin thanked the new executive members for putting their hands up and is looking forward to working with the team. He is keen that we showcase to the community more of what we as a club do and represent. Including a short bulletin of our activities and what we have done recently in the local Genesis each month will hopefully rally more engagement and attract new members.
Colin closed by thanking everyone present and encouraging us all to have a bit of fun this year!
The Rotary Club of Milton were thrilled to award Helen Vollweiler a Paul Harris Fellow for her services to the community over many years.
Colin Calteaux updated the club on the activities of OYATI. After a difficult year in 2020, both Tautuku and Berwick Camps are back up and running and remaining busy since September 2020. In September, Steve Prescott was appointed to the role of Operations Manager. His transition into the team was effortless and exciting work is happening.
