2022 sees Rotary Matamata celebrating 75 years of service to Matamata and communities around the world. Here's a few words from the records of charter member Harold Schofield. Harold was a partner at the law firm Schofield and Petersen (now MagillEarl).
Rotary Matamata has been serving communities near and far since 1922. We are planning formal and informal celebrations, a book, media coverage and more. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for more information and please email us if you have any ideas or historical material you would like to share.
Matamata has an active and friendly Inner Wheel closely associated with Rotary Matamata
Inner Wheel is an International organisation whose objectives are:
- to promote true friendship
- to encourage the ideals of personal service
- to foster international understanding
Want an excellent way to promote Rotary in this our special Centennial year? Rotary Matamata has produced a number plate surround that allows Rotarians from around the country to mark this special occasion in a lasting way.
Rotary is celebrating the establishment of the first clubs in New Zealand and Australia in 1921 (Auckland, Wellington, Melbourne and Sydney). 100 years on Rotary is more diverse and community-focused than ever but still faces challenges to be recognised for the work we do.
Rotary Matamata project co-ordinator David Hulme says the plate surrounds are an excellent way to promote Rotary’s 100 years of service in New Zealand, both in this the 100th year and in years to come.
Rotary Matamata has always strongly supported our town's youth providing many opportunities for individual development. However, Matamata’s young people, and their parents, are frequently not aware of what is available. So here, we provide a one-stop shop of what is on offer. Please click the links provided for more information or contact us if you would like to know more.
The details here are correct at time of publication.
Please check District website links for current dates information
Throughout 2019 Rotary clubs around the world are celebrating the 30th anniversary of opening membership to women and in February Rotary Matamata went all out with a specially themed ‘pink’ evening to mark the occasion. Prior to 1989, the worldwide service organisation had been a male bastion but for more than two decades prior to the initial introduction of female members, numerous clubs on different continents had petitioned to open the membership criteria to all regardless of gender. In 1991, Gaye Belton became the first female member of the Matamata Rotary and today her daughter Jane is one of our 11 female members. Two female Matamata Rotarians talk here about the organisation they belong to and what being a Rotarian has meant to them.
Article published in The Scene 23 July 2019
New Zealand and Australia are well known for their trans-Tasman rivalry but that is not the case for students on the Rotary Australia New Zealand Exchange (RANZE) programme. You are more likely to see great friendships develop between the young people ‘matched’ on this six-month exchange which is aimed at year 10 and 11 students.
One such matched couple are year 10 Matamata College student Ruby Deare, and Abigail Martin from South Australia. Ruby applied for the exchange through Rotary Matamata and on being accepted was one of a team of six students who in July departed for Australia. Ruby and Abigail first met in April when the Australian students arrived in New Zealand. Students live for 12 weeks with their matched twin’s family. Ruby is an only child and her mother Miranda Thomson pointed out that learning to share was something Ruby had to learn very quickly. “And Abigail learned what it was like to live with a family very different from her own”. Both the girls have gained confidence during the exchange. Just this week Ruby has given a presentation to Abigail’s local Rotary club about her life here in Matamata and Abigail commented that she did things in New Zealand that took her out her comfort zone and that she would never have attempted before she joined this exchange.RANZE is open to students aged 13-16½ years but Miranda believes that year 10 is a great year for the exchange, before students start their NCEA’s. “I thought that participation in RANZE would move Ruby out her comfort zone, help her gain confidence and learn about a different culture. Already I can see the girls have formed a firm friendship. A beautiful bond.” From her current home in South Adelaide Ruby will join the other New Zealand students for a week-long ‘safari’ to the Blue Mountains and Sydney.
At Rotary Matamata we have a dream that Matamata will one day have a walkway that goes around the whole town. We have for many years worked towards this. In 2015 we established the Peria Road Reserve Memorial Grove and planted 100 kahikatea trees to commemorate 100 years since the First World War.
On 14th February 2018 we opened the adjoining section the Stanley Farm Lane walkway. Read the full story, courtesy of the Matamata Chronicle.
Matamata, 3400
New Zealand