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Welcome to Rotary Matamata

2019 District Conference

2019 District Conference

Matamata Interactors

Matamata Interactors

Women in Rotary

Women in Rotary

Our own District Governor

Our own District Governor

Stanley Farm Walkway

Stanley Farm Walkway

Engaging with local hapu

Engaging with local hapu

Rotary International Conference Polio Walk

Rotary International Conference Polio Walk

District Conference dinner

District Conference dinner

Santa Parade

Santa Parade

Concert by the Lake

Concert by the Lake

Conference dinner

Conference dinner

Women in Rotary

Women in Rotary

Delivering polio vaccines in Pakistan

Delivering polio vaccines in Pakistan

Vocational visit

Vocational visit

The social side of Rotary

The social side of Rotary

Purple Pinkie for Polio Day

Purple Pinkie for Polio Day

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Club Stories
Christmas Trees
Christmas Christmas Trees Rotary Christmas Trees Rotary Matamata
Christmas Trees
Did you know you can buy your real Christmas tree AND support communities locally and worldwide? How? By buying a Rotary Christmas tree this year.
 
Christmas trees can be purchased:
  • throughout December at Four Seasons and Kaimai garden centres and Pippins florist
  • outside Mitre 10, 9am – 1pm on Saturdays 5th, 12th and 19th December and,
  • at Matamata market on 12th December
A BIG THANK YOU TO THE LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT SUPPORT ROTARY MATAMATA CHRISTMAS TREES
 
Do you want to ‘give back’ to your community? Does Rotary sound like something you would like to get involved with? Come and meet us and see if Rotary Matamata is right for you. 
Read more...
Fish Dinner for Rotary 
(another great Clothier fundraiser!)
Fish dinner Henry Clothier Rotary Fundraiser
1 Comment
Fish Dinner for Rotary (another great Clothier fundraiser!)
It was to a very reluctant wife a number of years ago that I mentioned that, for a fund raiser Rotary Matamata could host a seafood dinner. It could be at our place and she could do the cooking! On writing this I can understand why she was reluctant. However, over the years I managed to wear her down and, with the intervention from another Rotarian, I set about offering the night to help support the Rotary club funds. I didn’t want it to be just Rotary members, as Rotarians give constantly throughout every year, so I started asking around to see if there would be some interest. 
 
Read more...
Who are we? Robert Stuart
Matamata College Interact Robert Stuart
Who are we? Robert Stuart
Hi I’m Robert Stuart originally from the North West of England. After leaving school in 1969 I farmed in Lancashire in partnership with my parents and brother. We leased a dairy farm and had a livestock haulage business. 
 
In 1986 my wife Pauline and I bought a dairy farm in South West Wales, 15kms north of Carmarthen. Our three daughters were totally immersed in the Welsh language at school, Pauline and I also learnt to speak a small amount of Welsh. We made some tremendous friends in Wales and it was hard to leave them

We were accepted for emigration to New Zealand in 1994, sold everything in Wales and in 1995 we bought a dairy farm in Arohena. I had wanted to live in New Zealand after learning about New Zealand from our Kiwi geography teacher who taught me at Kirkham Grammar School. We first applied for emigration in 1981 but didn’t meet the criteria. It took 14 years from first applying to being accepted but was home from us first arriving. 

We sold our Arohena dairy farm in 2012 and built our home in Matamata on an 11 hectare maize block we’d bought in 2011. We now grow maize and graze seven Dexter Cattle (my pets). 
My wife and I didn’t know many people in the Matamata area so Pauline joined Inner Wheel and I joined Rotary. We have made lots of friends and enjoy the fellowship of Rotary. I used to go to meetings when farming and only came into contact with farmers, now I meet people from all walks of life in Rotary all with the same purpose of helping the world be a better place. Rotary is like a second family to me. 
I joined Matamata Rotary in December 2014 and have been on Programme (booking the speakers) for two years and am in my second year as Director of Service Projects and have a dedicated team who help with projects around Matamata. I am also helping with Interact at Matamata College. I see these enthusiastic youngsters as our future leaders. 
Our daughters are all married, live in New Zealand and have given us nine grandchildren to keep us on our toes. 
Rotary Matamata offers exciting opportunities for young people
Posted by Michelle Tanner on Oct 10, 2019
GRSP Interact Outward Bound RYE RYLA RYPEN Summer Science School Walsh Flying School
Rotary Matamata offers exciting opportunities for young people
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
Read more...
Women in Rotary
Posted by David Hulme on May 01, 2019
Glenda Milligan Leonie Tisch Michelle Tanner Sheryl Ertel Women in Rotary
Women in Rotary
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.
Read more...
Celebrating 50 years of service above self
Posted by Caron Stewart on Sep 05, 2019
50 years in Rotary Merv King
Celebrating 50 years of service above self
Story as published in the Scene 3 September 2019
When Richard Metcalfe suggested Merv King was worthy of celebration due to his half century of service to Matamata Rotary, Merv matter of factly said it’s easy. “All you have to do is stay alive” he laughed! “Rotary has rewarded all our lives beyond all measure and being part of such an organisation has been an honour and a privilege. Anyway, I can’t stop now, my wife Janet has got out of the habit of cooking on a Tuesday night so what would I do for dinner?!”
Read more...
Rotary Nose How to Fundraise! (Red Nose Day)
Posted by Milly Keys
Cupcakes CureKids RedNoseDay
1 Comment
Rotary Nose How to Fundraise! (Red Nose Day)

 Story as published in the Scene 1 October 2019

There was certainly no clowning about last Friday morning as Matamata Rotary members hit the streets with hundreds of home baked cupcakes. Every year, Matamata Rotarians and their significant others slip on a pinny, whip out the mixing bowls and get their bake on! For what you may ask...well that would be to raise much needed funds for Cure Kids and their biggest fundraising appeal, Red Nose Day. With the inaugural fundraiser in 1989, Red Nose Day has grown to become one of our country’s most recognised appeals. Held annually in September, the funds raised go to help fund big research for little lives.

 
David Hulme, Amandine Gerlache, Wade Linnell and Job Bruins
Lt-Rt David Hulme, Amandine Gerlache, Wade Linnell and Job Bruins
Rotary Director, David Hulme, was delighted by the support given to Rotary and Cure Kids. “We must give particular thanks to our fantastic business community who donated very generously this year” says David. “Each and every business that we visited gave a little something and, even if they didn’t want a cupcake, they still dug deep for the cause. This year saw a significant increase in the amount raised which was over $2,600.”
Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbours, friends, leaders and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.
Introducing our Rotary Youth Exchange student Amandine Gerlache
Posted on Sep 30, 2019
Amandine Gerlache Rotary Youth Exchange
1 Comment
Introducing our Rotary Youth Exchange student Amandine Gerlache

My name is Amandine Gerlache. I am 17 years old and I from Celles a village of about 500 people near Dinant in Belgium. Celles is considered to be one of the most beautiful villages in all of Belgium!

My sister, Stéphy was a Rotary Exchange student to Mexico two years ago and really enjoyed the year. It was a very positive experience for her and made me think I would like to do the same thing. I wanted to experience a different lifestyle; school, food, culture, scenery and be able to compare this with my life in Belgium. This would help me make decisions in my future life.
 
I love sports. Everything. Especially volleyball, running, wake-boarding and water skiing. But most of all I love skiing. I joined the Scouts when I was six-years old and in 2018 became a Scout leader.
 
My sister Stéphy is 20 years old and I have a younger brother, Arnaud who is 15 years old. Stéphy is at university studying bioengineering. My dad Danny, is a baker and our family own two patisseries. My mum Myriam is the manager. I occasionally work in the patisseries and also do some babysitting to earn money. 
 
I love travelling. In 2017 I went on a school trip to Burkina Faso to do volunteer work with the Red Cross, building and decorating a school for children from 7 to 15 years of age. The children were very happy but did not know any other life. However, it was shocking for me to see such poverty. The music and dancing were very interesting.
 
I have had holidays with my family in; Poland, Spain, Mexico, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Morocco and Iceland! But, my favourite place is New Zealand! One thing I love about doing an exchange is being able to live with New Zealand families and really experience life in this country. It is completely different to just having a holiday.
 
My school day in Belgium is from 8.30am until 4pm except for Wednesday when I finish at 12md. I attend a Catholic College in Dinant of about 500 students. My cousin is a maths teacher there and she takes my brother and I to school. It is about a 15-minute drive. Next year I will study economics, maths and English as my optional subjects. My favourite is economics and last year I received a merit award in this subject! As part of my schooling next year I will also do a Red Cross First Aid and Resuscitation course. 
 
I look forward to meeting many people, making new friends and having lots of different experiences here in New Zealand. I am willing to try anything! My host families are very important to me and I am very grateful to them and to Rotary for giving me this experience. I am sure this year will be very important in my life.
 
 
 
Interact provides a new sports facility for Matamata
Posted by Michelle Tanner on Aug 28, 2019
Alex Bradley Brooke Dunbar Matamata College Interact Molly Burgess-Munro Patrick Roskam Rotary Youth
Interact provides a new sports facility for Matamata
Story published in The Scene 30 April 2019
In 2018 Matamata College Interact was looking for a project that would serve the Matamata Community. The result is a new half size basketball court which local sports celebrity Alex Bradley will formally open on Friday 3 May during the opening gala.
Matamata College Interact, sponsored by Rotary Matamata, was launched in 2017 to give students the opportunity to serve their local community and others throughout the world. Their first project was to collect books which were distributed to primary schools in Pakistan and Nuie. For their next one they looked at local needs. They knew that break-ins to ‘the turf’ the courts at the College locked to protect their specialised surfaces, were a problem for the school. Principal Alan Munro was keen to provide a facility at the College that would be open to the public throughout the year. The concept of a reduce sized basketball court was born. 
Past Interact Presidents Brooke Dunbar and Patrick Roskam worked hard to secure funding from Rotary Matamata and Matamata College Sports Club and permission from the Board of Trustees. Students at the College planned the court and Interact, assisted by teacher Mike Hills secured generous support from Carey Concrete Services to build the court. 
Interact, under this year’s President Molly Burgess Munro and Service Projects Committee Chair Hannah Jacobsen, are currently planning the opening gala which is open to the public from 3.30-5.30pm on Friday 3 May. They plan to have live music, face painting, a sausage sizzle, a hoop shooting competition for all ages and prizes. They have even challenged Rotarians to a short basketball match.
Interact are delighted that local sports personality and ex-Chiefs player Alex Bradley will perform the official opening.
Matamata Rotarians Robert Stuart and Michelle Tanner have been supporting the Interactors with this project. “We have so impressed with the enthusiasm of the students. It has been very satisfying to see them work together so successfully to bring this facility to fruition.”
And already Matamata College Interact are planning their next project. Watch this space!
Rotary Australia New Zealand Exchange 2019 Ruby Deare
Posted by Michelle Tanner on Aug 28, 2019
RANZE
Rotary Australia New Zealand Exchange 2019 Ruby Deare
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.
 
 
Read more...
Auction for NZ Reps
Posted by David Hulme on Jul 05, 2019
Auction NZ Volleyball Reps
Auction for NZ Reps
The event was held to help raise funds for five Matamata College students – Ollie Morton-Farrelly, Te Aorere Wharawhara, Olivia Goodwin, Mollie Allison and Conor Goodwin – who have all been selected to represent New Zealand in various volleyball events around the globe this year.
 Under the hammer of the incomparable John Price, and the organisation of David Hulme, the auction was a big success, raising more than $4,500. Rotarians from Morrinsville, including 2019-2020 District Governor Peter Maxwell, and Te Aroha joined in to increase the fun and add competition to the bidding.
Read more...
Rural-Urban Dinner to Support Farmers
Fundraising Rural-Urban Dinner
Rural-Urban Dinner to Support Farmers
Matamata Rotary is in the heart of the Waikato’s dairy farming region and always looking for ways to support their local community. One way we have been able to do this is to support the work of the Waikato-Hauraki-Coromandel Rural Support Trust. 
Read more...
Stanley Farm Lane walkway opening
Stanley Farm Lane walkway opening
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.
Read more...

Matamata

"Come as you are. Do what you can."

We meet In Person
Tuesdays at 5:30 PM
St John's Hall
32 Rawhiti Avenue
Matamata,  3400
New Zealand
Phone:
27 277 9996
Email:
mmrotarysecretary@gmail.com
Venue Map
President's message: Kevin Kent
member photo
Rotary is a worldwide organisation with more than 1.2 million members; neighbours, friends, and problem-solvers who share ideas, join leaders, and take action to create lasting change. It is founded on four main principles. In short: Is it true? Is it fair to all? Will it build good will and friendship? Will it benefit all concerned? Rotary Matamata bases all their activities on these principles. They give focus to our regular meetings, support projects locally and internationally and our fundraising activities. 
'Rotary Opens Opportunity' is the theme of the current International President. Rotary Matamata 'Opens Opportunity' to friendship, serving together and supporting others. 
Matamata Rotary welcomes new members. Please contact me if you would like to know more.
Kevin Kent
President 2020-21
mmrotarysecretary@gmail.com
Rotary - No limits
 
There are no limits to what Rotary can do. Join us.
https://youtu.be/6rlo8DWZFrg
 
<div>Rotary - No limits</div>
Speakers
Gordon Lukies
Jan 26, 2021
'On the Couch' His 60 years of Rotary
View entire list...
Links
Rotary Matamata
Facebook
Concert by the Lake
Rotary Matamata supports:
The School of St Jude, Tanzania
Starfish Youth Services
Waikato-Hauraki-Coromandel Rural Support Trust
Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter
Rotary Literacy Centre, Pakistan
Rotary Matamata Youth
Matamata College Interact Facebook page
Matamata Rotary Youth Facebook page
Rotary International
Our Rotary District: District 9930
Our Rotary Zone: Rotary Oceania
Rotary International
Rotary: Give Every Child A Future
Polio Eradication
End Polio Now
Global Polio Eradication Initiative
Purple Pinkie Day
 
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