Well hello my lovey Rotarians and others
Apologies for being a bit late again this week. With the Fieldays and the Karaka Weanling Sales coming up fast, we are pushing the work out the door as fast as we can and there are only so many 10 hours days this old girl can take before she starts to creak! Hope you have all had a fantastic week and are taking every opportunity to get outside and soak up some sunshine.
Don't forget that it's not long now until Changeover so mark it in your very busy calendars now!!! Roaring 20's theme.
27th June - starts at 5.45 at Pepper Street Kitchen.
RSVP by 20th June to Beth or Maz.
Rotarians $35.00 each
Guests and those Rotarians who do not normally have a meal $60.00 each
Please pay into the Admin Account
03-0363-0018584-000 by 23 June at the latest
As we have had a few of our Rotarians away at the International Conference in Melbourne, I asked David Hulme to write a bit of a rundown of the time they had, and Jane Belton to share her thoughts on her first Conference.
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Wow what a fabulous 4 days celebrating everything Rotary with approximately 14,000 Rotarians from around the globe in Melbourne. Our club was represented by David and Lisette Hulme, Michelle Tanner, Jane Belton and Maz McIvor.
Photo above, middle row, left to right - Michelle Tanner, Jane Belton, Lisette Hulme, David Hulme and Maz McIvor - Matamata Rotary and front is District 5050 Past District Governor Sean Hogan.
Convention began on Sunday with a fabulous opening ceremony at Rod Laver Arena featuring The Tenors and an amazing flag presentation showing the true internationality of Rotary.
Monday and Tuesday consisted of general sessions which featured a Nobel Peace Prize winner, award-winning documentary makers, an in-depth and informative look at the End Polio campaign in Pakistan in particular, amazing motivational speakers and plenty of Rotary knowledge. The remainder of the days were filled with various break-out sessions.
Rotary Matamata team with D9930 Treasurer Keith Ardern and his wife Adrienne (Tauranga Te Papa Club) and Days for Girls Founder Celeste Mergens
On Monday evening, David, Lisette, Maz and Jane visited the Diamond Creek Rotary Club (about an hour’s bus ride from Melbourne). They have a very young and progressive membership and we were entertained at their signature project – a converted street tram which they have turned into a café in their local park. This was a fabulous evening.
The converted tram café from
Diamond Creek Rotary.
Wednesday’s closing featured a Bee Gees Tribute Band and the Greatest Show acrobats while Rotary’s leadership gave an inspiring and comprehensive look at the year that has been and what is to come. A thoroughly inspiring way to end the convention. And in between time the highlight was catching up with old Rotary friends and making new ones at the House of Friendship and in many of Melbourne’s cafés and bars.
David, Lisette and Michelle catch up over lunch
Next year’s convention is in Singapore, followed by Calgary, Taipei and Honolulu. If you are thinking about attending one, you won’t regret going!
David Hulme
And the last word goes to Jane Belton -
As first-time attendees, both Maz and I loved every minute of it and learnt a lot in the break-out sessions, which we will share with fellow members over the coming year.
Rotary truly does change peoples lives in so many ways…..
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I recently attended a Matamata Chamber of Commerce After Five event hosted by Graeme & Kate Guilford at Paper Plus. When it came time for Graeme to give his presentation, he could not find his glasses so being the resourceful kind of bloke he is, he opted for a pair of readers off the rack... and why bother with taking the tag off if they are going to go back. 😊
