Hi everyone.
Hope you are all enjoyed the frivolity of the Melbourne Cup last week. Only 5 more meetings this year as Christmas is rolling around very fast, so lets make the most of it and enjoy each others company and the opportunity to give back to our club, our town, our country and our world.
David Hulme opened the meeting with a brief history of the Melbourne Cup which was first run in 1861 and was won by a horse called Archer. With the big screen on, everyone watched with anticipation to see how their drawn horses would fair.
After the race we had some very happy winners who got to enjoy a small win, with half of the money that we raised, going to Rotary Foundation.
1st place getters Graham Motion, Michelle Tanner, Jane Belton and David Hulme.
2nd place getters Job Bruins and Eric Muckle
3rd place getters Mike Steiner and Leonie Tisch.
David then chose Michelle Tanner and Job Bruins as the best dressed, and if you look closely, you will see that a certain President Jane is trying to get in on the photo!!!
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After the Melbourne Cup, Jane invited Bob Mc Grail and Don Howden to address the club, to talk to us about a project they would like Rotary to be involved in, where we would plant some Tanekaha trees in memory of Les Parker (ex- Rotarian) behind our Kauri Grove plot on Burwood Road. Les Parker had left a sizeable amount of money in his will to be used towards the planting of a trees in the Drive or a new grove, or perhaps a different project that fits within the guidelines. Bob and Don have invited Rotary to be involved with this and to put in a submission to the council with suggestions on how this could best be achieved as per Les Parkers wishes.
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President Jane then had the pleasure of inducting the clubs newest and youngest member Zanthy Kitney.
Zanthy comes to us with a lot of youthful enthusiasm which I am sure will rub off on all of us.
Jane also presented Zanthy with a Rotary Number Plate surround and her very own Matamata Rotary Fluro Vest.
Zanthy then told us a bit about her families history and involvement with Rotary.
My great grandfather Richard Wilkinson was in the Paeroa Rotary club. My grandfather Robin Wilkinson was a member of Johnsonville, Otumoetai, Putāruru and Frankton clubs. He is a president of Franklin Paul Harrow’s fellowship and the treasure of Franklin for as long as I can remember. My mum and dad met at a Rotaract Anzo conference in 1996 and both of them participated in RYLA. My mum Janine Kitney is a member of the Morrinsville Rotary club. I have also been to RYLA and I have been involved with Rotary since I was a newborn, with my mum and Grandfather bringing me along to events that they had going in the community.
Zanthy and her parents
Welcome to the club Zanthy.
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Christmas is fast approaching, so watch for the shunt sheet for Christmas Tarts again this year or you can contact Stew Wadey 027 277 9996 or Kevin Sing 021 0608 855 or 07 888 7308 to place your order. $6.50 per packet of 6. Payment on pickup please and they will be available club meetings. 
