Evening all, first of all suggest top table be relocated. The 'cheap seats' do not have the hot sun on their backs. Very warm to say the least. Fantastic week last week, excellent night at the Fire Station. Thank you Brian Hunter to have organised the meeting and hospitality. Brian replied" was not just me, it was team work". President David thought it was great that CFO Kevin Curtis was taken totally unawares, on being presented with a Paul Harris Fellowship. On that , Editor Stew reference our rugby playing days mentioned last week.. " Kevin "Tank ' Curtis played rugby for Matamata, I played for Hinuera. I can assure everyone, what it felt like being tackled by a Tank !!!!" Farm Watch: Dry, bloody dry! Supplementary feeding to keep a mob of cows milking, as when it does rain, anticipate a grass growth surge for autumn to capitalise on with milk production. When rain comes, 150kgs of supplementary feed per cow will be required between rain start and grass sward recovery to graze. Don't give up, be optimistic. Global Dairy Trade prices trending upwards is a positive. Mislocated members inspirational influence speaker list. He drew attention to Richard Metcalfe meeting with his namesake last week, Sir David Gascoigne. The husband of our Governor -General Dame Patsy Reddy. Richard was ceremonially recognised for an event nearly 50 years ago as a Royal New Zealand Air force pilot.Merv king read out the Citation in the New Zealand  Gazette of that time. More detail is this bulletin.

 Club secretary and chair of our Trustee members administered Leukaemia Trust, David Johnson introduced Annabel to the meeting. Her role as Business Manager for Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand well supported by her previous achievements, plus a member of Sunrise Rotary Ellerslie. Annabel brought our attention to the Leukaemia and Blood Cancer Research Unit ( LBCRU ) Established 5 years ago, by funding from Lukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand (LBC ). Based at Auckland University and by Professor Stefen Bohlander.  LBC has contributed funds to research and providing support to patients and families with serious blood condition.since 1977. Myeloma, Hodgkin Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and Leukaemia survival rates have trended upwards, which has been enviably been duly noted by larger well funded research establishments around the world. LBCRU has international expertise in Zebrafish as a model to study genetic changes in adult and child leukaemia. There are very few myeloid leukaemia zebrafish models worldwide, so this is a big achievement. Treatments more targeted to leukaemia stem cells have the potential to be more effective and less toxic. It cost half a million dollars to purchase a Illumia Next Sequencing platform, for precision Haematology. This alone reduces time to make accurate diagnosis , and certainly speeds up the appropriate treatment regime for patients. A great management tool for clinicians. (LBC) Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand is the only not for profit organisation dedicated to supporting patients and their families with blood cancer such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma and related blood conditions. It receives no government funding, rely on the generosity of others through events, fundraising and grants. They provide an extensive range of personalised services, including emergency financial support for as long as we are needed, For example, for invasive treatments, total extraction of teeth is required. District Health Boards may fund that , but not dentures. That alone can be devastating requirement for a teenager. Annabel finishes of with a huge thank you to Rotary members administered Leukaemia Trust for past and future support. Plus many fund raising and awareness events such as the Firefighter Sky Tower Stair Challenge and even the New York City Marathon. Michelle Tanner thanked Annabel for a very informative presentation, and acknowledges how research has progressed into meaningful treatments for people.

 

The Vietnam List – NZ in Vietnam 1964-75

Mention in Despatches (m.i.d.)

Richard John Metcalfe 81177. Flight Lieutenant

Royal NZ Air Force

Att 11th Armd Cav Regiment (US)

NZ Gazette dated 31 July 1970

CITATION

Flight Lieutenant Metcalfe served with the Tactical Control Party for the 11th Armoured Cavalry Regiment from May 31, 1969 to November 6, 1969. During his period of service with the 19 Tactical Air Support Squadron USAF in support of 11th Cavalry Regiment he flew 351 combat hours and controlled 101 tactical air strikes.

Throughout he displayed such a high order of competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty under enemy fire that he was considered by both 7th USAF and ground commanders to be an outstanding forward air controller.

His ability to quickly analyse and quickly respond to a tactical situation was highlighted by his performance near Loc Ninh on August 21, 1969. On visual reconnaissance supporting 1 Squadron, 11th Air Cavalry Regiment, he monitored a report that a helicopter had crashed about three miles away after receiving ground fire. In co-operation with the ground commander he controlled two air strikes against the machine-gun site which were placed only after an airlifted recovery team had extracted the deceased crew from the helicopter. He so accurately located, marked and continued to mark the machine-gun for the set of fighters (F100s) and second set (F4Cs) that the machine-gun crew and four bunkers were destroyed.

In this complicated situation requiring exact timing and precise control and direction of ordnance on to a pin point target, Flight Lieutenant Metcalfe again displayed those special qualities which have enhanced his professional reputation throughout his attachment to 11th Cavalry Regiment.

His determination, technical competence, performance under fire and continuing devotion to duty, reflected great credit upon himself and the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

 

                                         

CLUB DUTY	26th FEBRUARY	5th MARCH
CLUB HOST	FRED BARRETT
RECEPTION	ROBBIE PEARSON	SPUD IN THE BUCKET
RECEPTION	JOHN FERNYHOUGH
BAR STEWARD	DAVID HULME	WEIGH IN
BAR STEWARD	RICHARD METCALFE
SPEAKER INTRO	OWEN WESTLAKE	RAILSIDE STAGE AREA
SPEAKER THANKS	OWEN FARMILO
TOP TABLE	OWEN WESTLAKE
TOP TABLE	TBA	BYO EVERYTHING FOR YOUR
PARTING THOUGHT	BRIAN HUNTER	NEEDS
KITCHEN	HENRY CLOTHIER	5PM ASSEMBLE RAILSIDE GREEN
KITCHEN	MERV KING

 

Annual Rotary Youth Exchange.    

• Deadline for applications fast approaching, it is time to promote and prospect eligible 16 / 17 ½  year olds who would like to experience a year overseas as a Rotary Exchange Student with their exchange year commencing in January 2020. Limited spaces are available for the exchange year January 2020 to January 2021. Club Selection process of interviewing any prospective students and their parents and to then forward their completed application for the successful applicant(s) to the District Committee by the 12th April 2019             Applications closing day is the 12th April 2019.

• Richard Metcalfe , Honorary Aide-De-Camp to His Excellency The Governor General  Sir Paul Reeves.   1 Nov 1986 to 31 Oct 1987.  ADC is a Military Rank

 

 Has put a name greeting widget below the bulletin header, I cannot yet work out how to remove it !!  Stew