It was a pleasure to stand in for President Mike Stanghan who was unable to be with us as his house was being
auctioned. I am pleased to say the Auction went well he and Yvonne are pleased with the outcome and thanked Sheanagh and Steve Noles for their efforts.
I was delighted to welcome our guests for the evening , Ann Nicholls. Meryl Monk, Helen Donoghue and her daughter Tanya, guest speaker Rylee Barrett with her mother Lise and her Science teacher Kirsty Clearwater.
Despite having to do without a microphone Sergeant Mike managed to keep things moving and all those involved with speaking “threw” their voices so it all
came together well.
It was a full agenda with two major items , the first being the induction of Ali Dahche. Mike Abercrombie introduced Ali to members and it was my pleasure
on behalf of President Mike to formally welcome Ali into the club as a member. Following the presentation of the induction folder including his badge, Ian Fox concluded the process by outlining the background of Rotary
and the international implications of Ali’s membership of our club.
Our guest speaker, Rylee Barrett who was introduced by David Owen is no stranger to our club. Rylee was part of the Brian Hanlon Speech Awards 2 years
ago. Her topic somewhat controversial involving the “f” word. !!! This year Rylee was selected to attend the National Science and Technology Forum at Auckland University, a very intense live-in 2 week programme.
She began her presentation by introducing herself acknowledging her autism. While being confronting for some it was refreshing and courageous of Rylee to
“put it out there’ as it gave us a wee peek of what makes Rylee tick as a person.
While the Forum presented many challenges for her , she really enjoyed it and gained from it. Her schedule for the two weeks was very full and while well balanced the intensity was a real challenge for Riley.
168 students attended the forum, they were divided into colour coded groups which worked together for the duration of the forum getting to know each other and sharing the challenges they faced within the 12 academic modules across the scientific field. Riley’s personal favourites were medical science, biology and psychology.
Part of the programme was to visit real life laboratories including the Centre for Brain Research, which resonated strongly with Rylee. The Explore Auckland day provided a much needed break from study and the
resulting talent show was a highlight.
For Rylee as a person the experience was possibly the hardest thing she has ever done, but it helped her to develop, embrace her own vulnerability and continue to develop strategies to “make it work for her”. The self devised graph of her feelings and coping with the experience was a sobering illustration of just how challenging it was, but she had great support particularly from her two counsellors and went on the have a fulfilling experience.
Rylee gained some valuable insight , learning that Science in NZ has a lot of opportunities for career pathways and while she loves Biology she has the time
and will use it to reflect and research her own pathway. As much as anything Rylee learned about herself. She learned that:
- being weird is ok
- asking lots of questions can be a good thing
- she is stronger than she thought she was
- how she functions and develops coping strategies
In acknowledging the support of Rotary and specifically our club Rylee shared that she came away with a real sense of direction, her love of science stronger than ever. She gave it her all and came away a better person.
It was a genuine pleasure to have such a passionate and honest presentation from this delightful student who should be rightfully proud of her achievements to date and I am sure we haven’t heard the last of Rylee Barrett .
Nga Mihi Nui.
Madeleine East President Elect.
