It has been a sad time for our club as we farewell two long serving members. Here is John Osborne's tribute to Stuart Armstrong. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Karen and their family at this sad time.
Dave Wylie
From Stuart’s Paul Harris Citation June 2005
“ An “International Rotarian” in the truest sense of the word, Stuart was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka, educated in England, emigrated to South Africa, worked in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia), returned to South Africa, and ultimately came to New Zealand in 1999.”
Stuart joined Rotary in Transvaal in 1988, transferred to Margate, Natal upon his retirement in 1991 where he remained a member until he and Karen came to New Zealand in 1999. Stuart held many roles within these clubs including Club President of Margate in 1994/95
Joined Howick 15 Feb 2000
In 2001 became Secretary
In 2003 became Treasurer till 2007 and during this time he completely reorganised the Club’s financial accounting systems which at that stage were in a terrible state. As a result of Stuart’s dedicated and untiring reorganisation of our financials we now have a very viable and financially healthy Club.
In 2008 Auditor
Various club committees
Took active role in all Community Projects – Bookarama, Fun Run, Yacht Regatta,
Photographer on numerous club activities
Paul Harris Fellowship in 2005
Sapphire Pin 2015
Earlier this year Stuart retired from active Howick Rotary membership and was awarded Honorary membership.
Blood Bank was a key activity for Stuart on behalf of Howick Rotary and for many years he co-ordinated our involvement in this community service ensuring we provided support to the staff at the Blood Bank collection in Howick.
He was also an active member of The Friends of Mangemangeroa Society for many years and was always present on planting and the various other activities of that Society.
Stuart was an extremely caring Rotarian who was there when one needed some support. For me during and after several very serious back operations Stuart was one of the first to call and offer his assistance of support in any form. I know this also happened for many other members of our club.
Stuart was an amazing Rotarian who embraced the Rotary ideal of “Service above Self”
John Osborne, 12 November 2019
Thank you Matt, Rupert and Rebecca for inviting Rotary to participate in this service today, and we express our sincere condolences to you, your partners, Rob’s grandchildren and his extended family.
Rob’s Rotary journey commenced when he joined the Rotary Club of Stokes Valley as a foundation member in 1974.
At the time of joining he was under 30 years old – extremely young to be a Rotarian. It just showed he was recognised early in his adult life as a person of outstanding ability, imposing stature, and a fantastic orator.
He served in numerous capacities within the club.
A major project the Club carried out in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Eastern Hutt annually over many years was
Ozbo Day – over 20,000 people attended in 1977.
A joint project with TV one, 2ZB & O for Rotary Wheel
Rotary profit $14,000 in 1977 – in today’s terms over $105,000
In May 1983 Rob joined the Rotary Club of Howick and served as President in the 1989 – 1990 Rotary Year.
During his 32 years in Howick Rotary Club he held almost all possible club positions.
Rob Brought enormous energy and sense of enjoyment, which became his hallmark. When club member Bob Jollands became District Governor, Rob planned and masterminded a hugely successful District Conference held in Fiji.
Rob was made an Honorary Member of Howick in January 2016.
On shifting to live in Taranaki, Rob joined the Rotary Club of New Plymouth North in 2015. During his comparatively short time as a member he involved himself 100% in Club activities. This included their “Run a Muck” mud run in Urenui, that raised over $180 thousand dollars over 8 years for rescue organisations in the Taranaki region.
He served as Club Director.
Most of Rob’s Rotary District and national appointments occurred while he was a member of the Howick Club.
Some of these appointments included
• Assistant Governor 1998 – 2000
• Rotary District Governor District 9920 2001-2002
• District Public Image Chair – many years
• District Trainer 2004 – 2007
• District Rotary Youth Leadership Awards
• NZ Rotarian Corporate Alliance Program
• Rotary NZ Project Support Ltd Director – some years
• Rotary Leadership Institute
Within Rotary if a person has been a District GOVERNOR, they may be offered an International Level appointment, and Rob had these appointments in spades.
These included
• Zone Coordinator for Public Relations 2006 – 2010.
The Rotary Zone covers New Zealand, a large part of Australia including New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and ten pacific countries.
• Selected as Rotary International Training Leader for two years.
• Served four rotary international presidents as their representative overseas.
• Was for 2 years the Rotary Coordinator for over 800 clubs in twelve countries in our zone.
During Rob’s 45 years of Rotary membership he must have been involved in literally 100’s of events where he was either the M.C. or chaired all types of functions.
He attended five International Conventions.
His outstanding service to Rotary and through other organisations in the wider community was recognised by his Rotary Clubs in naming him Paul Harris Fellow in 1992. A person, Club, or District can name a Paul Harris Fellow (after a Rotary Founder) by donating a minimum of US$1,000 to the Rotary Foundation.
Over subsequent years Rob has had over US$8,000 given to our Foundation in his name.
Very few Rotarians in New Zealand have this level of recognition.
Pakuranga Rotarian and RI World President in 2006/7 Bill Boyd had this to say in July 2010: “Rob Crabtree was District Governor of District 9920 in 2001/2. This was a traumatic year for Rob and Chris as he had both health and business challenges, but he performed so well that he has since had significant international experience within Rotary. Rob is a quality Rotarian supported by a special lady Chris. The Rotary Club of Howick has had many stars and has made a significant contribution to the work of District 9920. Rob has carried that level of service onto the world stage.”
From his Year Group Governor Team I have the following quotes
Sandra McKersey D9910
We loved Rob. We loved his enthusiasm, his kindness, his sense of humour and his great warm hugs. We will miss him more than words can say.
Geoff Brazier D9930
A great family man who was very proud of his kids. A big guy who loved Rotary and helping people. He had a great presence, was a very articulate speaker and a had a beautiful singing voice.
Keith du Dulin D9970
I think the most endearing story about Rob was in Palmerston North when six new Governor to be, plus our partners, met for the first time. At that meeting we were expected to dine with our director (from Australia) in a private room. It was an evening with lots of endless small talk and people trying to watch there Ps and Qs. Towards the end of the evening when we were all about ready to ‘escape’, Rob, in full voice, started to sing “Swing Low – Sweet Chariot”. A shocked silence fell over the group, then laughter, then we all joined in and I reckon our group has sung every time we have come together no matter where in the world we happen to be… thanks to Rob.
Andrew Meek D9980 – unfortunately passed away last year
and from myself D9940
A Totara has fallen in the forest of Tane.
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Moe mai ra Rob i te Atua
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