Stories

Howick Rotarians took up the challenge at their Christmas Party early in December and raised $1640 for the Christmas Lunch Box Appeal being run by the All Saints Anglican Church for those needy families in the Howick Community. Organizer of the Christmas Party David Teape said “it was a good way for the club and its members to share some Christmas cheer with those people in the community that were in need of support”.  

The Christmas Lunch Box donation follows on from the donations of $2000 for Food Parcels made in November to All Saints and Stand Children’s Services made by the club  from the Rotary Club of Howick Community Trust in conjunction with the Thomas Brydon Trust. 

The Rotary Club of Howick Inc. and the Rotary Club of Howick Community Trust held their joint AGM on Tuesday 24th November. Immediate Past President Mike Abercrombie presented the Club’s Annual Report for the 2019/20 year which ended on 30th June. He noted that whilst the Covid 19 pandemic had severely impacted the latter part of the year the club’s main projects of Bookarama, the Fun Walk and Run were successfully held along with a broad range of community, environment and young people assistance projects including the Food Parcel project during the lockdown period. Ian Fox and Dave Wylie were thanked for their efforts to keep club communications going during lockdown through Zoom meetings. 

The Rotary Club of Howick Police annual Police Award was presented to the Commander of the Counties Manukau East Area Inspector Wendy Spiller at the club’s Tuesday dinner meeting at the Howick Club by President Gavin Green.

Salvation Army Awards Certificate of Appreciation to Members of the Club. 

Howick Branch Pastor Joanne Wardle and Northern Regional Relationship Manager Donna Hedley made the award to Club President Gavin Green at the club's dinner meeting last Tuesday.

The total of the donations made by the members, the Rotary Club of Howick Community Trust and the Thomas Brydon Trust was $10470. Pastor Joanne said "the demand for food parcels had more than doubled under Covid 19 and the funds allowed them to significantly extend the breadth and depth of support within the local community".

 

The club held its traditional Changeover Meeting on 23rd June at the Howick Club. New President Gavin Green was welcomed and past President Mike Abercrombie farewelled.

Club Zoom Meeting Features Local MP Simeon Brown as Guest Speaker. On Tuesday evening the club held its first Zoom Club meeting attended by 23 members. Our guest speaker for the evening was Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown.

 

The Rotary Club of Howick Community Trust and club members have joined forces with the Thomas Brydon Trust to help local organizations provide food parcels to needy families in the Howick area.

Due to the health risks associated with the Covid 19 virus the Board of the Rotary Club of Howick has decided to suspend club meetings for an approximate period of two months.

The situation will be reviewed again at the May Board meeting planned for the 21st May.

Howick Rotary announces the cancellation of its Rotary Young Leader Awards and Rotary Youth Programme of Enrichment programmes.

After careful consideration of the health risks associated with the Covid 19 virus pandemic the organizers have decided to cancel these events for 2020.

Exchange student Polly Chamberlain reports from Germany.

 

Barry Nicholls is still taking bookings for the weekend at the Arlberg Ski Club social weekend. The accommodation cost is $20 per person per night. The booking is for the weekend of 3rd and 4th February, two nights. Barry is very happy to talk to those who have not been on this trip before. The last trip was late January 2015 when a great social time, lots of walks, chairlift rides and lunch at New Zealand's highest café. Barry assures us that there will be room for some family and friends, so join the fun if you can.

 

My induction as President was delayed until 19th July 2016 largely due to our club’s substantial involvement with the Rotary organised event called RYLA. This was successfully completed early in July. With the changeover to Gavin Green on the 20th June 2017, I was effectively a President for just 11 months although officially from 1/7/16 to 1/7/17!

It is a few weeks before I hop on a plane and head back to New Zealand. I can’t believe my year is almost over, I’ve learnt so much and experienced things that couldn’t have happened without Rotary. My club has been with me every step of the way and they have supported me so much.

One of the many highlights of our club Christmas party last Tuesday was a $5,000 donation to Howick Volunteer Coastguard. John Osborne made the presentation on behalf of our club. They provide a fantastic service to our community. Without their dedication there would be a lot more grief amongst our community particularly at this time of the year. A local example of "Service before self."

The 18th Rotary Club of Howick Bookarama took place October 11th-15th at the Howick RSA.