Chris Turver (speaker), Philippa Bascand, Tony Cooke
President Paul inducts Pip into the Club
Jim introduces Pip
Pip has found the Club very welcoming and is looking forward to contributing to our activities.
Raffle winner: Ross
Mal Bird
Opening thought:
Father God, Thank you for gathering us together in service and fellowship, and for blessing us with this food. We ask that this meal may strengthen our bodies and our spirits to enable us to serve our community, and especially those who struggle to put food on their family's table. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Parting thought:
Logic will get you from A to B.
Imagination will take you everywhere.
- Albert Einstein
Dinner
Leek, potato and pea soup, devilled sausages with mashed spuds, roasted veges and salad
Induction of new Member: Phillipa Bascand (Pip)
Introduced by Jim, bringing Pip into the fold has been a year in the making. Pip was a member of Port Nicholson Rotary Club since early March 2020, joining just as the COVID-19 lockdowns were set to commence. Pip was the Board Secretary for 2 years and also established a vibrant monthly book group which is still going, and promoted a midwinter film.
Pip was an active member of the perambulators group and helped out with fundraising activities - carparking duties at the market and bacon butties.
Workwise, Pip has held senior roles in the health and education sectors. She was most recently statutory Registrar for The Dietitians Board, previously Manager of Ethics at the Ministry of Health, and a former CEO for the NZ Society for Anaesthetists.
Pip and partner Tony Cooke (now retired - former CIO Hutt Hospital) recently moved to Ōtaki and have settled on a 12 acre block which they intend developing as a horticultural farm. Pip contracts to the Horowhenua Learning Centre and the Medical Council of NZ and sits on the Law Society national complaints committee. (Steph the lawyer was observed to quake at this last bit)
Welcome, Pip, you will be a great addition to our team!
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Notices
Paul
The Board had resolved to buy a small truck for Wood for Good and other Club projects, to be more efficient and save wear and tear on Members' own vehicles. The budget was $7,500. Paul had a chat with Mal, the upshot of which is that CGW, the company Mal works for, will lend us a suitable new vehicle in the weekends and cover the running costs, for a year. At the end of that year, the vehicle may end up staying with us. What an amazing bit of generosity!
The Presidential Chains of Office are off being re-modelled into a double strand. This will be a boon for successors who may not be as lofty as Paul, eliminating a tripping hazard.
Guy
Wellington Free Ambulance's Onesie Appeal Day is on 11 September. We are covering shifts outside PaknSave. A shunt sheet filled up pretty quickly on Thursday night. Contact Guy if you want to help out.
Doug
You will have received an email about Wood for Good (next working bee 9 August) and Ronald McDonald House dinner (9 September), respectively. Please try the new sign-up method through ClubRunner as per the instructions. If you have any issues please contact Doug or Tony.
Ross
Please contact Ross about the Rotary Roadie in Martinborough 17 - 19 October. You will need to book a caravan or camper site or cabin to join: https://mtop10.nz/make-a-booking/#/
Ross needs to know whether people also want to book on a wine tour (quite likely, Ross). An email will be sent out.
Vic
Vic reminded Members the annual family passes for the minigolf are still $255 until the end of the month when the price will go up to $300. You can pay from your Club account.
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Vic
Ross
Doug
Sergeant Dugald (aka the hanging judge) was on duty for the night, to our cost. He fined everyone wearing Rotary gang insignia.
Photo courtesy of the Whanganui Chronicle
5 minute speaker: Vince Indo
Vince was inspired by last week's fine reminding him he has been a Member of Rotary for 16 years. It all started with a chance encounter with Jim Dryburgh at Mitre 10. Jim chatted about Rotary and various projects, and managed to score some free hardware. He came back a couple of times, so Vince thought he should check out this (very pleasant) Rotary 'cult' for himself.
This all started a journey of significant collaboration on projects between Mitre 10 (Vince and Trish) and Rotary, and the wider community. Vince was put behind the bar where he has been pretty much ever since. Rotarians sold Vince and Trish a house and vehicles, and helped with their business expansion. Vince and Trish have contributed to community, youth and mental health projects. Rotary always supported Vince and he has been happy to support Rotary. Many of the Club Members' kids and grandkids have worked for Trish and Vince over the years.
Overseas travel has often included a visit to a Rotary Club, which has been amazing. They also attended an international convention in Canada, a fantastic experience.
For Vince, Rotary is not something you do; it's something you are.
Vince, the Club is always very grateful for the huge contribution you and Trish make to our projects: we couldn't do what we do without your modest, steady, bright orange support.
Guy
Vince, a wonderfully generous Rotarian
President Paul, who has clearly been paying attention to Mal's negotiating lessons
A mushroom cloud rises over Mururoa Atoll
President Paul, Chris and Ross
Chris, 84 years young
Guest Speaker: Chris Turver - Mururoa Atoll
Beautiful island - deadly environment
Introduced by Ross, Chris Turver is a well known local identity. For much of his career a journalist, Chris served as a war correspondent and a political editor in the Press Gallery before becoming the Head of Radio New Zealand News. Chris served in senior roles in management and governance before being elected to serve a decade as a Greater Wellington Regional Councillor. Chris is also a former Rotarian.
Chris gave a fascinating but sobering presentation about an episode in New Zealand history of which we should all be proud. As a small country, Aotearoa stood up to a global superpower... and won, driving France's nuclear testing programme out of French Polynesia.
Mururoa was a beautiful, unspoiled Pacific atoll until 1961 when the French Foreign Legion, without any consultation in the region, began developing a secretive nuclear testing facility. Between 1962 and 1996, France tested around 200 nuclear devices at Mururoa and a neighbouring atoll. 46 were let off in the upper atmosphere, where the trade winds spread fallout across the region. Huge helium balloons hauled the devices into the air.
The largest explosion at Mururoa in 1971 was 955 kilotons; 63 times as powerful as the American bomb that flattened Hiroshima.
The effects on Pacific peoples began to be noted in increased rates of cancer. New Zealand began diplomatic protests, which France ignored, culminating in a successful case at the International Court of Justice in 1973. Injunctions to halt testing were issued. True to form, France ignored the orders. New Zealand had had enough, In mid 1973, 2 Navy frigates were sent to the area. Greenpeace vessels forged the way, with its volunteers showing remarkable courage. The French never forgot this and the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior and murder of a crewman was still to come in 1985.
Mainstream media accompanied the Navy frigates, along with a Cabinet Minister. Chris Turver was a media observer.
Our sailors were there by choice, given the risks. Although protective measures were taken, they were exposed to fallout. 50% developed cancers over the ensuing decades, and there has been an epigenetic toll, with their children and grandchildren also affected.
Despite many reports confirming this damage, the Government downplayed the harm caused, did not do all it could to support and compensate those affected, and only in 2002 belatedly recognised the sailors with a special medal.
The protest action was effective, and the French halted above ground testing a year later, moving below ground for smaller tests. In 1996, through international pressure, led by New Zealand, France was forced to capitulate and sign the nuclear test ban treaty and stop all testing in the South Pacific.
All these decades later, the atoll, the flora and fauna and the sealife remain contaminated. It is a no-go zone.
New Zealanders are justly proud of this strong leadership which continues to keep the Pacific nuclear free. France never apologised. Ian recalled the protest march in Hong Kong which wife Alison helped organise after the French Ambassador was scathing about letters of protest written by local children. The march ended with French wine being poured out in front of the official residence. Chris mourned the lost wine...
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Recent Probus Celebrations:
Waikanae Central and Raumati Beach
President Paul with Mayor Janet Holborow, Paul Heath President of Waikanae Probus and Liz Smith Probus District Chair
Our Paul presents the certificate to Waikanae President Paul. Happy Birthday!
Cutting the cake
Raumati Beach Combined Probus celebration
Presidential Report - Probus celebrations
As a first insight into Probus, President Paul was invited to Waikanae Central Probus to share their 30th birthday celebrations. Having been Chartered by Paraparaumu Rotary in 1995, they still have a founding member who had already completed 35 years with Rotary prior.
Excellent morning tea for a group of 100 +, prior to which President Paul, sharing the presentations with Mayor Janet Holborow, spoke about our Club's 4 key activities, focussing on Golf for Good. As a result he's been invited to speak to the activities group at Summerset Village, over the fence from Mazengarb Reserve.
And round 2, Raumati Beach Combined Probus Clubs. Chartered in the depths of winter 1995 by Kapiti Rotary, 85 attended the 'anyone interested meeting' and the club is in fine health to this day; celebrating the milestone at their annual mid-winter luncheon at Party Perfect's restaurant, Lindale. 54 attended and enjoyed a great meal, some lucky prizes and reminiscing. First Lady Cazna was seated next to the Club President and would you believe, they went to school together! Some good yarns were told.
This week:
31 July: Tony Paine - Compassion in Action - The heart of hospice care
Coming up:
7 August: Carol Lingard - Theatre
14 August: Dr John Groom - Redefining Medicine
21 August: Julia Marshall - Founder of Gecko Press
