Read on to find out what happened at our meeting, what’s
coming up, and who will be doing what at the next meeting.
Guest Speaker
Brett Otto
Civil Defence
Rotary Paeroa Prepares to Support the Community in an Emergency
Rotary Paeroa is looking at how it can play a practical role in supporting the local community before, during and after an emergency.
Club members were given a briefing by Brett Otto on Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM), outlining how Rotary can work alongside Hauraki District and Waikato emergency-management partners when events such as flooding, severe storms, earthquakes, or other emergencies affect the region.
The presentation explained that New Zealand’s emergency-management system operates across national, regional, and local levels. While official agencies lead emergency responses, community organisations such as Rotary can provide valuable support through their local knowledge, established relationships and willingness to help.
Rotary’s potential contribution extends across the four Rs of emergency management: reduction, readiness, response, and recovery. This includes identifying local risks, preparing households and club members, providing practical assistance when requested, and helping communities reconnect and recover after an event.
For Hauraki, the risks highlighted included severe weather, flooding across the Hauraki Plains, earthquakes, landslides, drought, and tsunami threats along the coast. The message was clear: preparation needs to begin well before an emergency occurs.
If requested by Hauraki CDEM or another lead agency, Rotary members could assist with tasks such as welcoming people at Civil Defence Centres, organising refreshments and essential supplies, coordinating approved transport and deliveries, sharing verified official information, checking on vulnerable people, and supporting recovery efforts.
However, the briefing also emphasised the importance of understanding Rotary’s limits. Members must not independently deploy themselves to an emergency or undertake dangerous activities such as search and rescue, firefighting, entering floodwater or damaged buildings, or providing medical care beyond their training. All assistance must be properly coordinated, with members’ personal safety coming first.
To build its capability, Rotary Paeroa can develop a simple club emergency plan, nominate a primary coordinator and deputy, maintain a register of members’ skills and available resources, and establish clear communication arrangements with CDEM partners. Short practice exercises would help ensure everyone understands how to respond if called upon.
Household preparedness is equally important. Members are encouraged to have an emergency plan and kit, understand evacuation routes, and stay informed through official Civil Defence channels and local radio.
The central message was that Rotary can be a valuable community asset in an emergency, but only when it is prepared, connected and clear about its role.
As the presentation concluded, the guiding principle was simple: CDEM leads, Rotary supports. By preparing now and building strong local connections, Rotary Paeroa can be better positioned to help its community when help is needed most.
🗣️TWO MINUTE SPEAKER
Harley Shares His Rotary Journey
One of Rotary Paeroa’s newest, and youngest, members, Harley, recently gave a two-minute introduction about himself. Admitting to being naturally shy, he brought along Bex for a little moral support. What followed was a glimpse into the values and community spirit that make him such a great fit for Rotary.
Harley’s presentation quickly revealed that service is simply part of who he is. He generously volunteers his time at St Joseph’s School, helping to maintain the grounds and facilities to ensure a safe environment for local tamariki. He also shares his passion for water safety by providing swimming lessons, helping children gain confidence and important life skills in the water.
His commitment to service extends well beyond the school gates. Harley is regularly one of the first to put his hand up when volunteers are needed for Rotary projects and events. When he is not giving back to the community, he works as a mobile mechanic, helping keep local motorists on the road.
Editor's note: Harley’s willingness to help was evident even before he joined Rotary. When one of Rotary Paeroa’s senior members was left stranded with a flat tyre, Harley stepped in without hesitation and changed the wheel.
As a final footnote, it truly is a small world. Nearly 30 years ago, Bex worked as an employee of our President, Kelvin, proving once again that community connections often come full circle.
Welcoming Mona to Team Rotary Paeroa
Rotary Paeroa is delighted to welcome Tina "Mona" Hingston, Principal of Paeroa Central School, as the latest member of Team Rotary Paeroa.
Unfortunately, no photograph was taken during Mona's induction, so we had to get a little creative for the newsletter. The accompanying image was produced using a cut-and-paste from a newspaper article, allowing us to at least create a photo featuring both Mona and President Kelvin together to mark the occasion.
Bits & Pieces of Interest And importance
We have received thank you correspondence from St Josephs and Miller Avenue Schools and Senior Boys Basketballer's
At the recent Directors meeting it was agreed subject to ratification by the members to donate to the following $2,000 of the money recently raised at the Swap Meet to the Paeroa Food Bank - All in attendance were in favour
The Directors also discussed the long-standing issue of providing free meals for prospective members. Other Rotary Clubs have been contacted to see how they handle this, and after considering the various approaches, the decision is that Rotary Paeroa will no longer provide free meals for prospective members attending meetings. However, when a prospective member is formally inducted into the Club, the Club will pay for the meal of both the new member and one guest on the night of their induction. Of course, sponsoring Rotarians who introduce prospective members may wish to follow the practice adopted by some other Clubs, where the sponsoring Rotarian covers the cost of the prospective member’s meal.
Great Kiwi Christmas - Connor has volunteered himself and Harley to facilitate the distribution of Christmas gift parcels to local tamariki.
Charity Golf Day a great day apart from the bitterly cold wind! It looks like we raised $2,500, next year we will raise more! Thank you to those that volunteered to help and a particularly big thank you to Harley - first to arrive, last to leave and did his 10,000 steps by wandering backwards and forwards from the #1 Tee to #1 Green
Members are asked for bright, inclusive, entertaining, fellowship ideas for our Christmas function
đź“… events, socials, and Vocational Visits
Reminder that anyone wishing to help Paeroa Lions with their Fireworks night should contact Carol on 027 252 5478
Trail Ride is Sunday 8 November - see Walter if you wish to volunteer
Car show is Saturday 27 February.
Barn Dance at Maritime Museum is 13 March
🙋 Volunteers still Needed
🏫 Central School
Rick and Mona to team up as what and who is required
🗣️ Voices from the Floor
No calls from the floor
🗂️ Meeting Duties –20 October
Sergeant: Eugene
2-Minute Talk: Ivan
Hospitality Includes Hall Set-Up: Rich
Dinner Thanks: Margarete
Intro Speaker: Kelvin
Speaker: Ben - New Owner 4 Square Ngatea
Thank Speaker: JT
Stewards: Everyone
Parting Thought: Marion
Raffle: Anthony
LAUGH TIME
Two cows were standing in a field. “Have you heard that mad cow disease is going around?” asked the first. “Yeah,” the other cow replied. “Makes me glad I’m a penguin.”
At a party, a woman admonished her husband, saying, “That’s the fourth time you’ve gone back for ice cream and cake. Doesn’t it embarrass you?” He shrugged and answered, “Why should it? I keep telling them it’s for you.”
“Your mother has been with us for 20 years,” said John. “Isn’t it time she got a place of her own?” Helen’s brow furrowed, and she replied, “I thought she was your mother.”
“I’d like a bottle of wine,” a woman told her waiter. “What year, ma’am?” the waiter replied. She huffed and said, “Well, I’d like it right now.”
Yesterday, I couldn’t figure out whether someone was waving at me or the person behind me. In other news, I lost my lifeguarding job.
