đź“° Rotary Paeroa Club Bulletin

Meeting 25 august 2026

August Rotary theme was:

Membership and New Club Development

September Rotary theme is:

Basic Education and Literacy
 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 

 Kylie Hawker-Green

GM Destination Hauraki Coromandel

Tourism on the Rise as Kylie Hawker-Green Outlines Coromandel Strategy

Tourism, visitor spending and the future of the Hauraki Coromandel were firmly on the agenda when Destination Hauraki Coromandel General Manager Kylie Hawker-Green addressed Rotary Paeroa on 25 August.

Kylie, who leads Destination Hauraki Coromandel’s destination management and marketing activities, provided members with an insight into both the scale of tourism in the region and the work being undertaken to attract visitors while ensuring tourism benefits local communities. 

The latest visitor figures make impressive reading. In the year to June 2026, Hauraki Coromandel recorded an estimated 298,000 daytime visitors, including 25,000 international visitors, together with 93,000 overnight visitors. Those visitors generated an estimated $20.44 million in visitor spending, with Waikato contributing $7.8 million, Auckland $4.5 million and Bay of Plenty $4.1 million. The United States alone accounted for around $490,000.

Kylie explained that attracting visitors is only part of the job. Destination Hauraki Coromandel is working across domestic and international markets through campaigns including The Coromandel Cure, Our Place and Where Kiwis Holiday, supported by digital marketing, social media, Google, retail promotions, billboards, television, influencers, media and electronic direct marketing.

International activity includes trade shows, travel trade relationships, international media and campaigns targeting Australia and North America.

A major focus is also on ensuring tourism contributes positively to the region. This includes the GOOD FOR YOUR SOUL Kaitiaki programme, supporting sustainable tourism, industry development, new products, data and analysis, signage and wayfinding, and a Destination Management Plan. 

For Paeroa, the message was particularly relevant. The official visitor website promotes Paeroa as one of the destinations within Hauraki Coromandel, alongside attractions such as the Hauraki Rail Trail and Karangahake Gorge. 

Kylie’s presentation highlighted that tourism is not simply about getting more people to visit—it is about encouraging them to stay longer, spend locally and leave the region better than they found it.

🗣️ TWO MINUTE SPEAKER

John Eaglen – A Two-Minute Talk That Really Was nearly Two Minutes!

After several weeks away, Rotary Paeroa members were expecting Sergeant Eugene to keep a close eye on John Eaglen when he was called upon to deliver his customary "two-minute" address. Given John's previous form, there was some expectation that two minutes might stretch a wee while!

However, on this occasion, John surprised everyone. In fact, he was so quick that there was barely enough time to get the camera ready for a photograph—hence the need for the rather large image accompanying this report!

In around 30 seconds, John shared a fascinating snippet from the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin.

During the fighting around St Stephen's Green, gunfire was reportedly halted each day to allow the park keeper to feed the ducks. Despite the chaos surrounding them, five ducks survived the uprising—only to meet an unfortunate fate later when they were stuffed.

John left members with a memorable reminder of the strange contrasts of history, summing up the story with the words of Irish poet W. B. Yeats:

"A terrible beauty is born."

Perhaps John's shortest-ever two-minute talk proved that sometimes you don't need twenty minutes to leave an impression—although, on this occasion, the Sergeant may have been left wondering what happened to the other 90 seconds!

 Bits & Pieces of Interest And importance

  • At the last Directors meeting it was agreed subject to ratification by the members to donate to the following:

    Paeroa Business Association Santa Parade $1,000 for children's entertainment

    Miller School Camp $1,500.00

    Paeroa Basketball request to support the cost of the boys team to attend the Basket Ball NZ A North Island Premierships in Rotorua 29 August to 1September $1,500.00.
     
  • The school dictionaries are avialble for distributionall duly personalised by Margaret T.
     
  • The Club received Jenny's resignation by email
     
  • Lloyd is on leave of absence until November
     
  • The RSA will be closed for the final touches of the upgrade from 20 September to 26 October - watch this space for where our meetings during this time will take place

đź“… events, socials, and Vocational Visits

  •     Golf Day - Sunday 4 October:

            Start spreading the word! This isn't                just a golfers' tournament—it's a                    community event. We need                              businesses, non-golfers, men, women,          friends, colleagues and supporters.                You don't need a perfect swing, just a            willingness to support a great cause.

  •    Kids at play - baby goats - Goat Farm Bush Road,              early/mid-September

  •    Flat Tac capsicums visit - deferred until Spring.

  •    Thai dinner and Cinema probably early September.
     

🙋 Volunteers still Needed

      🏫 Central School Support

            Mona School Principal will advise as volunteers are                   required

     â›ł Golf Day – Sunday 4 October                                                                                                                                                   đź—Łď¸Ź Voices from the Floor

            No calls from the floor

🗂️ Meeting Duties – 8 September

  • Sergeant: Eugene

  • 2-Minute Talk: Marion

  • Hospitality Includes Hall Set-Up: Matt

  • Dinner Thanks: Aloma

  • Intro Speaker: Kelvin

  • Speakers: Students we have supported 

  • Thank Speaker: Connor

  • Stewards: John E & Walter

  • Parting Thought: Dot

  • Raffle: Rich

LAUGH TIME

  • I dialled a number and got the following recording: “I am not available right now, but thank you for caring enough to call. I am making some changes in my life. Please leave a message after the beep. If I do not return your call, you are one of the changes.” 
     
  • A man comes home, finds his wife with his friend in bed, and shoots his friend dead. Wife says "If you continue to behave like this, you will lose ALL your friends!” 
     
  • Last night my wife and I “had words”. But I didn't get to use mine.
     
  • Frustration is trying to find your glasses without your glasses.
     
  • My wife says I keep pushing her buttons. If that were true, I would have found mute by now. 
     
  • There is no such thing as a grouchy old person. The truth is that once you get old, you stop being polite and start being honest.