Half Year Update December 2025

At the halfway point of the Rotary year, we can take time to reflect on a period of both growth and challenge for the Club. Three new members—Veda, Connor, and Rich—have been inducted and are already actively involved and supportive of Rotary’s values and goals. Alongside these positives, the Club has also marked the sad passing of the longest-serving Rotarian, Ron, and the resignation of the Immediate Past President, Katie.

Speakers – A Year of Outstanding Presentations

Our speaker programme has been a real highlight this year, thanks to the outstanding work of Jenny and Connor in securing a diverse and engaging lineup.

Scott Penny sparked lively discussion when his presentation unexpectedly revealed the reasons behind the Thames Valley Rugby Football Union’s move from Paeroa. While not the original focus, it certainly became a talking point for many members.

We were inspired by Janik Levin, a young man deeply committed to supporting local youth. His passion and energy suggest a relationship with Rotary Paeroa that will continue into the future.

Sue Amos shared an enlightening account of her volunteer experience at an animal sanctuary in Thailand, offering insight into conservation work overseas.

Paul Woolright—bass player for Hello Sailor and renowned London signwriter—captivated us with stories from a remarkable life. A return visit would be warmly welcomed.

Andrew Cameron, Principal of Paeroa College, and Mike Wilkes from Thrive Trust (joining by video due to illness) clearly demonstrated the impact of Rotary’s financial support. Most striking was the acknowledgement that their work had contributed to preventing three youth suicides at the time of their presentation.

Debra Leutenegger’s Pink,Think Pink presentation, open to the wider community, was a powerful reminder of the realities of breast cancer—including the fact that men can also be affected. Following this session, the Club donated $500 to Breast Cancer Foundation NZ.

Colin “Rocketman” Brooks entertained and amazed us with stories from an extraordinary life, from tank commander to Toyah Willcox to having his own small army.

Despite a busy RSA and a clash with Melbourne Cup Day, Ruth Nicholls explained how RYDA equips young people with the skills, habits, and motivation to stay safe on the roads as drivers and passengers.

Fiona and Gary Wells-Lakeland spoke about CPNZ Paeroa’s role in preventing crime and reducing harm through trained volunteer patrollers, acting as extra “eyes and ears” for Police to help build safer communities.

Finally, outgoing Youth Exchange Student Abigail Cox, joined by her parents at the end-of-year BBQ, shared her expectations for her 2026 exchange. Abigail is already proving to be an outstanding ambassador for both Rotary Paeroa and our township.

What happened July to December 2025?

Club Update and Highlights

Changeover was held on Saturday 5 July at The Refinery, a deliberate departure from the Club’s usual venue and Tuesday evening meeting. The change allowed partners and friends to attend without work commitments the following day and also signalled that the year ahead would bring further change—much of which is still to come.

ClubRunner was introduced as the Club’s primary CRM platform. It now hosts the Club website, serves as the hub for bulletins, stores member details, and links directly with Rotary District and Rotary International. While ClubRunner is operational, it remains a work in progress, particularly the membership database, which awaits member input—watch this space.

Attendance at the Club Forum was extremely disappointing. The future of Rotary Paeroa rests with its members, and the Forum provides an important opportunity to share feedback, identify concerns, and suggest improvements. While the recently introduced “Matters from the Floor” segment allows for discussion during meetings, the Forum remains a vital platform for member engagement.

Meal costs have long been a concern for members. Discussions with the RSA’s caterers resulted in a revised approach—lower-cost options, meals ordered only if required, and direct payment to caterers. This reduced the Treasurer’s workload and improved Club cashflow. Unfortunately, the caterers did not renew their RSA contract, and discussions with the new provider are still pending regarding future arrangements.

A regular raffle was introduced, with tickets priced at $3 or two for $5. This has created a new and welcome income stream and may help offset overall membership costs—an ongoing consideration for volunteer service organisations.

Members’ two-minute talks continued to be a valued feature of meetings, offering insights into the diverse backgrounds of members. One memorable example was learning that chimney sweep Rich is also a balloonist—an unexpected connection to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang that clearly left a lasting childhood impression.

The September Swap Meet was a strong success, thanks to Vivian and a close-knit team of Rotarians, supported by favourable weather. The November Trail Ride mirrored this success, with Walter leading another committed group and the weather again playing its part.

As in previous years, Rotarians visited local primary schools to present personalised Rotary Dictionaries. These were prepared by Aloma with the assistance of long-time Rotary friend Margaret Tyrrell. The excitement on the children’s faces continues to be a highlight.

The Santa Parade marked a significant first for Rotary Paeroa. Under John Eaglen’s design and leadership, a float was created that the Club could be proud of. Walter drove the sleigh, Ivan took on the role of Rudolf, and John Eaglen managed a sleigh full of enthusiastic children from Central School.

Central School was formally adopted by the Club later in the year. While involvement to date has been limited due to the school’s 150th jubilee celebrations, this will expand in 2026, with support extending beyond funding to hands-on project involvement.

In the final quarter of 2025, the Club supported the Paeroa Business Association through contributions to the town mural and children’s post–Santa Parade entertainment. The Club has also applied for membership of the PBA.