Read on to find out what happened at our meeting, what’s
coming up, and who will be doing what at the next meeting.
Rotary Oceania Summit 2026
I (Kelvin Ricketts) was the sole representative from Rotary Paeroa at the Rotary Oceania Summit 2026, themed “Unite for Good – Building a Better Tomorrow.” The 700-kilometre round trip proved well worth it — even with petrol sitting at $3.35 per litre!
The Summit, held in Napier, brought together around 700 Rotarians, Rotaractors, friends of Rotary, and community leaders from across New Zealand and the Pacific. Promoted as an expanded, multi-district conference-style event, it provided a valuable platform for cross-district connection and shared learning.
The programme featured a strong mix of keynote speakers, panel discussions, networking, and social opportunities. The keynote speakers were exceptional — I’m pleased to report I stayed awake for every one of them!
A standout theme was the importance of fellowship, highlighted from the outset by Sir Anand Satyanand. He also emphasised the need for a unified national Rotary voice in New Zealand to better communicate the impact Rotary has within our communities.
Overall, the Summit was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate Rotary service, strengthen connections across Oceania, and turn ideas into meaningful community action.
As always, one of the most poignant moments of any Rotary conference is the time taken to honour and remember those members who have moved to higher service. Among those acknowledged this year was Ron Tyrrell.
Finally, it was sobering to reflect on the passing of eight other Rotarians I had known personally — people I had shared meals with and enjoyed true fellowship alongside. At the previous conference, that number was five.
If there is a message in this, it is the clear and growing need to attract younger members into Rotary. I encourage each of us to take up that challenge — reach out to a family member, neighbour, friend, or colleague and invite them to come along and experience firsthand what Rotary is all about.
Guest Speaker Club Secretary Lloyd Davies
The guest speaker for the evening was Secretary Lloyd—although “guest speaker” is something of a misnomer, as his primary purpose was to present the Club’s amended Bye‑Laws. To add a little colour to the session, a deep dive was undertaken into Lloyd’s background, with ChatGPT, M365 Copilot and Claude AI producing volumes of fascinating material.
The highlights can be summarised as follows: Justice of the Peace; Diploma in Law; Graduate Diploma in Business Studies (Dispute Resolution); Diploma in Management; trustee or board member of multiple trusts, past and present; accomplished musician; radio personality—and, most importantly, an all‑round good guy.
On that basis alone, we should definitely invite Lloyd back as a proper guest speaker!
🗣️ TWO MINUTW SPEAKER
Walter delivered an entertaining “two-minute(?)” talk, explaining how his herd is now sporting what could only be described as high-tech fashion collars. With any luck, the editor has captured the details correctly!
These collars are electronic monitoring devices designed to track each cow’s health, behaviour, and location. Using built-in sensors, they record movement, eating patterns, rumination (chewing cud), and even body temperature. This information allows Walter to quickly identify early signs of illness, injury, or calving, enabling prompt action when needed.
The system can also detect when cows are in heat, improving breeding efficiency. Linked to farm management software, the collars provide real-time alerts and insights, reducing the need for constant manual observation.
Overall, this smart investment will enhance animal welfare, boost productivity, and streamline herd management — all of which should free up a bit more time for Walter to enjoy his fishing!
Bits & Pieces of Interest And importance
Meeting Attendance: As per the Club's constitution, members are expected to attend at least 60% of regular club meetings, with attendance at other Rotary or satellite clubs accepted to maintain active engagement and fulfil membership obligations.
Subscriptions – Urgent Reminder: With 1 April approaching and the start of a new financial year, members are reminded to ensure that all outstanding subscription payments are brought up to date. If you are experiencing any financial difficulty, please discuss this confidentially with Treasurer Ivan. Members should also be aware that the Club constitution contains provisions relating to members who fall into arrears.
Standing Payment Option: Many members find that setting up a monthly automatic payment is the easiest way to keep subscriptions current. This approach also assists the Treasurer by reducing administrative workload. If you are unsure how to arrange this, please speak with Ivan.
Guest Speaker 7 April: Principal of Paeroa Central School Mona Hingston
Guest Speaker 21 April: Mayor Toby Adams
Guest Speaker Coordinator: The Club is seeking a member who would be willing to take responsibility for sourcing and coordinating guest speakers for the coming year. Expressions of interest would be appreciated.
RYDA: A practical programme teaching young drivers awareness, responsibility, and decision-making to stay safe and reduce road trauma.
RYDA took place 24 March, it was a full-on day—not just for the enrolled students, but also for a few of our Rotarian volunteers (you know who you are…the usual “go support the community” crew). It was a fantastic day, with sixty-two rangatahi gaining a much better understanding of what it means to be behind the wheel of something that can impact many lives.
đź“… Socials
Left Bank Cinema & Thai Dinner
We need 28 attendees to have the cinema to ourselves
