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.
Guest Speaker (well sort of) Lloyd Davies Club Secretary
🎤 Main Event – Guest Speaker
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 MINUTE 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!
