Greetings all,

As we edge closer to Christmas, a bit over a week away, our joy for the festive season has been somewhat tempered with the loss of a very good friend in Rotary on 9 December, Heather Frazer, wife of Past President Allan, a loved and admired colleague in our club. Heather’s sudden passing was a great shock and disbelief to us all. Heather had recently retired from working at Marsden Books. She provided constant support to Allan in all his endeavours in Rotary and was so caring within her wide family and to others, her many friends in life. She had wonderful engagement with people of all ages young and old. We took a moments silence at our Christmas event on 10  December to remember Heather and to reinforce our support in prayer for Allan and family as they deal with their deep grief.

It has been a very busy time for all our club members, running projects, trying to make selections for Rotary leadership courses, planning future projects, our annual Christmas pudding sales in the Karori Mall, and helping other clubs with their pudding orders. Some success  in this regard with our Mall sales and it was a pleasure also to assist Wellington North Rotary at the Khandallah Fair  last Sunday with a wide range of activities and stalls. The Rotary puddings and raffles stall under the Rotary gazebo was shared with Nick and Christine Hurley promoting the Pacific immunisation  programme and ERKs from the Rotary Club of Wellington,  so that was a good fit and friendship.

It was nice to welcome Pierre Lamain, a piano accordion player who entertained us well at our Christmas event at the Wellesley Hotel on 10 December. And to see many faces we haven’t caught up with for so long and others we are encouraging to play a more fuller part in our Rotary life.

Finally, some good news from Rotary International. Our Club was second equal in the District this past Rotary year for per capita giving to The Rotary Foundation, second equal with Awapuni Rotary on US$ 111.11. That was a great achievement and we will receive a special banner in the New Year from our District Governor. We were beaten for the top prize by Port Nicholson Rotary, the breakfast club in the capital with US$192, per member giving.

Look out for club news as we go forward into 2023, a social debate with Tawa Rotary at Tawa on 31 January and a full February of events including a business breakfast.

Michele and I extend our very best wishes for the festive season. We are thinking of Jay and her family in India, and Allan and all his family at this very tough time for them all.

Keep safe, keep well, and we  look forward to coming together again in late January.

David
Acting President