May 2008 RDU online (pdf) - Rotary Down Under

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Protecting the Environment Stewart Island, or Rakiura as it is known in Maori, is a one-hour ferry crossing of Foveaux Strait from Bluff, New Zealand’s most southern port. Bluff is 30km south of Invercargill, a city of 50,000 people. Oban, the only settlement on the island, has a permanent population of several hundred people. It also supports an equal number of holiday homes and it has a pub, school, and the Department of Conservation. The remainder of the island is essentially in its original state of podocarp bush. It supports many song birds such as bell birds and tuis. Deer hunters find it a wonderful stalking ground and, of high importance, Stewart Island is home to 30,000 kiwis. The Department of Conservation is responsible for the management of the Rakiura National Park. It is an amazing place for trampers from all over the world, where you can plan up to 10 days’ walking, with a comfortable hut to sleep in each night. All is well, provided you carry your own food, have suitable clothes and footwear and that you are reasonably fit. Be aware that Stewart Island has a high rainfall and this can be a challenge, with muddy tracks and wet clothes. Nevertheless 24–––Rotary Down Under, May 2008 Department of Conservation staffer James Ware, left, with members of the Rotary Club of Winton, NZ, Vic Wilson, Hamish Leckie and Merv Frew, taking a breather after resurrecting a sign on Stewart Island. Winton’s island wonderland the Department of Conservation does a great job in maintaining the tracks and huts. Hut wardens provide good radio communications so trampers are relatively safe if problems arise. For each of the past five years, members of the Rotary Club of Winton, NZ, have had a week of fellowship and work at Stewart Island. Through Department employee Andrew King, a son of Rotarian Peter King, the club has assisted with track and hut maintenance. It has been satisfying work and in February this year the experience was no exception. A smooth crossing of Foveaux Strait was followed by a 15-minute helicopter ride from Oban across the island to the west coast huts of East Ruggedy and Big Hellfire. What a wonderful way to reach a destination on the north-west walk, which normally takes three seven- hour tramping days to reach. The west coast bush and beaches must look much the same today as they did to Captain Cook more than 200 years ago. Materials, gas cooker and food were also flown in, so meals that were the envy of the trampers when they arrived each afternoon at the hut, tired and unwashed, were provided. Steak, lamb, a range of vegetables and appropriate refreshments allowed the eight volunteer Rotarian workers to maintain a productive output when they were busy cleaning, painting and repairing the huts. We had time to take bush walks and Andrew shot a deer, which we ate. Many signs and sounds of kiwis and opossums, along with the amazing red rata flowers, made this six-day visit to Stewart Island in fine weather a memory to treasure. From this association with the Department our club has completed a contract to assemble 100m of boardwalk. This will be transported by ship to the Auckland Islands. So, with 22,000 nails used and $5000 in the club account, our relationship with the Department continues to thrive. We have been asked to go to Codfish Island next year, which is just off the north-west coast of Stewart Island. This is a quarantine island where the rare parrot-like kakapo bird has been successfully bred. Rotary is certainly providing some memorable and satisfying experiences for our club members. Kerry Dunlop Rotary Club of Winton, NZ Governor, District 9980 ■
It’s sad, but because many kids from our neighbouring countries are born in the wrong place, they get forgotten, especially when they develop cranial lumps or cardiac problems or suffer deformed limbs or badly burned flesh. There’s just so little help available to them and all most can do is bear their plight and pray for the generosity of their more prosperous neighbours in New Zealand and Australia. But the prayers of two young Tongan girls with cardiac problems were recently answered when they arrived in Auckland for open heart surgery. Nanuma, 14, and Hola, 10, are to have long awaited surgery at Starship Heart Clinic to repair heart valves, and it’s all thanks to Rotary. Their life-changing operations will happen thanks to ROMAC, Rotary’s Oceanic Medical Aid for Children program that has been active in Australia for more than 20 years and is now becoming firmly established in New Zealand. It’s Nanuma and Hola’s first time outside Tonga and they have both brought a close relative along for support. They are staying with family and are being helped by the local Drury and Northcote Rotary clubs, whose enthusiastic members help them acclimatise to Kiwi life and meet hospital appointments. While the girls’ heart conditions don’t affect their outward appearance, it does have a significant impact on the kind of activities they can take part in and on their life expectancy. They want to return home as normal girls, capable of putting more effort into everyday activities. ROMAC’s ROMAC s miracles New Zealand Rotarians are getting right behind the ROMAC program. Clockwise from top: Tongan girls Nanuma and Hola, who will undergo heart surgery; Hola and her father, Tele Kihi; Meryl and Terry Stretton with their granddaughter Elsie, plus ROMAC daughter Hola HAU from Tonga. Kiwis have a heart for Nanuma and Hola Funding for Nanuma and Hola’s operations is mostly drawn from Rotary members and the costs can be considerable. However, everyone involved is unanimous that it is worth all the fundraising in the world just to see these girls with mended hearts and smiles on their faces. Rotary Host and Past President of the Rotary Club of Northcote, Terry Stretton, said ROMAC was certainly one of Rotary’s most worthwhile programs. “It’s been so wonderful meeting Hola and her father, Tele Kihi, and their extended family, receiving a genuine smile from the heart and being named as Hola’s Kiwi Dad,” Terry said. Geoff Dainty Rotary Club of New Lynn, NZ Past Governor, District 9910 ROMAC NZ Regional Director ■ Rotary Down Under, May 2008–––25
Page 1: Check us out: www.rotarydownunder.c
Page 4 and 5: Staff & Contacts Managing Editor: B
Page 6 and 7: The Rotary Foundation ��
Page 8 and 9: NEWS N BULLETIN World Water Day cam
Page 10 and 11: NEWS N BULLETIN Parkes Rotaractors
Page 12 and 13: MAILBOX MAIL It’s fellowship, not
Page 14 and 15: Cover Story ARHRF’s new companion
Page 16 and 17: KIDS TEE SHIRTS for the Grandchildr
Page 18 and 19: Rotary looks ahead Leadership devel
Page 20 and 21: Before ROMAC After ROMAC ROMAC Rota
Page 22 and 23: Public Relations Take it as `GRANTE
Page 26 and 27: Zones 7A & 8 Institute Christchurch
Page 28 and 29: AUSTRALIAN ROTARY HEALTH RESEARCH F
Page 30 and 31: AUSTRALIAN ROTARY HEALTH RESEARCH F
Page 32 and 33: Rotary Club of Campbelltown NSW FIF
Page 34 and 35: NEW SOUTH WALES FORSTER/TUNCURRY Lu
Page 36 and 37: 36---Rotary Down Under, May 2008 TH
Page 38 and 39: Notices Two great men of Rotary PDG
Page 40 and 41: DIRECTORY • To advertise call Sam

May 2008 RDU online (pdf) - Rotary Down Under

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