Annual Synopsis - 2014-2015
2014 - 2015
President - Michael Cahill
“Light up Rotary”
President Mike Cahill led Fairfield Rotary on a varied and interesting year of achievement and enjoyment. Our International activity, directed by pp Lynden Clements, included a visit to Taveuni by President Mike and Doug Haigh to view playgrounds installed the previous year and to present 120 solar lights funded by our club to enable students to study at night in areas without electricity. Also provided to Taveuni were six boxes of school books. $2,000 provided funds for carpentry tools for Ugandan schools. Three Shelterboxes were purchased for Vanuatu and Nepal. A combined Hamilton Rotary Clubs’ film night raised funds which, trebled by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, reached $13,000 for “End Polio Now.”
Local activity saw the donation of over 50 boxes of new school books to Waikato and overseas, while a $5,000 donation to Zeal provided kitchen equipment for that creative youth programme. Some eight other local appeals and projects also benefitted from our assistance, including the sponsorship of two students to the Science Summer School. The EnviroSchools programme, led by Graeme Kitto, grew to 13 schools and received much valuable publicity.
All these many activities were facilitated by the success of our keynote Rotary Book Fair which, co-ordinated by Peter Millar, grossed some $41,000.
Despite reduced numbers Fairfield Rotary Readers continued to assist the school and co-ordinate a successful Children’s Christmas Party.
Changeover evening saw Graham Garden honoured as a Paul Harris Fellow, while the community Paul Harris awardee was Vic Arcus, chairman of “The Fairfield Project.” Gavin Petrie received a Multiple Sapphire Pin from District 9930 recognising his continued commitment to the District Website, while Bruce Simmons was also honoured with a Sapphire Pin. This single Rotary year was accomplished with a concluding membership of 55.