Annual Synopsis - 2020-2021

In hindsight, the motto for 2020-2021, “Rotary Opens Opportunities” has proved to be very appropriate. President Gavin established a Strategy Committee to look at the way ahead for the next 5 years. The outcome of the Strategy Committee was totally unexpected, as the recommendation was that the Club should cease operation as such after the 50^th Jubilee celebrations. After much deliberation and discussion an opportunity was presented by Mike Grayson, for the present Fairfield Rotary, to morph into a different form of club. After further discussion this new form of running a Rotary Club was presented to members, who agreed whole-heartedly, that that was the way forward. Those who transferred to the new model of Fairfield Rotary will be active in on-going projects.

 

A number of projects continued during the year - The Fairfield Project, with the club assisting with the planting of trees in August and attendance at the opening of the Watershed in March. During the year, $10,000 was donated towards a composting toilet for the site. The Dictionary Project saw 200 Usborne dictionaries distributed to Fairfield  and Hukanui Primary Schools. The club assisted Rototuna Rotary with the Rotary Book Fair in May.

 

During the year, a donation of $500.00 was made to Interplast and $2400 was made to the Hamilton Combined Christian Foodbank. In addition, $1000.00 was given to the Waikato Indian Association appeal for the purchase of Oxygen Concentrators for India, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

We sponsored two young ladies to the Rotary Youth Leadership Award at Karapiro in April and gave moral support to Shalini Guleria and her Science Box project, as she continued her doctoral studies in Melbourne.

 

A new event was organised during the year by Mike Cahill, called ‘Run the Runway’, which involved running up and down the 2.5Km Hamilton Airport runway, to raise funds for Hospice Nepal, Go Baby Go and True Colours charities. This first, of hopefully an annual event, raised just over $10,000 for the three charities. A fundraising dinner for Hospice Nepal was organised by Mike Cahill in September, at which $76,000 was raised.

 

Thanks to Deniss Yeung, we had many engaging speakers during the year and members also participated in Dinners for Six, the annual Christmas Party and the Presidents New Year BBQ.

 

 

On the 26^{th of} June, the Club celebrated its 50^th anniversary at the Novotel Hotel. Thanks go to Mike Cahill for his leadership of a small organising committee. The evening was attended by Past RI World President Bill Boyd, District 9930 Governor Grant Spackman, members, past members and guests. During the evening we were entertained by Ms Katie Trigg, a University of Waikato Sir Edmund Hillary Scholar, who is completing her Honours year studying a Bachelor of Music, majoring in classical voice. Three Hamilton citizens, Richard Lawrence, Richard Crawford, and Peter Loft were honoured with a Paul Harris Fellow Award.

 

On 19^th July at Club Changeover, Diane Whitehead was honoured with a Paul Harris Fellow Award and Graeme Kitto, Bruce Sinkinson and Ross Williams were honoured with a sapphire pin.