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Do YOU want to Make A Difference to the Youth and our Community? Are you committed to making positive changes in our community and the world while having a bit of fun at the same time? Our club members are dedicated people who share a passion for community service and friendship.

Becoming a Rotarian connects you with a diverse group who share your drive to give back while having fun.

Steve Shaw receives PHF for services to Fire and Emergency

Bernie presented Steve Shaw with his PHF last night at the monthly Fire Services meeting. Steve was very humbled by the presentation which was particularly special in front of his peers.

Bernie McKone, who is the current chair of the Paul Harris Fellowship Committee was joined by Neroli McRae to present the Paul Harris Fellowship at a Fire and Emergency Service meeting on 2nd April.

A Paul Harris Fellowship one of the highest awards any Rotary Club or Rotary International can bestow upon an individual and is reserved to recognise individuals for exceptional contributions they make to any humanitarian, educational or community program within their community. Our committee, made up from some Past Presidents and existing Paul Harris Fellows, resolved that Steve Shaw should become a recipient this year.

It is traditional for our Club to award Paul Harris Fellow as our recognition of a person whose actions demonstrate a shared purpose with the objectives of The Rotary Foundation.

The Award is named for our founder, Paul Harris, a Chicago lawyer who started Rotary International with three business associates in 1905.

Steve is being acknowledged for this award because of his services to our community including long standing service in Fire and Emergency New Zealand in Cromwell from 1997 to 2021, when Steve stepped down to join the Brigade Operational Unit in 2021, as well as finding time to support Hockey in the region

We also acknowledge Steve’s long contribution to Fire and Emergency whilst in Gore from 1987 to 1997.

In June 2023 Steve was honoured with a Queen’s Service Order (QSM) for services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and Hockey.

During his time in Cromwell, Steve was Chief Fire Officer for 14 years and during this time he brought changes to staff morale and wellbeing.

Steve also served the Hockey Association for seven years. He held leadership roles in the Central Otago Hockey Association, refreshing the organisation with a community focus, and was instrumental as a Board chairman in the formation of Southern Regions Hockey Inc.

In 2010 Steve was made a life member of the Cromwell Volunteer Fire Brigade and a Life member of the Central Otago Hockey Association.

Congratulations Steve.

Hospice Collection

Thank you to the team of Rotarians and friends who collected for Hospice outside New World on the 1st of March.

Rotary collected $1274.40 from the collection to assist Otago Hospice with their services to families in need. A great effort.

Speaker Megan Huffadine

Very talented local artist Megan Huffadine spoke to members about her work passions and inspiration at the T&C meeting on March 11th.

Megan's paintings, sculptures and combinations of the two are informed by her background in anthropology and archaeology, as well as a life-long connection with museums and their collections.
Megan had brought several pieces with her to show us the final product of her labours and showed a series of images depicting her current work and scenes at the workshop where the pieces are created.

The content that is driving her at the moment is environmental.

Repository Daylight Beckons (2022), by Megan Huffadine

She explained that she works a lot with artefacts, plants and seeds, drawing and abstracting them until they became their own forms.
Her parents had always taken her to museums and her husband had always worked for museums, and she said much of her current work ‘‘related back to the museums and collections and the way work is displayed’’.

Rotary at the Cromwell Community Expo

Thank you very much to Jean and Keith Morgan who did a great job of representing Rotary at the Cromwell Community Expo held on Sunday afternoon at The Gate Conference Centre.

They reported a good turnout to the free event open to all residents and new arrivals. The event provides an opportunity for local clubs and organisations to share information about their activities.

Jean has already sent an invitation to 5 different people and couples who are interested in checking out Rotary. So look out for newcomers at up-coming meetings and make them welcome.

Forest Farm Vocational Visit

The World's First 100% Electric, Zero Fossil Fuel Orchard.

Thank you to Orchard Manager, Euan White who enlightened the good number of Rotarians on this cutting edge business in our region.

We learned that Forest Lodge Orchard is a 6-hectare, high-density cherry orchard that operates without burning fossil fuels.

They believe they are the first commercial food grower in the world to achieve this goal. Everything from irrigation, frost fighting, vehicles and even NZ's first electric tractor are powered through New Zealand's highly renewable grid and through their own power that is generated and stored using an extensive solar and battery array.

Forest Lodge is a six-hectare cherry orchard with just over 9300 cherry trees that uses close to 100MWh of power a year to run everything on the farm.

If you missed this fascinating visit and are interested in know more about the project then check out their website https://www.forestlodge.nz/

No fossil fuels means the latest in electrification technology, sourced from around the world and some fine kiwi-ingenuity to fill the remaining gaps. In total, they have electrified 20 machines across the house and farm.

Doreen and Rebecca test drove the electric tractor.

At convention find breakouts tailored to you

Take away bold ideas about how to improve your club experience, your community, and the world from breakout sessions at the Rotary convention in Singapore.

A labor of love