Jan Hopcroft

September 2025

Being a Rotarian, doing good in your community and even globally, you sometimes wonder whether you are doing enough as a volunteer. But this month Rose our past president and her team from 2024-2025 year won the Club Excellence Award for fostering a positive experience for our members and reflecting on the values of Rotary. Congratulations to Rose and everyone who contributed on receiving this award. A fantastic achievement
As I return from a 7-week leave of absence my first meeting back on Monday the 8th of September, we have our local (Queenstown) District Governor Keith McIntosh coming to speak to us on everything Rotary - where it is going and the challenges we might face in the coming year. This meeting is open to anyone who might be interested in Rotary. You are all most welcome to attend. We also have Terry Davis coming to speak on the 22nd of September about the World Gold Panning Championships. Great speakers for September.

Dates to mark on your Calendar is the Pink Ribbon Street appeal on the Friday 17th and Saturday 18th of October. If you are keen to volunteer just jump on to the Pink Ribbon Street Appeal website and book yourself in.

Rotary House and Garden on the 1st November. Lots of fabulous houses on show this year.

RYLA applications open on the 1st of September so if you know anyone that may qualify, please get in touch for an application form.

Have a good month.

Jan

2025 Rotary House and Garden Tour

Cromwell Rotary Club House and Garden Tour is returning in November 2025

Cromwell Rotary House and Garden Tour committee is delighted to announce that the fifth Cromwell and Districts House and Garden Tour will be held on Saturday the 1st of November this year.

Make sure to “Save The Date” in your diaries now and tell all you friends and family to get in early! As you will know, tickets for this popular event always sell fast.

We have 11 homeowners who have generously volunteered (with a little gentle persuasion from Paula😊) A big thank you to these owners of the fabulous homes and gardens.

We are excited to this year be raising funds towards the establishment of a Splash Pad at the Alpha Street Reserve.

The splash pad is an area fitted with a non-slip surface and various nozzles & features that can shower, spray, rain, mist & shoot streams of water. Sometimes called a zero-depth pool the play space can include a shower down, water arch, splash buckets, water helix and rocket streams all designed for a safe, inclusive watery fun.

The water from the play area will be recycled making it sustainable. This will be such an asset to local families and holiday makers.

More information on how you can help will be circulated to members and friends in the next while, or contact Paula on 0275725457 or email areteholdings@xtra.co.nz

Registrations are now open. Click on the link below to go to a registration page where you can register for up to four people and pay using your Credit Card.

Cromwell Club “Rotary Excellence Award”

We are an Excellent Rotary Club and now it is official.

Our club has received a Rotary International Club Excellence Award, one of only six awarded in District 9999. The award is for fostering a positive experience for the club’s members and for reflecting the values of Rotary. The goals and achievements considered for the award include:

• Up-to-date strategic plan

• Number of service projects and service participation of club members

• Membership increase

• Contributions to Rotary Foundation

• Polio Plus contributions

• Online presence – website and social media

• Media stories about club projects

• RYLA participation

• Participation of club members in leadership development and district training participation.

Well done 2024-25 Directors and Club Members!

Gordon Stewart - Honorary Membership

Honorary membership is used to recognise people who have distinguished themselves by meritorious service and who embody Rotary ideals.

This month, Gordon Stewart was awarded his Honorary Membership Certificate. Gordon has served 51 years as a member of Rotary, was 1991-92 president of our club and holds a Paul Harris Fellowship. Gordon has led and participated in countless Rotary projects over the years and well-deserves his Honorary Membership status.

Cromwells “Big Fruit” signage update

We are proud to have the new signage completed and installed beside the Big Fruit sculpture. The information panel explains and celebrates the legacy of the sculpture that has become a community icon. To compliment the signage the seat previously installed in the 2021 upgrade and dedicated to past Rotarians has been refurbished by the Cromwell Menzshed team. A second seat donated by Cromwell Rotary has been constructed and installed by the Menzshed team.

Beer and Pie July update

A copy of Derek Morrison’s coffee table book, “New Zealand’s Best Gourmet Pies” was an incentive for submitting pie photos this year.
The prize was presented at recent Rotary Club meeting.
Regular Beer and Pie July participants Bernie McCone, (centre and making the prize presentation) and Euan and Jennie Nicol who won the prize are pictured.
Member’s generosity and contributions have been appreciated again and the club raised another $566 this July which will be donated to the local after school food programme.

Incoming correspondence

Pink Ribbon Street Appeal - 17th and 18th October

The Breast Cancer Foundation are seeking help with their annual Pink Ribbon Street Appeal. If any club member would like to assist with this appeal then you can sign up on their website - www.pinkribbonstreetappeal.co.nz

The Sean Dickie Young Leaders Trust

This Trust has been established by the family and friends of Sean who at the age of 22, was tragically killed in an accident in 2022. The purpose of the Trust is to assist young people (16 - 25 years of age) who have shown potential as community leaders to attend courses and /or events to develop their leadership skills further. The Trust will contribute to the cost of transport, accommodation and fees to attend such courses.

If any member is interested in knowing more or know of a young person who might benefit from the assistance - the website is www.seandickeyyoungleasderstrust.co.nz

Annual Report from Rotary Young Drivers Award (RYDA)

RYDA is a programme that the Club has supported for a number of years, both financially and through assistance with running the programme. Last year they worked with 67 South Island schools, including Cromwell College and 5,636 students attended the 30 workshops that were run.

Guest Speakers - Sam and Josh Munro

Josh and Sam Munro (Josh is in the white top) gave a presentation on their Outward Bound experience. Both said how much they felt they had benefited from the experience, especially in relation to their confidence and their ability to interact with both their peers and adults. As a result of these new found strengths - Josh is now planning to go to University next year and Sam has left college to take up a joinery apprenticeship, which is going well. It is the first time that the Club has funded brothers to go on Outward Bound in the same year, and it was after seeing the impact on his older brother that Sam also applied to go. One thing that was really interesting was that Josh found the two days of isolation and having to be self sufficient the most challenging, whereas Sam thought it was the best bit!!. Well done to both of them.

Vocational Visit - Oakleys Plumbing Cromwell

Our monthly vocational visit was to Oakleys - a local bathroom showroom and plumbing supplies company, who were a major sponsor of the 'House Build Project’. Their showroom on Hughes Crescent is a must visit for anyone considering bathroom renovations or building a new home. Patrick Rivett, the Manager and Lynda Abernethy, the Showroom Manager, told us about the history of the company and their involvement in the industry (both have many years working in, and in depth knowledge of, the industry.

The company was founded in Christchurch in 1875, by Englishman Henry Oakley and despite changing ownership over the years has always retained its name. In the last 20 years the company has quadrupled with branches now in Dunedin, Cromwell and Nelson to service all of the South Island. Branches are locally owned and committed to supporting local communities.

We had a very interesting visit, and a big thank you to Patrick and Lynda, especially for the wine and lovely nibbles they so generously provided.

Lynda has expressed an interest in joining Rotary and attended our meeting at the end of August.

Update from Hagar NZ

Kate Russell recently spoke to us about Hagar NZ and our club has provided financial support to help with the ongoing work and support that they provide. This is an interesting article about how victims are trapped and exploited by forced scamming operations — and how Hagar helps survivors rebuild their lives.
https://hagar.org.nz/forced-scamming/?fundraiseronetag=Forced%20scamming%20Clicks

Guest speaker - John Christie

On Monday 25th August we enjoyed hearing from John Christie the Director of the Central Otago campus of the Otago Polytechnic. He advised us of the challenges and opportunities that the current restructuring of the sector is creating. John talked about the new courses being introduced but also some that are being stopped for economic reasons or a lack of applicants. John also gave us a look at his background in Commerce over a 30 plus year career in Dunedin. The crowd asked plenty of interesting questions and it was obvious the support for the Cromwell campus was alive and well as is our support for the youth in the region. John’s talk certainly provoked a lot of discussion.

Guest speakers - Chantal and Craig Coote

On Monday 11th August we heard from Chantal, a former Group Study Exchange (GSE) participant who went to New Orleans back in 2009. What a journey she's been on! Today, she and her husband, Craig, are the proud owners of seven NRG Gyms throughout Otago and Southland, and they've even purchased the New Zealand Master Franchise for "Flex Fitness."

Chantal’s passion for helping people get moving was truly infectious. Instead of just talking about the importance of mobility and strength, she had our members get up and try a few balance activities themselves—a brilliant way to drive her message home

Meet the Candidates meeting

Light Up Winter Event

Again another successful Light Up Winter

A great crowd and the Lanterns looked spectacular

Thanks to all Rotarians for helping on the Night

The query quest in Taipei
Our writer uncovers the many reasons Rotary members should travel to Taiwan’s capital for the 2026 Rotary International Convention

A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTORS MEETING.

If you are sending out emails to all club members please also include the group "Almost Members" in the contacts section.

This group includes prospective members and some partners of members that like to be informed of club happenings.

Thanks.

8th September

Set up and Clear

Nicol, Euan

Registration and Parting Thought

Beckingham, Bridgette

Guest Speaker host

Hopcroft, Jan

22nd September

Set up and Clear

Lunn, Craig

Registration and Parting Thought

Jackson, Richard

Guest Speaker host

McEntyre, Denis

Cromwell Rotary Club meeting
Cromwell Town & Country Club
Sep 08, 2025 5:45 PM

Cromwell Rotary Club meeting
Cromwell Town & Country Club
Sep 22, 2025 5:45 PM

5th Monday Special Event
Cromwell Town and Country Club
Sep 29, 2025

Cromwell Rotary Club meeting
Cromwell Town & Country Club
Oct 13, 2025 5:45 PM

Cromwell College Prizegiving

Oct 30, 2025

Cromwell House & Garden Tour 2025

Nov 01, 2025 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

House & Garden Tour 2025
Cromwell
Nov 01, 2025 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Cromwell Rotary Club meeting
Cromwell Town & Country Club
Nov 10, 2025 5:45 PM

Cromwell Rotary Club meeting
Cromwell Town & Country Club
Nov 24, 2025 5:45 PM

View entire list

Sep 08, 2025

Keith McIntosh DG

District 9999

All things Rotary in the coming year.

Sep 22, 2025

Terry Davis

World Gold Panning Championships Cromwell 2026

Oct 13, 2025

Genevieve Chrystall and David Scoones

Cromwell Hall update

View entire list

Mondays at 6:00 PM

Town & Country Club

Melmore Terrace
CROMWELL, 9310
New Zealand

Phone:

021 454 371

Send Email to Club

2nd & 4th Monday at 5.45pm

District Site

Venue Map

Club Executives and Directors

President:

Jan Hopcroft 027 606 7927

Past President:

Rose Grindley 021454371

President Elect:

Jonathan Usher 021 462 442

Secretary:

Jennie Nicol 027 621 3216

Treasurer:

Neroli McRae 027 434 6014

Membership:

Trish Bulling 027 688 6869

Club Administrator

Euan Nicol 027 214 2291

Projects:

Pete Svensson 027 429 6210

Public Relations:

Craig Lunn 021581665

Youth Service:

Tania Henderson 027 2848 181

Foundation:

Alan Lloyd 027 251 7560

Bulletin:

Wainita Proctor 027 256 8180

Webmaster:

Murray Kennedy 021 455 818

Vocational Visits:

Doreen Evans 027 277 0972

Speaker Seeker:

Adrienne Heal 027 235 8820

Almoner:

Shirley Calvert 0212526916

Rotary is a worldwide network of inspired individuals who translate their passions into relevant social causes to change lives in communities.