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Fifty years ago, the Riccarton Rotary Club formed a new club called the Rotary Club of Hornby. Geoff Maples of the Riccarton Rotary Club gathered together twenty-five men and these Rotarians set in place the solid foundations of the new club as envisioned by Rotary’s founder Paul Harris. Geoff was honoured on our twenty-fifth anniversary with a Paul Harris Fellowship Award for his services to our Club.
The inaugural meeting of the provisional club was held at Riccarton House, Kahu Road, Christchurch at 5.45 pm on April 11th, 1962.
The following were elected to office:
President
Fred Piper
President Elect
Noel Spiers
Secretary/Treasurer
Bob Stewart
Directors
Ted Chambers, Brian Shackelm Mac Thomson, Bryan Whelan.
Charter Members:
Laurie Berry, Brian Shackel
Syd Slatter, Ted Chambers
Noel Spiers, Harry Cohen
Bob Stewart, Jack Elliot
Jim Taylor, Len Franklin
John Teal, Les Hayes
Mac Thomson, Des Higgens
John Wearne, Fred Masters
John Williams, Bryan Whelan
Tom Maunder, John Muir
Mac Wilson, Fred Piper
Jack Yates, Pat Ryan, Jack Bowman
R.I. Charter granted 11th July 1962 R.I. Charter presented 22 September 1962 Family Tree: Christchurch Club Chartered 1922 Riccarton Club Chartered 1953 Hornby Club Chartered 1962:- Inner Wheel Club 1972 Lincoln Rotary Club 1973 Rotaract Club 1978 Men's Probus Club 1984 Ladies' Probus Club 1986 Community Organisations Created by the Club Good Companions for over sixties Paparua Prospect Work Trust Otira Arthur's Pass Rescue Society PAS Organisations with Rotary Representation Hornby Day Care Centre Paparua Prospect Trust Otira Arthur's Pass Rescue Society J.R. McKenzie Youth Education Trust Lewis Austin Medical Trust Sister Club Rotary Club of Seoul-West, Korea. Rotary Club of Amagasaki-West, Japan.
The new club began with a team of twenty-four, only one of whom is still in the club - Les Hayes. The club received its Charter from Rotary International on 11th July and celebrated it on 22nd September 1962 at Addington Raceway. They teamed with the Riccarton Club to finish the Hei Hei Community Centre and had many years on the management committee. Other projects were twenty-four chairs to Cholmondeley Home; tent and poles to Wycola Scout Group; assistance to several needy families; regular visits to Paparua Prison; bed and bedding to St. John Ambulance, Hornby; a set of scales to the Wycola Branch of the Plunket Society; street appeals; and in association with the Riccarton Club a stall at the N.Z. Industries Fair incorporating a chocolate wheel and glass smashing stall. This activity lasted for eight years and was a major source of income for the Club.
With a team of twenty-seven assistance was given to Templeton Scout Group; Nansen's Home; The Freeman Orphan Fund; Meals on Wheels; Cholmondeley Home; Abilities Christchurch Incorporated; Templeton Hospital Chapel Appeal; deserving families; St. Johns Ambulance (portable resuscitation unit); Templeton Hospital; and there was prison visiting done.
With a team of thirty-one carried out the following projects: street appeals to assist the N.Z. Foundation for the Blind; the Salvation Army; Nurse Maude Association, annual Rotary Appeal. Plans were put in place for establishing and equipping a children's playground in Witham Street; Rotary trophy to Hornby Athletic Club; special stretchers and a set of human bones to St. John Ambulance; £25 towards television for Templeton Hospital; £50 for workshop equipment for Abilities Christchurch Incorporated; two crates of books to Director of Education, Western Samoa; prison visiting. Plans were laid also for an electrical apprentice exchange from Hornby to Parks, New South Wales.
With a team of twenty-two completed the electrical apprentice's exchange; gave a kit set spinning wheel to Templeton Hospital; enabled the Club to give financial help to Medical Aid Abroad by house to house collection of glass and clean newspapers; sent more books to Western Samoa, used postage stamps to West Germany; supplied money to help with the installation of a water system for a village school in Crete; donated £60 for a lectern at the Templeton Hospital chapel and sponsored a student to an Outward Bound course.
With a team of thirty-eight sold programmes, collected fees and organised vehicle parking for the World Ploughing Competition at Ladbrooks. 26,000 people attended and 7,000 programmes were sold. A small monument now stands on a corner of Springs Road to mark the occasion. The back-drop trees were planted by our Rotary Club. Financial support dispersed: £10 to the Disaster Appeal for Milk Powder; £30 to the special Corso Appeal for India; £50 to Medical Aid Abroad and £150 to the Ferrymead Queen Carnival Fund.
That year we had a novel international project to help overseas students to adapt to the New Zealand way of life. The club put $400 towards the publication of a book entitled Our N.Z. Experience written by Trinh Khanh Tuoc. He was one of the first Vietnamese students to study at Canterbury University under the Colombo Plan.At the District Conference that year, eight members staged a play entitled Accepted with Regret which highlighted the importance of sound new-member assimilation. Substantial financial aid was given to the Defensive Driving Scheme launched by the Riccarton Club and $500 was given to the Medical Research Foundation.
The Hornby Youth Club flourished under Rex Crowe's supervision, and later it was handed over to the Y.M.C.A. Eventually the group combined with past member Rev. Martin Warren's Youth Group at Saint Columba Church. Syd's year saw at least eight official inter-club visits (which might still be a record). Work started on the beautification of the southern approaches to our area with substantial plantings of trees and shrubs. These working bees generated tremendous fellowship among the members. Another of Syd's achievements was an insurance scheme covering members on working bees when government schemes did not do so.
We donated $1,000 to Templeton Hospital for their swimming pool fund and raised funds with a wine and cheese evening for a fashion parade by the Dorothy Small School of Dressmaking. Good work was done in the founding of the Hornby Good Companions Club which involved about 200 elderly people. The tree planting project was completed and in all, over 6,000 trees and shrubs were planted. An interesting international project supported was a Nepalese student's business game for teaching farm management to Nepalese
Our mobile caravan for use by community organisations was built by four of our members. One of the caravan builders sold numerous garden sheds with sale proceeds to the Club. lan Ford was selected by the Club to travel with the Group Study Exchange Team to Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
The Inner Wheel Club of Hornby was established. An international highlight was the hosting of Glen Bosman, a student from Western Australia who attended Burnside High School for a year under the Rotary Youth Exchange Programme. As a vocational project the Club staged the first Careers Evening for the Lincoln High School.
Peter led the Club in a very able way in a varied assortment of club projects such as the internal and external painting of the Hei Hei Children's Library. A lot of good fellowship was had on this project. The library also benefitted by a donation of new library books. A big team effort went into a monster auction at the Hornby Mall car park for fund raising. The Club visited the N.A.C. workshops and toured their engineering complex. The construction and sale of more garden sheds by Jack Carter and helpers. Great fellowship functions and a car trial were held. A highlight of the year was the celebration of the Club's first decade at a Dine and Dance held at the Addington Raceway. Historian of the day P.P. Mac Thomson prepared and presented a booklet on the first ten years of our Club. The Club membership at the end of Peter's year was sixty-eight.
The Club flourished with an average attendance of 86.89% and seventy members. P.P. John Muir and his team successfully established the Rotary Club of Lincoln. Three of our members transferred to the new club with Graeme Sim becoming the Charter President. This s year was the beginning of a joint project with the Hornby Plunket Society to build new Plunket rooms. There were picnics, too, for selected children from the Templeton Hospital. The Club continued its connection with the Hei Hei Community Centre and Defensive Driving.
The new Plunket rooms were completed, and President John McNulty was proud to present the Society a cheque from our Club for $5,000. Youth people was very much to the fore this year, with the sponsorship of young to RYLA and Outward Bound. Another picnic was held for selected people from Templeton Hospital and assistance to the Templeton Hospital by running a stall at their fair to raise funds for patient welfare. Braille week support became a Club project by way of a door-to-door collection. Tape recorders were presented to Hornby High School and public speaking contests between schools were instigated. Three secondary schools were visited to give pupils occupational information. The St. John Ambulance Society benefitted by the resiting of their clubrooms in Carmen Road. The project formed the driveway and beautified the grounds, providing funds for educational material. Assistance was given to the Hornby Festival Committee and also to needy families by way of Christmas parcels.
This year the initial discussions on assistance to the Otira Arthur's Pass Rescue Society took place. It was felt that the Arthur's Pass Route to the West Coast was accident prone and that along with frequent mountaineering accidents and the isolation of Otira, an upgrading of the very small rescue trailer would be of benefit to all. At this stage helicopters were not being used in rescue operations. A steering team was set up to investigate. Several band instruments were donated to Hornby High School. Two bicycles were donated to pupils of Templeton Primary School on winning a Rotary competition. Trees were planted on a local car dismantler's boundary as a beautification project. Continuation of Templeton Hospital outings. Nominees to RYLA and Outward Bound. Fifteen new members inducted this year.
This year saw the highest membership in the history of our Club with seventy-seven members. Colin's quick wit and understanding provided the Club with many memorable nights. The support for RYLA, Outward Bound, Templeton Hospital, Braille collection, internal fellowship were all enthusiastically carried out. An away meeting was held at Gough, Gough and Hamer's premises. The Club's major project was the building of a Rescue Base and provision of a four-wheel-drive ambulance and rescue vehicle for the Otira Arthur's Pass Rescue Society at Otira. The Club suddenly became a hive of activity in planning to bring together all the necessary components for this project. Our Club also hosted Sue McGowan, an American Student Exchangee who thoroughly enjoyed her stay in New Zealand and a trophy was presented to the winner of the High School Debating Contest
The Club was in full swing, working on the Otira Arthur's Pass Rescue Society project. A massive fund-raising project in conjunction with Shell Service Stations ringed Christchurch with a giant sales day. Cakes from Wigram Air Base, shrubs, plants, etc., donated by Paparua County Council and potted by members. Donations came from all sources. The movement of goods to and from by Movements International Ltd was a project of immense proportions by itself. To our horror Christchurch was covered in snow- the bleakest, coldest day imaginable. Profits were a fraction of that hoped for but the project still contributed $22,000. A Rotoract Club was chartered and RYLA and Outward Bound were again supported. Local billets were arranged for seven work-seeking school leavers from Hokitika for seven days work experience in local business. We supported David Major of the Salvation Army in New Guinea with second-hand cycles and looked at a need for treadle sewing machines for Western Samoa. Templeton Hospital and Braille collecting still received full club support.
John wanted all Club programmes to focus on Human Relations as opposed to fund raising activities. The Club's bylaws were reviewed with the view to changing the fourteen-step requirement to six for the electing and induction of a new member. The six-step method is still used today. President John's first official duty was to officiate at the handing over of the rescue vehicle, building and equipment to the Otira Arthur's Pass Rescue Society. A booklet on this project was produced and forwarded to R.I., winning our Club a Rotary Merit Award. John presented the R.I. charter to the newly formed Rotaract Club. He was also team organiser for the G.S.E. team which went to the U.K. and organised the reception for the U.K. team's visit to N.Z. Hornby exchange student Donna Barrett went to the Philippines for twelve months. Job experience was set up for four youths from Hokitika covering psychiatric nursing, international advertising, horse management and engineering. Several brass instruments were given to Branston Intermediate School and Hornby High School. Guest speakers included the Deputy Prime Minister of the day Rt. Hon. Mr B. Tallboys. Visits were also made to Air New Zealand workshops and the Databank operation. The Citizens Advice Centre was painted, and a certificate of appreciation awarded to the Club for fifteen years of service to the blind. .
Under Vocational Service, Brian's main project w Award which was well received by the local community. There was was a Local Courtesy renewed interest in case studies involving employer/employee relations and Darfield High School was assisted with a careers evening. Fund raising was a major activity as $8,000 was required for the Hornby Community Care Centre and $2,200 for the district project to house the patients and families requiring special care and rehabilitation at Burwood Hospital Spinal Care section. The main contributor for this project was called "Super Plod" - sponsored Policemen running the length and breadth of the South Island. The Introduction to Rotary booklet was updated along with information forums for new members. More musical instruments were given to Branston Intermediate School and an assessment of primary schools for musical instruments was done. The Club's first Paul Harris Fellowship Award was presented to P.P. Mac Thomson, who never failed to live up to the principles of Rotary and to enthuse those whose privilege it was to know him. This year our away meeting took place at Templeton Hospital. A notable guest speaker was the Israeli Ambassador to New Zealand. President Brian Lee was later to become District Governor District 9970.
Much of Colin's year was aimed at Vocational and Youth activities. Concern for Hornby's youth saw the planning of a BMX cycle track in Waterloo Road. Surplus land was to be planted with trees and bushes for a wilderness playground. Other projects were continuing assistance to Templeton Hospital, the Rotaract Club, a short-lived Interact Club, sons and daughters evening and the hosting of an American school girl for this year. An international evening dinner put on by Malaysian students acknowledged Father Leopold Van Roogen's assistance in Borneo installing a water supply in Dayak Village. The Club again supported high school leavers working in local industry.
Hornby often achieved third or fourth highest placing in the District Attendance Register. Regular publication of member profiles, 'Chatter about Charter Members'; three minute member talks on 'What's new in my line'; a 'How well do you know your fellow members?' quiz evening; several fellowship nights; a combined evening with the Wigram Lions Club- all helped foster knowledge and fellowship among Club members as the basis for wider involvement and service. Analysis of the answers to questionnaire circulated to Club members suggested that, as a club, we had maintained our reputation as a friendly, welcoming one but did not think women should be admitted to membership! Major Club project for the year was undoubtedly the completion and official handing over of the Hornby BMX Cycle Track to the newly formed Hornby BMX Club. The project brought together the Hornby Rotoract Club, Rotarians, 'guests' from the Rolleston Detention Centre and the Hornby Community, in work and fellowship to convert a disused shingle pit at the heart of Hornby into a useful amenity. Initial membership of the Hornby BMX Club totalled 150 enthusiasts. Six months later membership had increased to 190 with the track itself being described as the best venue in Australasia. At the 1982 District Assembly, the Rotary Club of Hornby was awarded the District Governor's Letter of Commendation. Among the smaller projects carried out during the period were: • Outings arranged for children of Branston Intermediate School to a farm, to Lyttelton Harbour and the Port Installations and to Orana Park. • Establishment of the West Christchurch Adult Reading Scheme • 'Pole Painting Saturday' when club members turned out to paint electric power poles in Waterloo Road white for the first six feet from the ground. The year closed with a membership of sixty-nine.
1982-83 President Percy Oberg During Percy's year the Club agreed to finance the development of a picnic area around the BMX track with an initial $1000 and further funds as needed. Members, who were invited to buy their own trees or shrubs, continued to develop Kyle Park and the surrounds of the BMX track. Rev. Martin Warren's talk on 'The Future' had to be cancelled because he couldn't foresee the future and was unavailable when the day came. Dudley Moore introduced Peter Cook who talked about real estate. Inflation was beginning to bite into Club funds as the capitation fees due to Rotary International had to be paid in U.S. dollars so the treasurer was recommending an increase in Club fees to $65. The twentieth anniversary night was celebrated with a printed programme which tells us that songs were a regular part of Club nights then. Ladies Nights were also well attended and there was some high socialising with film and cabaret evenings. Four students from Papua New Guinea received sponsorship for their secondary schooling. The inter-secondary schools' debate was even then concerned with the logging of native forests. Employment advertisements were being run in the weekly bulletins and can be seen as a precursor to the later establishment of the Paparua Prospect Work Trust. Members were rostered on a regular basis to attend and liaise with the Rotaract Club formed in 1977-78 under P.P. Rex Crowe. Sister club ties were developed with Seoul West Club in Korea and in the next year we received a visit from fourteen of their members and wives. This established a cultural exchange, and we were able to return the visit two years later. A true exercise in international understanding.
Win Henderson sourced the sacks and members filled them with $3000 worth of potatoes for Club funds. Nineteen sons and daughters attended an evening especially for them and later in the year Riccarton and Hornby pupils debated that 'It's better in the Dark.' Adjudicator John Milligan thought so too. It was noted that Bryan McCorkindale was the youngest member. Principal Gus Gale talked about Hornby High School and the Club presented Gus with $500 towards the cost of three minibuses. One young person was sponsored on the Spirit of Adventure and described the experience to the Club as educational and character building. The previous practice of zoning a club's territory was abolished so now prospective members living or working in any area could be approached; which made more sense than the address to the Club by the Wizard! The Fellowship Committee ran a Phar Lap film evening and the Hornby Swimming Pool fund raced ahead by several hundred dollars. Two young people were selected as candidates for the week long RYLA seminar which afforded them stimulation, comradeship and an acquain- tance with guest speaker Professor Lloyd Geering. The Paparua Prospect Trust was established and went on to provide many people with jobs. This project was spearheaded by Len Glass and members from our own Club and others. The Vocational Service committee started the Hornby Probus Club with sixty-eight paid-up members. The Club actively sought out families in need of assistance from the J.R. McKenzie Trust. Grants made were for clothing, books and a training course. Membership stood at seventy-one. President Jnr Ha Surh of Seoul-West Club, President Des Fitzpatrick and signed plaque.
Our Youth Committee established the weekend for needy children in our district at the Wainui YMCA camp and members have found this a rewarding project. Carolyn de Grussa came to us from Western Australia staying the year with three families for what was to become a time of huge personal growth The Paparua Prospect Trust began to prove its worth after only four months with an average of ten to fifteen people employed each day but the Club itself, in the absence of a lucrative project spent much of the year selling apples, blood and bone and potatoes. . Inclusion of women as full Rotary members was starting to become an issue claiming centre stage at one ladies' night but the Club at this stage was still an all male group. At the weekly meetings members enjoyed David Caygill, M.P., footballer Fergie McCormick and visited the Linc Development Centre. Our own Brian Lee was now District Governor Elect and looking forward to hosting the Hanmer conference. There were, too, ongoing community services: school debates, Braille, Templeton Hospital, Arthur's Pass rescue vehicle maintenance, McKenzie Trust involvement, RYLA sponsorship and matched twin student exchanges. As always members found participation in these activities provided the real value of club membership - the fellowship and friendship to be found in Rotary.
Len left a litany of achievements - participation with Brian Lee in his year as District Governor enriched the Club, and the Hanmer Conference was most successful. Brian's Paul Harris Fellowship was well deserved. Bryan McCorkindale's Youth committee worked so hard that 37.5% of them had heart attacks and more bedside than fireside meetings. The Wainui Camp continued and surplus Riccarton Youth Foundation funds were used to assist a voluntary aid student to Tonga, also Boys Brigade travel. Dennis Bycroft's Vocational Committee distributed bookmarks to four schools challenging them to use the 4-way test. A Ladies Probus Club was fostered and began with a very healthy membership. International under Bruce Bridges organised World Understanding Night with a dinner at Branston Intermediate representing eight countries. School pupils wrote Letters for Peace (a Rotary International project) to win a $25 prize. Community service for Tom Glass meant not only inviting wives to fireside meetings but helping Sockburn Pool to an aqua lift ($1300), hydra slide mushroom hut ($600) and Exa gym ($500), all offset by a Recreation & Sports grant ($900).Firewood was distributed to the elderly and the numerous grants made included $3,750 set aside for a pool/fountain at the Arts Centre. The fellowship committee under Bob Murphy organised a Christmas party for the children, ladies nights and away visits as well as purchasing a Maori carving and paua gifts for our sister club visit. The programme committee under John Muir took us to the Planetarium and plotted an odorous evening with Terry Noonan and his goat. This was when the Homebuild project was born - an idea by Percy and Trevor drew in Club members to lend expertise, hard labour and hard cash. Superb efforts and enthusiasm by Percy full time plus the entire funds committee saw the house on the lower Westmorland slopes built in record time and later sold for an impressive profit thanks to generous suppliers and hardworking members. The McKenzie Trust was called on more this year for fourteen applications and an average grant of $195.
The Club was involved in hosting the Group Study Exchange team from U.S.A., while student exchanges with Japan (inward and outward) and the Matched Twins programme with Australia all benefitted the Club. The International Committee directed by Russ Morris maintained the contact with our sister club Rotary Club of Seoul West, worked on the Polio Plus campaign and investigated what assistance was needed in the Solomon Islands. The Youth Committee (Ray Percival) was extremely active delivering on a number of sponsorships and continuing the Wainui Camp. The Vocational Committee embraced several projects and visits were made to a plastics factory, Hogben House, and a power board control room. The Community Service Committee ran the chocolate wheel at the Templeton Hospital Fair which raised $980 after trial tastings, gave $500 to keep the St John Ambulance wheels turning and allocated $4500 for the Hornby Primary School Adventure Playground Project. Funds were in reasonable shape after a $3864 profit from the potato kings Len Glass and Norm Thomas. Bryan McCorkindale's firewood came a close second at about $2500. Blood and bone and the mystery envelope appeal came in third and fourth respectively. The Fellowship Committee introduced a golf evening at Percy Oberg's and we laughed our way through a Jokers Wild night. The J.R. McKenzie Youth Foundation received eleven applications for assistance from needy families and $2230 was allocated for the purchase mainly of school clothing for children in the Hornby area. The Homebuilt project was successfully completed and both home units sold. The net profit of $60,000 was invested and a trust formed to manage the funds.
This event was held in the Great Hall of the Chateau Regency on Saturday 26th September, 1987. It took the form of a dinner and dance which was well attended and very successful. Highlight of the evening was the presentation of a Paul Harris Award to Geoff Maples for his long service to the Club. All past presidents were presented with a Certificate of Service for their role in Rotary. The project to commemorate this celebration was the raising of our commitment to Polio Plus from $12,000 to $25,000. Two matched twin exchange students from Australia were hosted by local families, two Hornby students spent a term in Australia and contact was maintained with our Rotary Exchange Student, Alex Bennett, in Japan who spoke to the Club about his time there. Two students were sponsored to attend the RYLA seminar. During the year several Club members served on the D.G.'s team and Brian Lee was especially active at the district level. Members worked hard to establish the Chris Olivine Memorial Playground in the grounds of Hornby School where Chris was headmaster. Both Men's and Ladies' Probus Clubs which the Club had sponsored in recent years were in very good shape with eighty-plus members. The Paparua Prospect Trust was reported operating without subsidy, placing thirty workers per day and finding full-time employment for one person each week. The Youth Committee sponsored the Reaching Out programme for eleven to thirteen year old's social studies syllabus to be led by teachers. Other activities included a club visit to Ashburton South, an inter-club debate with Riccarton, helping the Templeton Hospital Fair, ladies nights, bagging of blood and bone, sending used clothing to Korea and the Braille collection. A recreation guide went free to every household in the district and a Hornby 'at risk' youth was helped to obtain a racing cycle. Robin Fear was the Club delegate on the the J.R. McKenzie Trust. Designated a Club project, the monster auction was a big event raising funds for Polio Plus with numerous stalls and pervasive publicity. The Club meeting place was changed to the Showgate Lounge. The BNZ - Rotary Schools Debate: four schools took part and the final was at a Club meeting with Villa Maria winning a third time. Wainui camp for underprivileged children was held with Club help. The Homebuild Trust donated $5000 towards the Club contribution to Polio Plus and the Trust then stood at $60,000. Admission of women to Rotary membership was being debated at all levels of Rotary during the year. At the changeover function Paul Harris Fellowships were bestowed on the three re- maining charter members, Jack Bowman, Les Hayes and Syd Slatter.
President John presented his report for 1988-89 and in his usual efficient manner covered the complete Rotary Year's highlights: Directors: Purchase of a new sound system, donation to Greymouth Flood Relief, visit of World President Royce Abbey in December and visit from District Governor Murray Anderson (a former Hornby member), presentation of a Paul Harris Fellowship to Cyril Aitken. Community Service Committee: Completion of Chris Olivine Memorial project at Hornby School, the donation of a video player to Ward 24 Christchurch Hospital, Wings & Wheels Cot Death Appeal Day at Wigram Airport, Templeton Hospital Fair Stall. International Committee: Typewriters, copiers, projectors sent to Fiji Schools Aid project, Rotary exchange student to West Germany. Funds: Excellent fund raising year. Apron sales $900, blood & bone sales $1835, Court Theatre $1154, the delightful custom of home hosting $840 as well as other fund raising projects. During the the year Club paid over the final instalment of our contribution to Polio Plus: The total of $21724 came from the monster auction, the Homebuild Trust, apron and fruit sales and also collections and donations. Youth: Youth Matched Student Exchange, Outward Bound selection for Landcorp from 20 applicants, Wainui Camp for eleven boys from Branston School and the schools speech contest. In the final of the secondary school debate for the BNZ trophy Riccarton High School and St Thomas' College debated very ably 'That dogs make better pets than husbands'. Fellowship: Memorable occasions were ladies' nights, a barbecue at Len and Sharren Glass', children's Christmas party at Frank & Maureen Wilson's home and arrangements for the visit to Kaikoura. Programme: A most interesting programme during the year was arranged by Len Glass with the highlight being an address by the Hon. Minister of Finance, David Caygill, this balanced by the address of Wilf Rosenberg a few weeks later.
Of special importance was the commitment of the club to raise the funds to provide Lewis Austin with a much needed liver transplant. Under the chairmanship of Len Glass (and co-chairmen John Dunnett and Tony Silke) and with the whole club behind them this was achieved in spectacular fashion. Early in the new year the Rotoract Club for young people was restarted with 30 members by Terry Noonan and his committee. Rex Crowe reported that the Otira/Arthur's Pass Rescue Society was in good heart and could field an ambulance and two crew. Youth: Two pupils were selected to attend the RYPEN training programme at the Nelson Lakes. Outward Bound graduates whom the Club had chosen talked about their experiences on the course. Allan Borcoski joined the Club in later years. Sponsorship was arranged with Landcorp for another candidate to attend Outward Bound. Community Service: Andrea Keen assisted to Vanuatu, $700 raised for Salvation Army, and John Pickering assisted with a study grant for laser surgery. $1200 raised for Braille collection. Vocational worked on inter-schools debate, Pride of Workmanship awards, small business seminars, vocational talks by members. Funds: Ten different projects were undertaken - with the sale of potatoes taking the total raised for the year to about $7000. Fellowship: Main functions were ladies nights, Christmas party, BBQ at Len's, golf at Percy's, Jokers Wild, raffles etc. Frank Wilson noted the omission of the usual children's party.Information and Public Relations: Held fireside meetings in homes, channelled information to new nembers and interviewed prospective members. Gave short talks on Rotary matters, etc. Membership and Classification: Achieved an 8% increase in numbers International Committee: Group study exchange team to Cornwall was . selected with our nominee Lyn Smith included. Dee Pope on exchange from Minnesota. Correspondence with Sister Club Seoul-West. The Club raised US$25 per member for the Rotary Foundation. Prospect Trust: The year's efforts saw revenue leap from $424,000 to $536,000 with two hundred people employed. Thirty-five found permanent employment. Assistance from the Paparua County Council ceased.
Ron inherited a Lewis Austin Liver Transpant Appeal in full swing with $55,000-plus assured. Members and their businesses all contributed in their own ways to raise the funds needed. On his return from Brisbane, Lew spoke to the Club expressing his gratitude for the house and car he was lent for his stay there. The appeal was closed in July having exceeded the initial target to reach $220,000 with the $80,000 government grant. One of President Ron's first duties was to present P.P. Rex Crowe (a member of twenty-four years) with a Paul Harris fellowship. Rex was President in 1977-78 when $22,000 was raised to set up the Arthur's Pass Rescue Centre. In August, President Ron gifted seventy helmets to the children of Gilberthorpe School - a thoughtful and useful Youth Committee project. Vocational month featured a series of three seminars for business people on how to start and run a small business safely and successfully. The secondary school speech contest elimination rounds were held and the Club also hosted the area final for the district speech contest. Two Hornby High School students attended the Genesis Summer Sci- ence School in Auckland and two others had the time of their lives at Lake Rotoiti on the Rotary Youth Programme of Enrichment (RYPEN) course. Another school pupil spent three weeks in Vanuatu with fifteen other students repairing and painting buildings. As in previous years a Form 6 pupil (Jason Gallagher from Darfield High School) was sponsored on the Spirit of New Zealand and shared his experiences with the club. Other activities included potato picking, helping with the annual Blind collection, a Court Theatre night and the BNZ - Rotary Schools Debate.
The seventy-fifth anniversary of Rotary Foundation was celebrated in June - one of the largest private Foundations in the world. All donations go to R.F. projects donations are held for three years and the resulting interest pays for all administration costs. The school speech contest continued with participation by pupils from Darfield High School and St Thomas of Canterbury College. Rotary Foundation scholar Michelle Morrison from Mississippi arrived to spend one year at the University of Canterbury studying industrial psychology. A Club application for $2800 to the J.R.McKenzie Trust was approved for families of Darfield identified by interview. A field day was held in April in conjunction with N.Z. Institute of Agricultural Science on Canterbury's future as major producer, processor, and exporter of horticultural productsCommittee achievements: International: $500 donated for hurricane relief Vocational: Rotary Exchange Student from Germany Pride of Workmanship awards presented Youth: . Two candidates to the summer science school • Support for disabled person to Outward Bound Two sponsored on Spirit of Adventure Paparua Prospect Trust in full flight Community Service: • Salvation Army and Braille Week supported The Hornby Toy Library was officially opened on 5 October 1991 and presented with a cheque. • Club members helped with Templeton Fair Funds: • Rotary Caravan was given a spruce-up Signs on Yaldhurst Rd and BMX track replaced Four rounds of home hosting • Club project was a 'Bookathon', collecting, sorting and selling used books - a significant fundraiser. • Quiklok trailer couplings sold, potato dig. Fellowship: • Children's Christmas party held Club visit to the School of Medicine.
The Club project was to help the Hornby Day Care Centre for the Elderly purchase its building - $100,000 was raised. Other projects were $3000 given to the District Governor for diabetes screening, • Painting of tetraplegic John Matthews' house. Deserving young people were sponsored to RYPEN-Rotary Youth Programme of Enrichment and adventure camp at Nelson. • A Wainui adventure weekend World Jamboree at Wellington. • RYLA seminar at St Andrews College, Spirit of Adventure voyages. Genesis Summer School in Auckland.Club members helped with the Braille and Salvation Army Appeals, the Templeton Hospital Fair, a used clothes drive and packed two emergency boxes for use in natural disasters. Through the McKenzie Youth Education Fund we processed twenty six applications for financial help totalling $3510 for struggling families. Our thirtieth anniversary dinner on 23rd September saw one hundred and thirty present including twenty-five former members and special guests. We hosted a Study Exchange Team from Brazil at our BBQ and donated $500 to assist a young student study in Japan. Farewells to Rotary Youth Exchange Student, Christian Lukatsch and our Foundation Ambassadorial Scholar, Michelle Morrison. Our Youth Speech Contest was won by Aaron Stone. Some good fellowship was shared at the club meeting at the Antarctic Centre, at the Hornby Market, the Percy Oberg Golf Classic and at the annual barbecue at the home of Len and Sharren Glass. The Horticultural Field Day was a good Vocational night as were the Pride of Workmanship and Young Totara evenings. Membership dropped to fifty-two despite gaining ten members including, after some earlier vigorous debate, our first lady member. Eight Rotarians and their partners from our Sister Club in Seoul-West, Korea were entertained at a cocktail evening. P.P. Len Glass was presented with a Paul Harris Fellowship for his outstanding contributions to major Club projects.
Since 1962 the Rotary Club of Hornby has been in the Local Hornby Community. Helping provide funds and support to people and organisations in need. We meet weekly on Wednesdays at Hornby Club (5.45 for 6pm start)
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