75 Years of Rotary - A Celebration!
 

 The Rotary Club of Feilding were the hosts on the evening of Tuesday 6th March, to have RI President Ian Riseley joined by nearly 200 Rotarian's at the Feilding Convention Centre to pay tribute to four Rotary Clubs celebrating their 75 years of service.
 RI President Ian was welcomed by Rotary Club of Feilding President Ken Casey to the evening who then invited the official party to be welcomed by a local junior school kapa haka group with waiata and a challenge by a fierce young warrior!! RI president Ian accepted the challenge and lead the official party of District Governor Mitchell Brown and Fiona, Assistant Governor Richard Wishnowsky along with RI President aide PDG Rodney Wong and Rotary Club of Feilding President Ken Casey and his wife.
 

 

The evening was humourously MC'ed by PDG Glen Caves with his normal dry wit. The evening meal was precluded with a presentation of Rotary 2017/18 year theme badges to Interact Students from an array of High Schools and Colleges by RI President Ian that had come from as far as Wellington, Otaki, Levin, Marton, Whanganui and Taihape.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

President Barrie Smith and Satellite Club of the Rotary Club of Stratford chair Daniel Steiller were joined by Rotary Club of Pahiatua representatives AG Claire Mathews and PDG Bill Carthew, as well as President Wayne Spencer and wife Lana from the Rotary Club of Marton, who were all individually welcomed to the stage and received their recognition certificates for 75 years Rotary service in their respective communities. Each provided an overview of the last 75 years with a view to the future of Rotary in their respective Rotary Clubs and communities.
 Unfortunately due to circumstance the Rotary Club of Hutt City were unable to have a representative attend to receive their Rotary 75 years of service certificate from RI President Ian Riseley. This will be presented at a special District Governor visit in the next month.
 
This special night of Rotary celebration was capped off with the announcement that our very own PDG Pat Waite would join the ranks of only 150 Rotarian's in the world each year who are recognised with the highest honour in Rotary - the Service Above Self Award. 
PDG Pat was joined on stage by his wife Melva and their three sons who had made the trip secretly to Feilding to be part of the surprise and celebration of Pat's award of Service Above Self by Rotary International President 2017/18 Ian H.S. Riseley.
 
My thanks to the Rotary Club of Feilding and the organising committee that put together a fabulous night to celebrate Rotary in our District with a day filled with special celebration and recognition of Rotary projects, programs and support to all of our communities that Rotary Clubs serve in. But of significance were the Rotary Clubs of Stratford, Marton, Pahiatua and Hutt City achieving 75 years of service.. 
 

 

 

The night was completed with a presentation of a certificate for the coming 75th year of service to the community to the Rotary Club of Feilding. RI President Ian was thanked with a Rotary Club of Feilding - Feilding Saleyards farmer and dogs commemorative art work. District Governor Mitchell Brown noted that the proceeds from the night would be made to the Rotary Endowment Fund that RI President Ian and Juliet wish to have supported.
 
The final presentation for the night fittingly went to RI President Ian to commemorate his visit to Rotary District 9940 - an All Blacks rugby shirt with RISELEY 17/18 on the back !!