Rotary's activities and celebrations to mark 100 years of Rotary in Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific Islands were officially launched at Government House in Wellington on 20 June 2019.
An audience of more than two hundred were introduced to Rotary’s plans which will lead up to the celebration of 100 years of Rotary achievement in Auckland in 2021. Most importantly, it is the impact we have in our communities that we should celebrate during this time.
Governor-General Rt Hon Dame Patsy Reddy. District 9940 Governor Elect John Mohi introduces the history of Rotary in our part of the world.
Assistant District 9940 Governor Leole Malama-Prasad is passionate about the future of Rotary
Diplomatic representatives from Pacific Island countries and Australia, representatives from our communities and partners, the Rotary Foundation, Rotary and Rotaract Clubs in the six New Zealand and Pacific Island Rotary International Districts and Australian Rotary Clubs were present to mark the occasion. Speeches by Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy, President Marion Cowden of the Rotary Club of Wellington, and District 9940 Governor Elect John Mohi highlighted the importance of Rotary in our communities, while Assistant District 9940 Governor Leole Malama-Prasad and Tanemahuta Gray pointed to the future.
Rotary Club of Wellington President Marion Cowden
The launch highlighted Rotary’s involvement in: the social fabric of New Zealand as expressed in our centennial history project; improving the health of others as we embark with UNICEF on an immunisation programme in the Pacific; and in our communities as we plant trees to improve the environment. The Government House event was a unique opportunity to introduce the community to what Rotary has achieved and our plans to mark the centennial, as well as reinforcing to Rotarian attendees that now is the time for action on these plans. 2021 marks the 100th anniversary of Rotary reaching shores in Oceania. All of our Rotary Clubs in New Zealand and the Pacific can trace their whakapapa/lineage to 1921, when Rotary Clubs in Wellington and Auckland were founded. And our Australian colleagues are celebrating the same centennial for Melbourne and Sydney.
Governor-General Rt Hon Dame Patsy Reddy and Sir David Gascoigne with Sir Anand and Lady Susan Satyanand, Rotary District Governor John Mohi, Rotary Club of Wellington President Marion Cowden and UNICEF Pacific Deputy Representative, Vathinee Jitjaturunt
In the lead up to 2021, Rotarians, in partnership with other organisations, will be able to participate in significant activities to serve their communities and raise the public profile of what Rotary means in our part of the world – as expressed through our unique cultural perspectives and communities.
• Trees will be planted – with funding support from the One Billion Trees Programme.
· Pacific children will be immunised – through the Rotary Give Every Child a Future project.
· Our stories will be told – by a professional historian capturing the stories that are our DNA.
· We will celebrate in our communities – in notable events that highlight our achievements.
· We will develop centenary projects that will demonstrate the value Rotary adds.
· We will showcase our achievements, partnerships and the organisations we have founded.
· We will look forward to 2121 and the next 100 years of Rotary across our region.
.jpg)
Congratulations to the leader of this launch, District 9940 Governor Nominee Designate Mark Wheeler, and the cross-District team. For further enquiries please contact your District Public Image Chairs.
.jpg)
MC Past President Hewitt Humphrey of Wellington Rotary
District 9910 Governor Jerry Norman, Governor-General Rt Hon Dame Patsy Reddy, Past DG 9910 Merv Huxford and 9910 Rotarian Bronwyn Ellison
Photos attributed to: Government House licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode