Rotary Club of Auckland East
member photo
Welcome to the Rotary Club of Auckland East (Inc.).  Our club welcomes new members.  Becoming a Rotarian connects you to a diverse group of people who share a drive to give back to the Community.
Club meetings are held on the first and third Monday at 5.30pm, Five Knots, Tamaki Yacht Club, 30 Tamaki Drive, Orakei.  
Each meeting we feature a new speaker on topics of interest to Rotarians, our town and general subjects.
Do contact our Membership Director Bevan Iles 027 555 4653, and come along to one of our meetings.
 
         Simon Kouk
         President 2022/23
          Mobile: 021 170 6940
Rotary in Action
 
Home Page Stories
Volunteers Expo
 Ian Willetts and Bevan Iles are pictured here at our stand for the recent Orakei Volunteers Expo.  

The object of the event was to show people living in the Orakei Board area, the wide range of volunteer groups in their community.
Over 50 groups participated on the day, and all were seeking expressions of interest from the visitors.
 
Our team are hopeful that some of these folk visiting our stand will want to join the club.
 
Trees for Survival
Rotary Club of Auckland East is a keen supporter of the Trees For Survival project.  Club member Dennis Millard is now National Manager of the Trees for Survival Charitable Trust.
 
This picture was taken at a recent planting day, led by club member John Miller and his wife Judith.  A lot of fun was had by all and the planet just got a bit better.
The Great Debate
 Recently we were hosted by  our daughter club, Rotary Club of St. Johns at the Remuera Golf Club.
It was a great chance to cement the ties with our fellow Rotarians.
Highlight of the night however, was the annual Rotary Club of Auckland East/Rotary Club of St. Johns debate.
This year the topic was 'That vaccination for Covid 19 should be mandatory for all over 18's'. 
As you can see from the photo, our team of Derek Bond (Donald Trump), Desley Simpson (Mary Poppins) and (Doctor) Nicola Baker were opposed.
Despite their great efforts, the best team didn't quite win this year!
Coast 2 Coast Expedition
 This shot shows the group from Rotary Club of Auckland East at the end of their Coast 2 Coast cycling adventure recently.
 
Commencing from Mount Cook, the group cycled their way through Benmore, Duntroon, Ohau, Tokarahi to Oamaru.  They even took a swim in the river at Tokarahi Huts.
 
Sounds like the next expedition will be based in Queenstown!
 
Wine Dinner a Great Night
 The picture shows the club back in celebratory mode with a wine tasting dinner.
 
Villa Maria kindly supplied the wines we tasted, led by wine expert Angela Lewis.  We had a lot of fun tasting the 6 wines with their matched courses, and enjoyed superb table service from our club volunteer sommeliers.  Afterwards some serious wine orders were placed for future enjoyment.  Picture shows Angela being introduced by Jeff Hunter
New Year BBQ
Our first event, the New Year Barbecue at the Glendowie Bowling Club, was a popular event as always.
 
As the photo shows, there was no shortage of enthusiastic cooks to prepare our scrumptious spread.  This year there was however an absence of  starters for a game of bowls!
Covid Food Run
Members of the Club have been pitching in to help during the Covid-19 lockdown.
A team lead by Sam Mukhtar have been assisting the Salvation Army by making food deliveries to needy families in locations as far flung as Onehunga, Mt Wellington, Penrose, Pakuranga and Panmure.
 
President Derek is pictured ready for a delivery run in one of our Rotary vests.
RYLA Awardees
President Derek and District Youth Services Representative Ian Willetts are pictured here with our sponsored Rotary Youth Leadership Awardees  at the Final RYLA  Dinner, Perzaan Mehta, Haider Janjua and Jordan Hurinui.
 
After  completing a demanding week our candidates look pretty happy.  All are certain that it has been a life-changing experience for them as they embark on their careers to become future leaders.
Well done team we look forward to seeing you at the club soon to hear your stories.
Model United Nations Assembly
MUNA  for Districts 9910 and 9920 has been run at Auckland Girls Grammar School by our club, for the two Districts.
Nearly 300 high school pupils from 44 schools participated.  Vigorous debate on the 5 remits submitted to the model United Nations Assembly ensued, with plenty of objections and points of order along the way.  Delegates also took part in a snap Security Council debate.  The event was ably chaired by Ross Robertson QSO former member of parliament, and the awards were announced by President Bevan Iles.
 
St. Heliers School Fair
Our club members were delighted to run three events at the local St. Heliers School Fair.
The Raffle Wheel (pictured) proved very popular and  the club is most grateful to those organisations and individuals who donated prizes.
Club members also ran a Wobbly Wheels fun event for children and a second hand book stall for their parents.

Net proceeds from the day are shared with the school.
Tamaki Driver Training Car
After a concerted effort, and donations from a Give a Little page, the Club is proud to have become the major sponsor for the new Driver Training Vehicle at Tamaki College.
 
The car, a brand new Suzuki Swift, was presented to School Principal Soana Pamaka by  President Bevan Iles.
 
The school's driver training programme has been developed to prepare school leavers with drivers licences, so that they can enter the job market with confidence, after completing their studies.
Firewood Project
The picture shows some club members at a recent project, harvesting windblown trees for a firewood project.
 
After a bit of effort with a chainsaw and a load up, there was plenty of time for refreshments and a chat with property owners Tony and Christine Morgan.
 
All proceeds from the sale of this firewood will go towards Rotary charities.
 
If you would like to order a load for your fireplace, please phone club member Murray Willis mobile 027 473 4043
Another Winner off to Ohio
After achieving 3rd place at our Eastern Suburbs heat, Kaythi Finn of St. Kentigern Girls School swept the field to become New Zealand Super Stock Soap Box Champion.
 
Kaythi travelled to Ohio to compete in the All-American Soap Box World Championships! This was the second year in a row that a St. Kentigern Girls’ School student has travelled to the States to represent New Zealand, after Ocean Scott took the honour last year. 
 
We salute your grit and determination Kaythi!
Top Schools a Winner

Top Schools is a fun sports day run by Rotary Club of Auckland East for primary school students in the Eastern Suburbs of Auckland. It is open in two grades for teams comprising years 3 and 4 students, or years 5 and 6 students.

The event is normally run at Churchill Park School St. Heliers in  March each year.

The teams must compete in a number of fun events including a slippery slide, gumboot throw, mine field, ski run, sponge fun, newspaper delivery complete with sleds, and the wobbly wheels waggons (shown).  The day starts with a grand parade led by Harold the Giraffe, and teams compete in the timed events to obtain the highest score for their grade.

Mums and dads are all in attendance to cheer the teams on and at the end of the day all participants gain a certificate of attainment.

A great day out and real team work opportunity for the children participating.   

Emergency Response Kits to Go!

Auckland East Rotary has an active commitment to the Rotary New Zealand Emergency Response Kits programme.  The Emergency Response Kits contain essential items to enable Pacific Island families to get re-established after a severe weather event which has damaged homes.  Included in the kits are such key items as tarpaulins, digging tools, cooking items and much more.  

 
Kits are stored in New Zealand and Fiji for fast despatch to Islanders in need.  Rotary New Zealand actively work with MFAT and the New Zealand Airforce to ensure there are enough kits and in the right place at the right time.
 
As well as contributing funds to the programme, our club members are enthusiastic volunteers when called upon to assist in packing a new consignment of Emergency Response Kits.
About Our Club
Auckland East Rotary

We meet In Person
Mondays at 5:30 PM
Five Knots
Tamaki Yacht Club
30 Tamaki Drive
Mission Bay, Auckland,  1071
New Zealand
Our formal meetings are on the first and third Monday of each month
District Site
Bulletins
Venue Map
Club Executives & Directors
President
Simon Kouk
Secretary
Alistair Burry
Treasurer
Owen Williams
Immediate Past President
Ian Willetts
Rotary Foundation Chair
Gary Langford
Membership
Bevan Iles
Youth Service
Darius Mistry
Public Relations
Paul Sargison
Bulletin Editor
Roger Cole-Baker
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