Stories


Wine Dinner a Great Night Monday 5 October saw 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	Wine Dinner a Great Night	Paul Sargison	2020-10-09 11:00:00Z	0
Queenstown Safari An intrepid team set out in early October led by Sam Mukhtar, to tackle the Round the Eyre Mountains cycle trail at Queenstown. As the first team to start in the 2019/20 season, they had some cold weather to cope with and plenty of snowy mountain views. But the mission was accomplished and great comradeship enjoyed by all. Pictured are Graeme and Jo Emerson with Murray and Alison Willis.	Queenstown Safari	Paul Sargison	2019-10-23 11:00:00Z	0
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. 2019/20 President Derek is pictured ready for a delivery run in one of our Rotary vests.	Covid Food Run	Paul Sargison	2019-10-22 11:00:00Z	0
RYLA Awardees 2019 2019/20 President Derek and District Youth Services Representative Ian Willetts are pictured here with our sponsored Rotary Youth Leadership Awardees for 2019 at the Final RYLA 2019 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.	RYLA Awardees 2019	Paul Sargison	2019-07-10 12:00:00Z	0
Model United Nations Assembly MUNA 2019 for Districts 9910 and 9920 was run over 17-18 May 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 2018/9 President Bevan Iles. Due to Covid-19 the event had to be cancelled in 2020.	Model United Nations Assembly	Paul Sargison	2019-05-18 12:00:00Z	0
St. Heliers School Fair On Sunday 31st March 2019, 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.	St. Heliers School Fair	Paul Sargison	2018-11-10 11:00:00Z	0
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	Firewood Project	Paul Sargison	2018-08-24 12:00:00Z	0
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 2018/9 President Bevan Iles recently. 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.	Tamaki Driver Training Car	Paul Sargison	2018-08-23 12:00:00Z	0
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 in 2018. 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!	Another Winner off to Ohio	Paul Sargison	2017-04-18 12:00:00Z	0
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.	Emergency Response Kits to Go!	Paul Sargison	2016-07-09 12:00:00Z	0
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.	Top Schools a Winner	Paul Sargison	2016-07-09 12:00:00Z	0
RYDA Teaches Driving Skills Rotary Club of Auckland East has been actively involved with the local Rotary Road Safety Education Programme through funding and on site manpower support. The programme aims to provide essential road safety skills training to young drivers to help ensure that when they commence driving, they have had the best road safety preparation possible. It targets Year 11 students and consists of lectures by highly qualified road safety experts. The Program has been developed and updated in consultation with Government authorities having responsibility for Roads and Education, Health and the Police. Councils, the business and philanthropic community support the Program. Students contribute to the costs, but Rotary assistance is available in cases of hardship so that no student is denied the opportunity of attending the course.	RYDA Teaches Driving Skills	Paul Sargison	2016-07-09 12:00:00Z	0