Waipukurau Rotary Club, serving Central Hawke's Bay 2.56

Rotary is an international, non-political, Service organisation that operates all around the world. At an international level Rotary is involved in numerous humanitarian projects on an ongoing basis. Two of the better known ones are the Polio eradication programme, which in association with UN and local NGOs has been instrumental in almost completely eliminating Polio in countries where it was previously endemic. This programme has been running now for almost 25 years. The other is the ‘Rotary Shelter’ programme where specially designed and equipped shelter tents are rushed into areas of the world where natural and manmade disasters have displaced people from their homes.

The Rotary Club of Waipukurau has been serving the Central Hawkes Bay community since 23rd March 1943 and since that time has raised and then distributed to many, many local groups and individuals, hundred’s of thousands of dollars in grants. Much of the emphasis for distribution of funds into the local community is on young people with grants being made for many varied activities that young people of all age groups undertake, for example summer science schools, Outward Bound, Outdoor Pursuits Centre, school outdoor education trips and camps. Young people are also encouraged and sponsored to attend many Rotary programmes like Rotary Youth Enrichment Programme (RYPEN) aimed at 14 – 17 year olds and Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) aimed at 18 – 28 year olds.
Waipukurau Rotary has sponsored the Central Hawkes Bay College annual Speech Contest for over 30 years providing prize money for all finals contestants and the W Simmons trophy for the overall winner. They have also sponsored the Central HB primary school speech contest for over 10 years.
Waipukurau Rotary encourages local business by awarding an annual ‘Courtesy Shield’ to the local business judged to have gone ‘above and beyond’ in the manner that they deal with their customers.
The Club also runs an annual ‘Young Employee of the Year Award’ where local businesses are able to nominate a young employee who has performed creditably within that business. Finalists and their nominator are then invited to attend a Rotary meeting where they address the members. The winner receives a substantial cash prize plus the chance to attend the next Rotary Youth Leadership Award programme.
Members of the Rotary club have raised money over the years for distribution to community groups by undertaking projects like cutting and selling firewood, running ‘chocolate wheels’ at local market days, selling whitebait fritters at the annual CHB WETA wine and food festival etc. etc.
In 1994 the Rotary Club was instrumental in having a ‘time capsule’ buried at the site of the ‘old post office’ in Waipukurau after it was demolished. The capsule contains memorabilia of the time provided by the local community and will be opened in 2044. Suitably engraved plaques are set into the footpath to mark the site of the time capsule.
Since 2000 the major fundraising activity undertaken by the members has been the annual Sea, Sky & Bush Walk. This is a project where each year on the first weekend in March up to 200 people pay to take part in guided walks all over Central Hawkes Bay using the theme sea, sky and bush with walks tailored to highlight the magnificent countryside in the area from the coast to the mountain ranges. People taking part are accommodated at the Pukeora Estate where Rotarians and ‘friends’ look after their every need including beds, meals and entertainment.
Another major community initiative has been the formation of the ‘Pukeora Forest of Memories’ or ‘Arboretum’ as it is affectionately known. Some years ago the Club purchased several hectares of land from the old Waipawa Hospital Board at the base of Pukeora Hill on the southern outskirts of Waipukurau. Under the expert guidance of Rotarian Andrew Watts and his team, Rotarians helped by interested members of the public have been progressively developing the land into a very beautiful area featuring a magnificent stone entrance way and a variety of different trees with walking tracks and bridges traversing the area. For a small fee people can plant a tree and erect a small plinth memorial to ‘loved ones’ who have completed their earth’s journey.
The Rotary Club in Waipukurau currently has a membership of 35 and welcomes men and woman over the age of 28 years to become members. The Club meets at the Waipukurau Club in Russell Street, Waipukurau, at 5.45pm each Monday.