Text Box: Rotary Club of Papakura Inc

Text Box:  District  9920  New Zealand                    Chartered  1948

Text Box: About Us

Text Box: Club History     The first meeting of the Club was held in the old R.S.A. Hall above the Star Theatre in Averill Street on 28th August 1948,  there were 25 members present The club first met at 12.30 p.m.  The Charter Dinner was held in the R.S.A. Hall at 6 p.m. on 6th April 1949 presided over by Otahuhu, our founder Club, and there we received  our Charter No. 7098 from Rotary International. The club was involved  in building  Papakura's first Kindergarten - they raised $4000 even though the membership was then only 36!   1952 The Club had now reached a membership of 40.   1953 The year of the Conquest of Everest and the Club erected an enormous hoarding at the      entrance to the Town depicting the conquest of Everest. Membership was now at 51. An International Affairs Library was given to Papakura High School.   1955 The membership is 53 members.   1956 We sponsored  the Manurewa Rotary Club   1958 The Committee that built the swimming Pool, was formed   1963 A committee was formed to establish the Senior Citizens Club   1966 The membership has now reached 70 and the highlight was a South Pacific Festival night with two Cabinet Ministers and the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands as guests. 1967 We built a 30 foot by 12 foot Workshop for the Rosehill Intellectually Handicapped School and the technical imperfections of the work are a permanent mark of the members who gave up hours of their time on this project.  1968 We purchased a Mini Bus for Kingseat patients.  . 1969 The year of our 21st Birthday. The Club had now reached a peak membership of 84.  1970 We undertook a project which gained us world distinction in International Community  Work,  "Calves for Tonga."  1971 We organised an Airstravaganza at Ardmore Aerodrome.  Thirty thousand people attended and we raised $10,000. 1972 With a membership of 70, we sponsored a Queen in the Carnival Queen competition,  to raise funds for the Rosehill Gymnasium and held a Clevedon Country Carnival at the  Clevedon Polo Ground and  raised $5000 and a word of praise from Radio Hauraki.         In this year the Rotary Annes took a greater part - they helped the carnival, they gave          barbecue outfits to Radley House together with Easter Eggs and children's books. They even made their presence felt in the Rotary District by gathering a tremendous pile of blankets for Fiji Hurricane Relief. 1973 A Ways and Means Committee—whose sole purpose is to raise funds for major projects—is introduced for the first time. 1975 A carpark is provided at the Hunua Presbyterian Camp. 1977 The major project  was the construction of a games room at Brian Smith’s Farm Camp. 1978 A member of the Club, Cliff Dickey, is District Governor for District 292. He was made the Club’s first Paul Harris Fellow. 1980 The club became fully committed to building an Ambulance Station for Papakura. The Club raised $200,000, to complete this Project.   The station was officially opened by the Governor General on 11th April 1981. 1982 $11000 raised to build a new Workshop for I.H.C. 1984 We built a $17000 Sound Shell in Central Park. 1985 The club ran Handicamp at Camp Morley. 1987 We sponsored the Rotary Club of Drury inc. $14800 raise as our share for world wide Polio Plus programme. 1988 First Probus Club formed in Papakura 1989 A Interact Club formed at Papakura High School 1990 Assistance given  to building of Running track for Papakura Athletics Club 1991 An aqualift provided for Massey Park Swimming Pool. 1993 Trees planted along Great South Road for beautification. 1994 Rotary Club of Papakura Trust to present Scholarships to students of Papakura High School. 1996 First Lady members join the Club. 1997 Assistance with Whanau Centre at Kelvin Road School. 1998 Club involved in Books in Homes Project 1999 Clubs Fiftieth Anniversary.  First Concert at Karaka held 2000 Exchange Student  from Argentina arrives. Fund raising through hay making, Braille collection, RYLA, Annual Christmas Parade in Papakura. Computer to Victim Support. Books in Homes. 2001 The first club project to Vava‘u  Tongan, building a house, water sprouting to tanks and climbing frames for schools. 2002 Concert at Karaka had Hayley Westenra, a sell out concert. 2003 Tongan project built a house in Utungake, Concert at Karaka 2004  Assistant Governor appointed from the club. Tonga project continued and another successful Concert at Karaka 2005 Rotary Centenary year, the centenary project a shelter at the Papakura Cemetery. Tongan Project to supply drinking water to Utungake village in Vavaú. Connected 67 houses churches and school. 2006   First Charity Auction at the New Zealand Bloodstock Centre, very successful raising money for the National Burn Unit at Middlemore Hospital. Starting the Gills Avenue/Pahurehure inlet coastal walk way. Continued with water supply to Talihau  village Tonga 1.3km of pipe and 37 houses, school and churches. 2007 Education Trust awarding six students scholarships. Other successful concert and charity auction. Tonga project continued with gutting and down pipes to 26 houses, 2 community halls and a church in 9 days. Assembled a water bore and laid a 1 km pipe to Village of Utulei. 2008  We celebrated our 10th Concert at Karaka, which was very well supported. We had a number of great artists including Helen Medlyn  and the Dalewood Brass Band. Education Trust awarded 10 scholarships to some incredible  students. We again supported RYLA, RYPEN and  a GSE member to Switzerland. Our 3rd Charity Auction  was a great success in support of the National Burn Centre at Middlemore Hospital.              

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