Today’s attendance:
 

 

Visitors:  Dayna Hikurea, Nick Burfeet, Rod Large, Ben and Sam McPherson

A timely reminder to wear masks, when possible, as Omicron is taking off.

 

 Birthdays & Anniversaries – Happy Birthday to Jim Rickard

 

Nathan was introduced by Sanjana.

He mentioned that it’s a difficult thing to talk about your own life, but stated if there’s no pressure there’s no diamonds and actually it takes a lot of pressure and heat to produce a diamond. Nathan was born and bred in Tokoroa, where he met his lifelong partner, Dayna. They have been together for 28 years. He didn’t have an easy early life and after being suspended from school nine times, left with zero education. He worked in the bush driving trucks, which was rather dangerous in those days. He got a job in Putaruru stripping tyres off cars, then through a good reference went to managing a Repco branch. Nathan was also very successful at importing trucks, and at one time rewarded twenty-five clients with an all expenses paid trip to Japan. He eventually felt burnt out in that job and resigned, which turned out to be a real fork in his road.

Dayna and Nathan took six months off to live in a cottage at Ohope Beach, where after contemplation he decided to change his life and get educated. He became a marine biologist, dive and first aid instructor. Nathan says that those who maintain you don’t need an education to succeed, are wrong.

He started Marine Research Aotearoa and employed his classmates to assist. The company conducted research into areas such as mangroves and sediments in harbours.

Going to employment at the Bay Of Plenty Regional Council, Nathan commenced working on resource consents. He has trained over 300 kaitiaki in the Resource Management Act. The wananga are held at the respective marae.

Now as the Pou Ngaio Cultural/Technical RMA specialist, he prides himself on delivering the message, regardless. He has spent one and a half years flying back and forth to Wellington as part of the Government taskforce on Fresh Water. There he was nominated as inspirational colleague of the year, which was celebrated with a champagne breakfast.

Currently Nathan is studying for his MBA, and after writing 48 reports and making 29 presentations, is working on his thesis.

In their spare time Dayna and Nathan go gold mining and will be doing so again soon at a secret South Island River location.

Nathan’s message is TNT, try new things, and he concluded by saying that pressure doesn’t need to correlate to stress and that is forming the diamond.

Nathan was thanked by Pat with the truism that the best speakers are often our own members, exemplified by today’s presentation.

 

Lynda updated the club on the fact that some of the shelter boxes for which we fundraise, are being deployed to Tonga following the devastating tsunami.

 

Following the Tonga update, Lynda traversed her time as President in 2007. It is very special that as a club we have a lot of fun at the same time as contributing to many projects. We have always been a growing club and during her term, 11 new members joined. In 2007 one meeting a month was devoted to chat around the table, allowing time to get to know each other. Lynda concluded by stating that we grow, we shrink, we grow again. This prompted Ken to interject that it sounded like a weight loss program to me!

 

Dave has had a week in hospital. He can manage the odd visitor at home but a phone call or a text is a good idea first.

 

Mary informed us that this has been postponed due to the uncertainty surrounding Covid.

 

Rypen has been cancelled for this year.

 

This started with Barry’s confession that he had only remembered his duty this morning. He then beamingly introduced his daughter and son-in-law.

Barry’s New Year’s Resolution seemed to involve physical activity and he had signed up to the Coast to Coast, but it had been cancelled. Nevertheless, he had been training including the demanding Goat Pass, in Arthur’s Pass, as well as 55 kilometres of kayaking on a stretch of water where if you fell out you couldn’t get out for 15 kilometres.

He is now contemplating going back to the South Island for a break.

 

Raffle Winner Neil

 

 

Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning. Albert Einstein

Plus, bonus parting thought.

Once a new technology rolls over you, if you’re not part of the steamroller, your part of the road. Stewart Brand.

 

 

 

 

Duties          4th Feb Welcome (Hotel Door)      James Clague Technology Set-up     Wayne Shadbolt Second Door & Parting thought     Jim Rickard Attendance Recorder     Dan Allen-Gordon Speaker intro and Host     NA Sergeant     Warren Banks Speaker Thanks     NA Bulletin Editor     Greg Brownless Backup     Rosalie Liddle Crawford Speaker is     Committee Meetings