The Omokoroa Boat Club was the venue for Changeover - great views, great weather, great camaraderie and an excellent buffet lunch from Skippers Restaurant made this a most successful event . MC Greg Brownless set the tone with some truly awful puns viz:
This was followed by his version of the 'Help me Rhoda' rap and C-H-R-I-S (The Wiggles?) then mercifully he handed over to outgoing President Rhonda and the full text of her review is reproduced herewith:
'Wow hasn’t the year flown. It seems like yesterday that we met, and I became your President.
At the beginning of our Rotary year, I challenged us all to Walk the Talk. To serve our community, show leadership, and work to bring together people from all walks of life to strengthen our understanding. As a club we have worked together, focusing our efforts to achieve this goal and live the values of Rotary.
As President it’s been a privilege to lead our amazing Club. You as members, Directors and Rotary spouses and friends have delivered out goals in spades. To summarise, I am going to divide our work into two streams – equally important but different.
Rotary walking the talk – visibly serving our community.
5 Community Street appeal collections, coordinated by Wendy Showan
Providing marshalling services for the Tauranga half Iron man.
Delivering the Rotary Youth Driving awareness programme in conjunction with our sister Tauranga Rotary clubs, to all senior secondary students. Ably coordinated by Mary O’Sullivan.
Delivered and managed the RYPEN - Rotary Youth Programme of Enrichment building self-worth, resilience and self-belief in children 14-16 years old. This project is the main annual focus of the Youth Committee, and I would like to thank all members of that committee and their chair David Robinson.
This is Us – was a project that we coordinated which told the stories of our Tauranga immigrant communities through art and storytelling. This was incredibly rewarding for those participant communities and for us as a Club. We owe a special thanks to Les Geraghty and Pauline Cowens who spent many hours ensuring this project successfully delivered on its goals.
All these activities are Rotary at work in our community. Being seen to support and deliver service.
Then there is the Financial support that we were able to deliver. This is about enablement , empowerment and supporting organisations and people within our community to deliver their goals to their sector of our community.
In total our club had gross fundraising revenues of $126,000, resulting in net revenues for distribution of close to $50,000. As a club we agreed that with the effects of Covid on community fundraising it was appropriate to distribute a further $25000 from our Rotary reserves. This means in total our club in the year to June 2021 has distributed to our community $75,000.
The largest recipients being the Graeme Dingle Foundation, and the Tauranga Art Gallery bus – both receiving $12500 each. This was the direct result of our premier biennial fundraiser Treasured Art. Pat, Kathy, John, Barbara, James, Amanda and the rest of your hard working team did a fabulous job and we thank you.
The remainder distributions have gone to another 19 organisations in Tauranga plus 2 overseas, in Santo - Solomon Islands – to support Threads across the Pacific, and library books for local Santo schools, as well as the Rotary international charities of Shelterbox and Romac.
I think these achievements in conjunction with the stress of a Global pandemic are incredible. Tauranga Sunrise Rotary you guys Rock!!.
I need to Thank my Directors who have led the different areas of the club expertly.
SO thank you – can you please stand up
Lynda Burch – Director International, Your committee raised the funds you needed to support your goals. International was well run and reaped what it sowed.
Les Geraghty – Director Events – the Director of Fun. This committee worked hard to support the efforts of all committees to support fellowship, the community and fundraising.
Wayne Shadbolt – Director Club Service. I am incredibly grateful, Wayne you organised out meeting speakers and programmes – I could not have done without you.
Pat Taylor – Director – Community Service. You engaged with our community and identified organisations we can help with a sound assessment matrix. This is invaluable and will assist us going forward to continually raise Rotary’s community profile and assist our community.
David Robinson – Youth. Rypen, Ryla, Outward Bound, Science schools, Graeme Dingle Foundation – all projects that support youth in our community. An outstanding result from a hardworking Director and his team.
As well as Ray Scott – club treasurer and Simon Beaton as Secretary who without I would be lost.
As President, I stand at the front like a Conductor – you have been my orchestra – and I have been so lucky to have you all. Each and every one of you stepped up and lead your committees to achieve the goals you set out to do. We are a TEAM, and there is no I in team, and there is no I in Rotary. Together everyone achieves more, and Rotary Sunrise has walked the talk this year.
Thank you all so very much for supporting me as President, supporting our club and our community.
Now my last job
Chris Dever, please join me
Chris you are going to be an awesome President, you are well prepared and your big heart is firstly with your family and secondly with our community. As President Elect you stepped up and were always there when I needed you. You supported the Directors and have a great plan for next year.
It is reassuring for all our members that we have a capable President and leader for the 2021-22 year.
So it is with pleasure that, I pass the chains and the Donga* to you.
Nga mihi.
Rhonda Wisbey
3 July 2021'
* Is it Chris's or Chris'? The general consensus amongst the Grammar Police is the latter
Sally was presented with her 3rd (or 4th) sapphire Paul Harris Award pin
Chris responded and in turn introduced his Board for the year, but not before relating a story about one of his schoolmasters (Mr Meehan). It was Chris' (See comment above) practice to have a pair of earphones concealed about his person during a particularly boring lesson. Mr Meehan discovered their existence and came up with 'Mr. Dever. When the workers of the world unite in solidarity, it would be presumptive of you to follow' Nice one.
within New Zealand 
