Visitors: Robin East, Biddie (Tauranga Club)
Welcome From President Chris Dever.
Birthdays & Anniversaries – Warren Banks & Lania Pohio have birthdays. (Adrian claimed he had been reminded once today already). Antoon Moonen and Phil Mangos both have 6 year Rotary Anniversaries.
Glenn Dougal – reminded us of the connection between our Rotary Club and the Legacy Trust. In 2007 Greg Brownless gifted his funeral directing company to the City, by way of the Legacy Charitable Trust. Since that time the trust has donated $3.4M to the local community.
Greg’s philanthropy has been acknowledged with a QSM (from the Queen), as well as earning him a Paul Harris pin (from us). He has also earned a BOP Regional Council Service Award.
Other connections - Bill Holland is a current Legacy Trustee, Jon Mayson (a former club member) was a founding director and Glenn himself is the current Commercial Director.
Legacy - Rotarians were then welcomed by the Legacy Staff - Marco, Warwick, Fergus, Carla, Tania and Kiri. The funeral business operates out of Tauranga Park (Pyes Pa), Woodhill (Grange Road) and Legacy Gardens in Papamoa. They have also expanded into the Waikato with the purchase of Cambridge Funerals where they also have a relationship with the local Rotary Club.
Legacy operates as a charity organization, supporting the community and Dan was delighted to hear that a $5K grant for a new vehicle for the Graeme Dingle Foundation had just been approved.
We were told we were all most welcome and could return for a visit anytime. (Anytime…)
Tour parties then assembled, and we spilt to view the inner workings – the chapel/winery, the cremator and the embalming before returning for a nourishing breakfast.
Robin East from the Tauranga Club is moving on to new adventures. The Club presented her with flowers and many thanks for looking after us on Friday mornings over the last 14 years. Biddie will be assuming the mantle…
Sergeant Session: Kathy Webb
Kathy ran through all sorts of comparisons between a wedding and a funeral, including the possibility of throwing the bouquet for the next victim. She missed the classic line about the difference between and Australian wedding and an Australian funeral however. There is one less drunk at the funeral!
Parting Thought: Glenys Parton
“The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.”
Dorothy Parker
