28 February 2025 - Newsletter 15
Rotary Hutt City
with Rotabiz
Welcome to our latest Newsletter. 
 
Contributions to our bulletin are welcome and if you have anything please send to Richard at nabbo_123@hotmail.com.
 
And if you have any comments on the layout, content and information provided, let us know, because the Newsletter is yours.  
 
Rotary Hutt City breakfast meetings
Meetings are held 7am to 8.30 am on the first and third Wednesday of the month (commencing 5 February) at Boulcott's Farm Heritage Golf Club, Military Road, Lower Hutt. 
 
Breakfast costs $25 per person, payable on arrival. Please RSVP to annagy91@gmail.com
 
Members, please check the Duties Roster (Management Responsibilities) below for your nominated duty for our next meeting on 5 March 2025.
 
Look forward to seeing you there.
Meeting Responsibilities
Greeter
Watson, Dougal
 
Reception Desk
Hughes, Gaylene
 
Reception Desk
Watson, Gavin
 
Opening thought
Braniff, Judy
 
5 min What is my Business?
McCombs, Tony
 
Intro to Speaker
Harding, Katrina
 
Thanks to Speaker
Adams, Linton
 
Quizlett (6 questions about your industry)
Ngan Kee, Mark
 
Closing thought
Grimes, Kevin
 
President's Report

Wow!!

And then it was March: where has the first quarter of 2025 gone?

Harmony for Hope Charity concert update....

In order to provide certainty to the Harmony for Hope Charity project, and to celebrate 50 years in business (yes been going since 1975!) I have decided to put “Packaging Products Limited” forward as the naming sponsor for the “Harmony for Hope Charity concert.”

So far we have sold around 150 tickets (approximately 25% of the target). We are therefore steadily building momentum.

Recently, I have received very positive feedback from the Probus clubs that I visited, in respect of both the project and concert.

The other good news is that the LTL (Lesson to Learn) Charitable Trust has just received $10K from Air Rescue to go towards the cost of the Orchestra, a huge help.(My thanks Andy Soper for getting the Trust set up).

We can now confirm that the Venue (Lower Hutt Town Hall), Orchestra (Orchestra Welllington) and award winning singer (Kirsten de Rito), are all secured, along with lighting and sound systems to bring it together on the night.

The next step is promoting the event with the four Schools (parents) with whom we are partners in delivering the Lifting the Lid program. (I am actually visiting Hutt Valley High today, 28 February).

In March we will be advertising on both Newstalk ZB and the Hits radio stations and a few Club volunteers will continue to put up posters promoting the event all over Lower Hutt, to maintain momentum.

The Hutt Valley Club plan to join both our March meetings, as we build towards the big concert. I look forward to hosting them.

Please Note: Today 28 February is the last day to take advantage of the early bird discount (10%) so please don’t hesitate for you, your family and friends!

https://harmonyforhope.org.nz/tickets/

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Our speaker next week is Rumi Shivas, who will enlighten us on the world of AI (Artificial Intelligence), how it will change the world and how we will operate within it. This promises to be a fascinating presentation, and everyone in Business should make an effort to be there. AI will change your business!

See you all next week – Finally, once more buy Tickets to the concert today and save!! 💲💲💲

Cheers Cameron
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Role of the Almoner in Rotary Hutt City
Hi everyone
 
My role in Rotary Hutt City is your “Almoner”. This is an old-fashioned term that means to distribute alms to the poor, or in England, it’s a person employed by a hospital to help patients with their financial and social problems. Synonyms include benefactor, fairy godmother, and donor. I can assure you, none of these describe the role of a Rotary almoner!
 
This role is a pastoral care role. When members are unwell, or their partners are sick, I contact them on behalf of the club. If members are having challenging times or for some reason cannot attend Rotary, my role is to be a liaison between the club member and our Leadership team to see how our Club can support them when they need it most.
 
For our members to feel cared for, I need to know who might need our support. If you know of someone who might like to know we care, you can phone or text me at 027 3146633 or email me at sue@avison.co.nz to have a chat. Remember, when contacting me, please be mindful of a member’s privacy or desire to be contacted.
 
Warm regards
Sue Avison
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Today's Date 28 February
28 February is National Tooth Fairy Day in the United States, a day dedicated to the enchanting mythical character who exchanges lost teeth for money or small gifts while children sleep (no I'm not making it up).
 
According to a typical US dental website, celebrating encourages children to visit the dentist more often and should make them think more often about oral health.
 
Celebrate by reading a book about dental health, make tooth friendly treats like tooth shaped cookies: or decorate a small replacement pillow with the date of the first lost tooth. 😬😬😬😬
 
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Old Hutt Conservatory could become open air Pavilion (The Post Article in full 24 February)

How the new open air pavilion developed out of the old Gibbes Watson conservatory in Lower Hutt could look.

 

A proposal to turn the historic Gibbes Watson conservatory in Lower Hutt into an open air pavilion suitable for events could save it.

The conservatory, in Myrtle St, had been the home to a showcase of New Zealand ferns but was mothballed as it deteriorated and consideration given for demolition, which led to efforts to save it.

A joint initiative between the Hutt City Council and Hutt Rotary clubs aims to preserve it and turn the conservatory into a space that could be used for weddings, funerals, markets and cultural events.

The Gibbes Watson conservatory in Lower Hutt, was mothballed as it deteriorated.
 

The council had said significant work was required to keep Gibbes Watson Conservatory operational. The equipment needed to maintain a true conservatory environment or hot house had not been functional for a considerable amount of time.

It said the displays in the conservatory were limited, diminishing the value and the costs associated with repairing and maintaining it exceeded its usage and benefits to the community.

The Rotary Clubs engaged with Victoria University School of Architecture’s 3rd-year architecture programme to explore opportunities.

A proposal to remove the glass from the Gibbes Watson glasshouse and retain the structure as an open-air pavilion has shown promise. The pavilion could accommodate up to 150 people.

Rotary Club of Hutt City spokesman Allan Brown said the building had declined from its original 1974 construction.
 
He said the next stage involved consultation with businesses such as wedding planners, hospitality venues, funeral directors, and community groups to establish the potential demand for a redeveloped Gibbes Watson Pavilion.

The conservatory is in Hutt’s Riddiford Gardens in the centre of town and is one of the oldest horticultural parks in the Hutt Valley dating from 1923.

The council is also seeking interest in the Tutukiwi Orchid House while the Riddiford Garden aviary has been closed.

Deborah Morris - The Post

NB: Allan Brown will be making a further presentation to the Club on 19 March.
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Next Week's Speaker 5 March

Rumi Shivaz is our guest speaker. Doing my research I found a fascinating article that Rumi wrote on Linkedin. It is worth reading in its entirety, but here is a marvellous extract:

"When someone asks me, 'What do you do?', I give the following answer:-

I worked for almost 40 years, then took a 3-year break to figure out the next 40 years of my work. So, if everything goes to plan, I will die a happy man at 102!''

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Rumi has provided the following background to his forthcoming presentation:

I’m excited to share the synopsis of my talk titled, "The Journey of AI: Past, Present, and Future." This presentation is designed for a non-technical audience and will provide a broad, accessible overview of artificial intelligence, touching on its history, current applications, and future possibilities.

Key topics covered will include:

  1. A brief history of AI, from its origins in the 1950s to significant milestones like IBM’s Deep Blue;
     
  2. Where AI technology is today, including its role in virtual assistants, healthcare, business automation, and more;
     
  3. What we can expect in the future of AI, including potential advancements in personalized medicine, education, automation, and the ethical challenges we face.

The talk will focus on making AI understandable and relevant, showing how it impacts our daily lives while addressing the responsibilities and challenges AI brings.

I look forward to sharing insights and sparking thought-provoking discussions at the event.
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Looking Back 19 February
 
Chrissi Walker gave us her "Who am I?" Aside from her work with Roll NZ covered previously, it is clear that Chrissi has had a very varied career ranging from jewellry maker to managing data in her current job working for NZTA.
 
 
Sandy Brockelsby introduced her NZ Police colleague Stef Preddy, Inspector, Planning and Partnerships Manager, leading on National Custody Infrastructure.
 
It was clear from the presentation that Stef is a dedicated professional, and passionate about his work. When he was made Inspector, he was one of the few "blue shirts," brought in to work alongside non uniformed police employees, largely because of his experience in dealing with prisons and other custody real estate.
 
He emphasised that custody infrastructure is so important in providing the basics of adequate living for prisoners, such as good lighting and sanitation.
 
There is a constant battle however in trying to reduce the possibilities of self harm; one example stood out whereby there was a need to replace shower drainage because the holes within provided an opportunity for material to be tied through the holes and offer a means for strangulation.
 
TV sets provide a distraction for many prisoners, whilst CCTV offers a strong preventative. 
 
In the course of his excellent presentation, Stef explained that he had once been locked in a cell by a prisoner, offering him a constant reminder of the need for improving prison environments.
 

 

 
Barred! An example of good and bad environment
 
A reminder of Club Meeting Duties: Thanks to Speaker
 
It’s a good idea to do a little research beforehand so you can set the wider scene for an interesting talk.
This is a Club courtesy to say thank to those who have given their time and energy in coming to talk to us. Ideally, keep it short:-
 
• Say the talk has been interesting - you might very briefly recall a point you found enlightening but don’t try and summarise what we’ve been told;
 
• Say we have all learnt a great deal, and what they have told us will stimulate thought and further conversations;

• Again, say thank you and give the speaker any publicity material about our Club.
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Keep up, Number 1.....
 
Are Your Membership Details up to date in ClubRunner?
A message from Doug Webb our Club Site Administrator:-
 
Have your personal details changed, especially email address and phone number? Take a few minutes to log-in to rotaryhuttcity.org.nz.
 
Click on the following link for a step by step guide to accessing your member profile.
 
Thank you!
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Far out, man.......
 
Kelson School Twilight Gala 14 March - Volunteers
 
Marcel, who donated $1500 of Treen of Joy gifts - and got The Warehouse to match - has asked for volunteers for his upcoming school gala. If you can help, please scan the QR Code!
 
 
 
 
Closing Thought 19 February
Presented by Richard Nabarro
 
Volunteers don't get paid, not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless.
 
The quote is atributed to Sherry Anderson, a Canadian curler, born in 1964, who is a record three time winner of the World Senior Curling Championships for Canada.
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Loose change and Buying the Box
Remember to bring some loose change along to the meeting so you can contribute if you answer a Quizlett question incorrectly :), or wish to "Buy The Box".

If you should have any interesting stories about fellow Rotarians then please pass them onto Craig so he can share them at the meeting. Email: craig@packprod.co.nz 
 
Payment is also now available by Eftpos onsite - no excuses!
 

19 March 2025 

Our March Breakfast meeting will feature our own Allan Brown providing a substantial update on where things stand with the Gibbes Watson Conservatory.

I asked you last time, in which year was the New Zealand Police force established?
(September) 1886.
 
This edition's question: Who is considered to be the father of Artificial Intelligence?
 
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