Refreshing the ranks2 min read

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The Rotary Club of Onehunga-One Tree Hill has launched a new membership drive to strengthen its ranks. As an inclusive club, they are keen to attract people from all backgrounds and ages.

Current president, Robin Hulford, says the club is looking for energetic people keen to put something back into their community, with the goal of building a new generation of civic- minded individuals willing to carry the Rotary ethos of Service Above Self into the future.

Local member, Tony Rayner, says he joined Rotary after moving to the Solomon Islands to help set up a TV network. His boss in Honiara talked him into joining the local club, where Tony was impressed by how dedicated members were in helping their community. He has been an enthusiastic Rotarian ever since, and he joined the Onehunga-One Tree Hill club as soon as he returned to New Zealand last year.

At present the club is focused on fundraising to support the victims of the Tsunami in Tonga. In fact, Rotary New Zealand were one of the first organisations to provide aid through the Rotary New Zealand World Community Service (RNZWCS). Dedicated to International development and disaster relief, RNZWCS is always prepared for events like the tsunami in Tonga. The Service keeps a stockpile of Emergency Response Kits (ERKs) which can be immediately distributed whenever disaster strikes in the Pacific.

The ERKs contain basic equipment to help victims construct temporary shelter, as well as other essentials such as clothes, tools, toiletries, first aid supplies and household items. Within hours of the tsunami, over 500 ERKs were distributed in Tonga.

The Onehunga-One Tree Hill Club is also involved in a myriad of other projects, including Te Tai Tokerau Tamariki Mental Wellbeing (Project), helping with mental health issues in the north. In recent years they have also fundraised to eradicate Polio, participated in development and construction programmes in the South Pacific, organised the annual book fair and of course helped found the Building School at Onehunga High School. Every Thursday a group of members visit the Pacific Advance Secondary School in Otahuhu to assist with learning to read programmes, though one-on-one sessions with students.

If you want to be a part of their team you can contact them at rotaryonehungaonetreehill.co.nz/contact.

To donate to Tongan relief efforts, you can either visit the RNZWCS website, rnzwcs.org or a Givealittle page that has been set up, givealittle.co.nz/cause/tsunami-response-for-tongan-community.

 

Rotary members at a fundraising event