It was good to welcome everybody to our first meeting of the new Rotary year even if I was hobbling up to the rostrum and, as requested by my medical advisors, trying to keep my leg elevated!
It was also a pleasure to welcome out guest speaker Pene Frost who is Regional Manager of Stand, Tu Maia, Children’s Services base at the Village in Half Moon Bay.
New Sergeant Mike did a great job of organizing the meeting and on the top table we had some amusing conversation as the Frosts are good friends of the Abercrombie’s. It was the first time I have heard someone humorously describe Mike as a “reprobate”! Mike got his own back by fining our guest speaker!
Following a comprehensive introduction by Glenice Yeoman Pene commenced her presentation with a brief history of the organization. Perhaps perversely the poor health of soldier recruits for the Boer War caused the government of the day real concern which in turn prompted the need for better children’s health care. The first “canvas camp” was started in 1919 by Dr Elizabeth Gunn in Whanganui. The original focus of the Health Camp movement was on nourishment, oral, ear and eye care. Locally the Pakuranga Health Camp now known as Pakurangarahihi was opened in 1948 at Half Moon Bay.
Pene then went on to update us on the status of the Pakurangarahihi informing us that the land and buildings had been sold. This was not an easy decision but the sorry state of this “leaky building” from inception had got worse and necessitated the sale. Pene recounted a personal story of a toilet ceiling falling in on her on one occasion.
The national organization has moved on from its early goals and now deals with 5- to 12-year-old children who are suffering from family trauma. The simplistic nourishment and sensory care have become extremely complex trying to turn around adverse childhood experiences linked to family, community and even climate trauma. This requires the understanding of the neuroscientific effects on children’s brains and the application of behavioural psychology.
Pene went on the inform us about access criteria and services offered with the overall approach being therapeutic as opposed to punitive.
From the range of questions members found her presentation very informative and at the same time challenging.
She concluded her address by thanking us for the “incredible” support that we provide to the organization with the blanket donations.
In the one-minute speaking slot John Savory updated us on the sad new of Ross Forrester’s recent passing. Ross was a member of club until 2014/15 and will be remembered by some for the great contribution he made on IT matters.
Glenice also reminded us that this is a 5-week month and a Movie Night is being planned for the last Tuesday in the month. More detail are to come on this event.
Raffle Winners – Have A Go – 1st prize Mike Abercrombie, 2nd Barry Nicholls
- New World Vouchers – Sally Fletcher ($25), and (not again) Rob Mouncey.
Keep well and keep warm! See you on the 23rd.
Rob Mouncey
President
