It was good to be back and welcome you all to our dinner meeting after being absent for the month of March.
Thank you Madeleine for filling in for me.
Clem DeSilva our exchange student was in attendance.Clem has only two months remaining before returning to France.
Sharon Stewart was our guest speaker for the night, Sharon who is well known to us all was introduced by David Teape.
Sharon has been a Councillor for over 30 years and is currently an Auckland Councillor for the Howick Ward. Sharon was awarded a QSM for services to Howick in 1998. Sharon is also the chair of Auckland Councils Civil Defence and Emergency Management Committee having assumed this role in 2013.
Sharons presentation was focused on the flooding within Auckland during the severe weather event on the 27th-29th January 2023. Sharon was not made aware of the flooding by her team and was made aware of it by her daughter late on the evening of the 27th January. Sharon made reference to The Mike Bush report which is an independent review led by former Police Commissioner Mike Bush has found Auckland Councils Emergency management system was not prepared for an event like the 27th of January floods.
The review identified failures in the system for emergency responses that had been known about since 2016 but had not been addressed.
In a long list of recommendations, the report said the council needed to urgently finalise the current review of the Auckland Civil Defence and Emergency Management Group plan, with specific procedures around high priority hazard and events.
Go to:-WWW.newshub.co.nz/mike bush/flooding. To view the full report.
Just a word of advice:- People need to take responsibility for their immediate surroundings during or especially before any predicted weather event. Check that all drains and storm water grates etc are free from rubbish and leaves. Especially during the autumn season.
There were questions from the floor. David Teape then thanked Sharon. The club members expressed their thanks in the usual manner.
Sharon donated the wine gift back to the club members.
Rotary Business then took place-
Sergeant Steve Lines once again kept us amused with his fines and jokes.
Congratulations to our raffle winners. New World vouchers:- Rob Mouncey and David Fels. Have a Go raffle:- John Savory and Jim Donovan. Sharon s wine went to Madeleine East.
Events this month to be aware of.
1] Working Bee at Ray Whites [Bookarama Depot] to shift files Wednesday 17th 9-00 to 12-00.
2] Anzac Displays at Fencible Lounge 24th and 25th April. Volunteers needed-Contact David Fels.
3] Selling of Poppies for RSA. Madeleine has volunteer couples organised.
4] Anzac day 25th April.
5] BBQ at Howick Coast Guard. Tuesday 30th April [partners welcome.]
My thanks to you all for making it such an enjoyable evening. Thanks to Glenice and David Owen for looking after the reception desk and John Savory for setting up the computer etc.
Our next meeting is set down for the 23rd April. The guest speaker is Amrutha Kishore and her subject is "Ear and Hearing Health".
Kind Regards.
Take Care and stay well.
Malcolm J Pascoe.
This project gets underway in May with the first advert promoting it appearing in the H&P Times on the 17th April.