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Another 800 took part this year for a great fun morning. Thank you Hilton Haulage for you main support this year: photos are here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCLMAK
Applications open for Timaru North Rotary Art Scholarship - 2026
Applications can now be received for club's annual art scholarship. This is to help with tertiary education costs for 17-25 year-old students studying arts. They must be NZ citizens living in South Canterbury at the time of application.
The successful applicant must be prepared to report formally to the club and agree to publicity.
An application form with criteria is downloadable from artscholarship.rotarytimnth.nz. Applications close 5:00pm 31th January 2026, and will be considered by the club committee.
For further information please contact:
Harley Smithson
handjsmithson@gmail.com
03 686 6055 or 027 4972 292
Democracy in Action: Full House for Candidate Evening
The Rotary Club of Timaru North's "Meet the Candidates" evening exceeded all expectations last night, with West End Hall packed to capacity as over 120 community members turned out to engage directly with their local election candidates.
The event for the Mayoralty and Timaru Ward, held on Wednesday 24 September, brought together 12 candidates including 2 mayoral hopefuls - in a professionally managed format that gave voters the opportunity to hear directly from those seeking to represent them.
Strong Candidate Participation
Candidates who participated:
Nigel Bowen (for mayor)
Peter Bennett (for mayor)
Anah Aikman
John Bolt
Ian Hawley
Owen Jackson
Stu Jackson
Ethan Richardson
Hadleigh Oudemans
Chris Thomas
Graeme Wilson
Jason McDonall
Sange Mailama
Apologies were received from Stu Piddington and Stacey Scott
Community Engagement at Its Best
The evening's format proved highly effective, with mayoral candidates each given 7 minutes to present their vision for Timaru's future personal own role, while ward councillor candidates had 4 minutes to outline their expertise, priorities and commitments.
Local media were present throughout the evening, ensuring broader community awareness of candidates' positions and commitments.
The random question segment generated particularly engaged discussion, with candidates drawing questions submitted by community members throughout the evening. Topics ranged from infrastructure and rates to environmental concerns - clearly reflecting the issues most important to Timaru residents.
The question-and-answer format, featuring randomly drawn community questions, proved particularly popular with both candidates and attendees, creating spontaneous moments that revealed candidates' thinking on unexpected topics.
Community Service in Action
The evening's success reflected careful planning by the Rotary Club's organizing committee. Event coordinator Tony Brien managed the event with the assistance of President Robbie Jackson and Rod Sparrow, the Club’s experienced MC, ensuring all candidates received equal treatment and time allocation.
The event exemplified Rotary's commitment to serving the community without taking political sides. As an apolitical organization, Rotary Club of Timaru North maintained strict neutrality throughout, providing a professional platform for democratic engagement.
Rotary's Democratic Service
"Rotary's mission is to serve our community, and there's no better service than helping people make informed choices about their local government," said club secretary Harley Smithson. "The response last night shows how much our community values this kind of direct democratic engagement."
The Rotary Club of Timaru North thanks all candidates who participated, community members who attended, and the West End Hall for providing an excellent venue for this important community service.
Yes BOOKARAMA is on again for 2025 at The Trinity Community Centre, 22 College Road, Timaru
Friday 3rd October - 9:00am to 5:00pm
Saturday 4th October - 9:00am to 5:00pm
Sunday 4th October - 9:00am to 3:00pm
Contact and full info on our BOOKARAMA website page here
Yet another Artarama at the Aigantighe Art Gallery - being going since 1979 when our late member Dick Logan initiated it.
President Rod Sparrow addressing at the opening with Exhibitions Curator Izzy Hillman alongside, with Jill Harland, President Friends of Aigantighe, and Leslie Brown, President of the South Canterbury Arts Society.
President Rod Sparrow addressing at the opening with Exhibitions Curator Izzy Hillman alongside, with Jill Harland, President Friends of Aigantighe, and Leslie Brown, President of the South Canterbury Arts Society.
Some of the 700 odd entries by South Canterbury school pupils.
The Alpine Energy Hadlow to Harbour (H2H) 2024 was a great success, with over 800 people participating. They spanned all age groups and attended for various reasons; be it competitive running, fitness or those wanting to spend some time with friends as they walked the routes.
These community events cannot happen without the support of our sponsors, who generously give their time and financial support to make the event what it is. The funds raised in 2024 have been donated to the Stroke Foundation, Heart Foundation, Hospice and Life Education Trust.
The 2025 event is scheduled for 02 March 2025, and we look forward to seeing even more people participating.
See Geoff Cloake's Flickr album for a selection of photos.
By joining us, you can help out on projects like the H2H: Alpine Energy Hadlow to Harbour each year generating $180,000 since year 2000! We also have other events and fundraisers like Bookarama, which has been running since 1976. Help us make these even more successful. Then there's the fun of our social occasions - bring along your family too! You'll love the camaraderie and stimulation of our club, and have the opportunity to network and mix in your abilities to help lead us into the future. Visit http://intro.rotarytimnth.nz. Enquire to Gavin Craig: 021 661 554, Don George: 027 223 424. or Email: join@rotarytimnth.nz
Some families may never get to see live shows. These shots are from Circus Quirkus, held in conjunction with Timaru North Rotary Club the other night - thanks to tickets sponsored by local businesses.
By joining us, you can explore remote and spectacular parts of our South Island like the Clarence Reserve shown here.
Then there's the fun of our social occasions - bring along your family too!
You'll love the camaraderie and stimulation of our club, and have the opportunity to network and mix in your abilities to help lead us into the future.
Want to learn more learn more
Enquires to
Gavin Craig: 021 661 554,
Don George: 027 223 424. or
Email: join@rotarytimnth.nz
On Febuary 19th, members and partners took on a 50-kilometer return 4x4 trip in the riverbed of the Cass Valley on the Glenmore sheep station, Going was a little smoother thanks to Jim Murray who was reworking the track with his grader.
Harold the Giraffe closes in runners pushing for the H2H finish line
Look out for Harold at this year’s 5th March H2H. He will be on one of his “friends” eye-catching set-of-wheels. He may even wander through the finishing line and pose with fans – he’s a big celebrity throughout Australasia! This is because he is always alongside school children learning about their uniqueness and their right to stand tall and proud – just like a giraffe.
Read more about entering and prepaying here: h2h.org.nz/entering/about-entering
Jeremy Hogan chatting with H2H team member Geoff Cloake about this year’s promotional arrangements.
At the finish line, Jeremy Hogan gets to see the buzz of cheering supporters, the endless huge expressions of relief, astounding smiles of achievement and welling pride topped with congratulatory back-patting and hugging. “Helping on projects like this is just fantastic!” he says. “Being able to give something back to the community I live in, is also loads of fun and you get to meet and work with some very interesting and motivated people.” He adds: “That’s why I like to help out with the H2H. It brings people together in such an friendly and enjoyable way.” About his Rotary Club’s role, he comments: “Rotary projects like this really strengthen our community’s spirit and wellbeing.”
Help is welcome to spread the load and lift the H2H to even greater heights for the benefit of all. Would you like to join in? Please contact John Keenan @ keenanj.s93@gmail.com or 027 292 5267
Read more about entering and prepaying here: h2h.org.nz/entering/about-entering
“I keep coming back!” Rebecca demonstrates the fun of entering and dressing-up to the camera. - Photo by Geoff Cloake
Read more about entering and prepaying here: h2h.org.nz/entering/about-entering
Upwards of 1000 people are expected to take to our streets on Sunday 5th of March to run, walk, jog, and even scooter, the 10kms to Caroline Bay from Hadlow or, for a lighter task, 3kms from Countdown on Church Street. Some will be led by dogs, more in fancy party dress or disguise, while others load themselves with extra challenges like pushing strollers. Free Ritchie buses will shuttle to Hadlow, but please be early to ensure a ride.
Grateful thanks go to all supporters including volunteers and club members who freely provide their time and resources to make H2H so successful. More volunteers are always welcome, even if for a couple of hours on the day or helping more seriously with lead-up tasks. Please contact John Keenan @ keenanj.s93@gmail.com or 027 292 5267
Read more about entering and prepaying here: h2h.org.nz/entering/about-entering
Yes we held another BOOKARAMA for 2022!
Donations have been so plentiful we decided to run Bookarama again 4-6 November, making up for the events missed due to Covid-19 restrictions. Extending the Friday hours to 9:00pm proved popular. Friday was an extra day added last time to help spread out attendance and deal to capacity donations.
St Joseph's Year 4 primary school students with their new illustrated dictionaries
Again Year 4 primary school students were thrilled to received the wonderfully illustrated education learning aid from us this year. Schools included Barton Rural, Beaconsfield, Gleniti, Grantlea Downs, Highfield, St Joseph's, Timaru Christian, Oceanview Heights and Waimataitai.
Working with other Rotary Clubs, the cost was covered by a Rotary Foundation grant. Special thank to President Rod Sparrow who individually signed the 272 explanatory letters covering each Dictionary, and members and family who helped prepare, distribute and present the dictionaries to each school.
500 native grasses, shrubs and trees were planted at the Otipua Wetlands on an incredibly nice morning. Eight from the Boy's Brigade 3rd Timaru, with leaders Fiona Blisset and Chris Kronings, joined 16 Club members making short work of the task.. Also digging in was Jim Garden of the Timaru Rotary Club. This project follows a Rotary International initiative, planting 12 million trees world wide.
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Noel Crawford preparing a hole for a plant held by Inga, an AFS student from Germany . One day this hillside will be covered with native flora, as seen in the distance.
Timaru, 7910
New Zealand