04 August 2022

 

Gavin welcomed all. He thanked Grant, John and Noel for manning the RYDA Event.

 

This week (11 August 2022), there will be a vote on the Regionalisation Concept. The background to the Regionalisation Concept is to consider how Rotary may be better structured (regions, membership, etc.) given today's challenges and the need to modernise Rotary as a fit-for-purpose service organisation. There is no established agenda as part of the Concept at present; the vote only gives authority to allow a group to consider options officially. While RI has supported the Concept in principle, they want to be sure that all Rotary groups in the Region are comfortable with the Concept being drafted, which will involve consultation with all Rotary groups. To be clear, this vote does not change how we operate now.  

 

A card was received from Marthy Cloake for our $1000 donation to the Heart Foundation.

 

 

Noel Crawford spoke of a recent U3A lecture titled Healthy Aging, which Professor Dick Sainsbury of Otago University presented. He opened with a quote from Henry Ford "Anyone who stops learning is old, whether 20 or 80. Anyone who keeps learning stays young." Another quote he gave, "High physical, psychological and social functioning in old age without major diseases", is the definition of successful old aging. In Professor Sainsbury's opinion, we should be able to have this high functioning even with diseases due to good treatment that is now available. Points he made were the importance of physical activity. We should aim for 30 minutes of activity five days a week. Some should be for flexibility and balance to prevent falls. Some for resistance to retain strength. He warned against well-meaning people being helpful in doing tasks that an older person can do. The older person should remain socially connected. Loneliness and isolation lead to poor mental health.

 

Noel thought Rotary, U3A, and many other social, sporting, church, and charity groups in Timaru were important. Finding meaning and joy in old age. e.g. travel, hobbies, the arts, time with grandchildren, and writing down memories of life experiences. The latter is important; he said, "To die without writing down some of your memories is like an encyclopedia has been burned."

 

Review your medication. Don't add more without trying to stop some that you have been on for a long time. Talk to your doctor. Thinking ahead, we may need enduring powers of attorney, one for financial and financial matters and another for health and welfare. Professor Sainsbury gave some other facts and figures. In 15 years, 25 per cent of New Zealanders will be over 65 years - up from 8% in 1961. He doesn't think super for 65-year-olds will be sustainable. Life expectancy has gone from 70 in 1950 to 80, but good health in old age is not increasing at the same rate. There were 48000 people with dementia in 2011, and it is expected there will be 78000 in 2026. Of children born in Manchester, England, in 1840, about half would be dead before reaching 12 years old. The most expensive health care item is hospital care, much more than preventable measures.

 

 

Sergeant Rob Farrow and sidekick David Hewson collected from travellers, isolation refugees, golfers, and gerrymanderers. 

 

 

The raffle was drawn by our guest Phil Brownie - Noel Crawford won the prize.

 

Chairman Grant Davidson introduced our guest speaker Phil Brownie. Phil introduced us to Maori Rock Art Trust and Opihi and Opihi Environmental Services. His current project is the ecological restoration of 10 hectares ( cross lease) of land at Hanging Rock, on the Opihi River.

 

Another project with Ngai Tahu Maori Rock Art is recording 774 sites throughout Mid/South Canterbury. More work includes land restoration and replicating vegetation from 400 years ago. The area they are working on includes two creeks running down the gorge to the river on Gould's farm, an ancient food source, campsite, hence ecologically rich land full of gorse and weeds, elms and sycamores, and macrocarpas removed. Electric fences secure boundaries, and seeds are sourced from Waimate and Temuka nurseries. They use green flutes for Plant protection as it is too wet for cardboard one. Once the flutes are past their use, they are sent to Hamilton for fence posts. Plants cost $10 each, and 23,000 have been planted over four years. Some good slides of progress were shown, including using rolls of jute on swamp land. Community days plant approximately 6000 plants, and the areas have many school trips.

 

Pests equal rabbits, mustelids ( stoats, weasels,) rats and wallabies. Phil runs Opihi Environmental Services as a fundraiser for restoration for work on farms, raising $25000 last year. Has a big Rangitata project of 400,000 plants and fencing and 6,500 traps on the Rangitata river from the mouth to Mesopotamia Station. 

Questions followed. Questioning covering planting, spacing and weed control.

 

Peter proposed a vote of thanks. A good summary of environmental protection and enhancement. Members thanked Phil by acclamation.

 

President Gavin closed the meeting with a quote from Churchill on 1 October 1939 "I can't forecast the action of Russia. It is an enigma wrapped up inside a mystery".

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