South Wairarapa Rotary – “So that’s what they do”

Most people have heard of Rotary but many are unaware of what Rotary actually does beyond the fact they work for the benefit of their local community.  And that’s right – they do, but it’s important to put into context just how significant their community contribution is to the South Wairarapa and beyond.

The Martinborough Fair and Martinborough Charity Fun Ride are both Rotary community fundraiser activities.  Rotary volunteers spend many hours planning, organising and running both these very successful events.  The profit collected from these goes into the Rotary Trust fund to be distributed locally, nationally and internationally.  

Recent contributions to the Martinborough community include the Martinborough Foodbank, the Wharekaka aged care facility and Pirinoa School to help upgrade its swimming pool.  And, just last week, Rotary provided support to the Kahutara School wetland project to assist with the purchase of new plants for the wetland. 

Regionally, one of the projects that Rotary clubs in the North Island are supporting is the fit-out of the new Wellington Children’s Hospital to the extent of $400,000.  South Wairarapa Rotary will contribute funds to this project, which looks to provide whanau rooms and facilities.

Internationally, Rotary supports many worthwhile projects including grants for clean water and sanitation, cancer screening and importantly, the eradication worldwide, of Polio through the vaccination of children.  

But, Rotary is not just a funding organisation.  Each year, our members work alongside the three South Wairarapa Fire Brigades to collect donated food for the local Foodbanks.  We also undertake several other projects such as, picking daffodils for the Cancer Society, helping run the local high school road safety programmes and assisting at various other events in the community

Rotary’s goal is to provide community service and we continue to work alongside, and for, the community.  At the same time we meet regularly for a meal and social interactions amongst our 60 members.

If you would like to be involved in helping our local South Wairarapa communities and enjoy meeting and working alongside like-minded people, please contact a member of the South Wairarapa Rotary or go to swrotary.org.nz