Community
ROTARY WORLD PEACE PARK
Rotary Peace Garden, dedicated in February 2000.
This is the only Rotary Peace Garden in New Zealand and is the twenty forth established in the world. It was funded by members of the Rotary Club of Waitakere City who also arranged its construction. The garden is maintained by the City Council.
The gardens paving is in the shape of the Rotary symbol and lies at the end of a path close to the bridge that crosses over the Henderson creek. In between each wing of the paved wheel, a garden is planted in which a number of peace roses have been planted.
The then Waitakere City Council provided seats for the members of the public to rest on. And reflect while enjoying the garden of peace.
A bronze plaque, in the middle of the wheel, shows that this is a World Rotary Peace Garden dedicated to the memory of the late Past President Don Page, who lived
2014 Waitakere Hospital Oximeters
10 units supplied. One for each of the 8 birthing suites and 2 extras for use in the wards.
The non-invasive pulse oximeter diodes are usually attached to a baby’s fingertip and send out light pulses to measure the percentage of oxygenated blood that is circulating.
The oximeters are used mostly on babies who have had a “difficult entry to the world” and may not be getting enough oxygen. If babies remain unwell or develop respiratory diseases they may be monitored for longer.
The 4 local Rotary Clubs – Waitakere, Kumeu, Henderson and New Lynn – with the assistance of a grant from the Rotary Foundation, made a donation of $7,400 to purchase 10 of these units plus cables.
Grant Smith (Rotary Foundation), Sheena Spittles (Waitakere Rotary), Helen Ngatai (Waitakere Hospital), Nigel Cattell (New Lynn Rotary), Kerry Dean (Henderson Rotary)
2014 Jadewynn Garden Shed
Rotary Peace Garden, dedicated in February 2000.
In 2013 they came to us requesting help to install a garden shed to allow tools to be kept on site. We sourced a suitable shed from a builder contact and helped them with a grant applications to the “For Everyone Charitable Foundation.” When this was received we then assisted with installation on site.
2013 Swanson School Playground
Rotary Peace Garden, dedicated in February 2000.
Rather than lose the playground to the builders with their diggers they called on Waitakere Rotary to remove it ready for relocation in the field when the ground dries out.
Several of our members, with the assistance of half a dozen community service workers, got stuck in.
Kerry brought his bulldozer, others brought a jack hammer and various tools – and it was dismantled..
Girl Guide Hall - Te Atatu Peninsula
The Girl Guide Hall post renovation
Weatherboards were rotting, paint was faded and damaged, various paint outs thanks to graffiti, the window screens were in a bad state, gutters were rusted – and the inside was in a similar condition.
Naturally, considering the long association between the Scout movement and Rotary, we said, “Yes, of course!”… and the renovations began.
The Rotary/Guides/Scouting alliance is in an August Club Bulletin
- Weatherboards repaired or replaced
- Freshly painted
- New window grills and gutters
The inside was also freshly painted and it all looks pretty amazing.
The neighbours are delighted too!
Pomaria School Cornerstone Garden
Always ready for new challenges we agreed.
A full report of the working bee with photos is in our 12th December bulletin
Life Education Caravan
Harold with his friend Muriel
In October 2012 we visited the caravan and met Harold the Giraffe and his friend Muriel
Life Education Caravan
Waitakere Rotary stepped in to help with Stage 1 – a working bee to clean up the garden
Photos of the garden cleanup are in our 18th July 2012 bulletin
Details about what the RAP House do are in our 25th July 2012 bulletin
"Grandma's House"
One of their patients was a grandmother whose daughter had passed away suddenly leaving her with 2 grandchildren to bring up – and a house with some major problems.
Quite simply, grandmas in this situation fall through the cracks and she was struggling to cope.
4 of our Rotarians had the skills, and a space in their schedules, so leapt in to help.
Whilst our resources aren’t enough to do this too often on this occasion we were able to and pleased to help.
Work completed:
- Deck repaired
- House repainted
- Garden cleaned up
- Kitchen replaced
Full report in our Rotary Bulletin
Community Garden, Jadewynn Drive, Massey
Having found a community member, Matt Harper who was bursting with ideas and motivation for making a vege garden which would draw local people together and use some waste land in the neighbourhood, Waitakere Rotary decided to get in behind Matt and other locals to make it a sustainable community garden.
Photos of the garden and the December 2011 Community/Rotary working bee are in our 7th Dec Club Bulletin
A further “weather bomb” working bee took place on Saturday 13th October 2012. Again photos are in our 17th Oct Club Bulletin
And a selection of photos from the “Fun Day” held on 15th December are here
Trees for Survival
Teaching students about planting out
The Club joined the Trees for Survival program in our Jubilee Year, 1995, in conjunction first with Matipo School and then Te Atatu Primary School.
The Trees for Survival programme is an environmental project approved by the Rotary Districts of New Zealand. Since its beginnings in 1991, the programme has grown to have nationwide coverage with plant growing units in nearly 150 NZ schools. This involves some five thousand school children planting more than 75,000 trees each year by the schools participating in the programme.
Trees for Survival Brochure
Auckland Council Information
Western Leader 1995 Trees For Survival Article