As this edition of the Bulletin goes out, I would like to extend huge congratulations to all dads and father figures as we celebrate Father's Day. I hope you have the opportunity to spend some quality time with those who matter most and enjoy a well-deserved day of appreciation.
Father's Day is also a time to remember those dads who are no longer with us. I remain eternally grateful for my own dad and the values, support, and guidance he provided throughout my life. For many of us, this day is both a celebration and a chance to reflect on the lasting impact our fathers and father figures have had on who we are today.
For Rotary, September is Basic Education and Literacy Month, a time to recognise the transformative impact that education and literacy have on individuals, families, and communities.
I am pleased to share that we have already presented our first Rotary Dictionary of the year to Hampton Hill School. The dictionaries were received with great enthusiasm and gratitude by the excited Year 6 students, and it was wonderful to see their excitement as they received this valuable resource.
There is plenty ahead over September and October, with a busy calendar of activities, events, and service opportunities. Please keep an eye on upcoming dates and continue to support the many initiatives that make our club such a vibrant and rewarding place to be.
As always, a huge thank you to everyone who contributes their time, energy, and enthusiasm to keeping our club active, successful, and fun. Your commitment is what makes Rotary Tawa such a special club.
Next meeting
For next meeting, we continue on our journey with inclusiveness and diversity. We have a brilliant guest speaker, Jay from the Karori Club who has been part of developing the DEI framework for Rotary International.
We also have a a local celebrity in a new piece - based on Letterman's late night show - i hope you enjoy it.
We also will have cupcakes available for a KOHA - so bring your spare cash. The $$ from the cupcakes will support SPCA's cupcake day! 🐾 🐾 🐾
We'll also look at some of the Windsor hand and do some robust planning for the next few weeks as there is lots happening.
This is our non-meal night and there will be some light snacks provided. I hope to see you all. Please do not forget to RSVP either through the club runner link or by emailing tawarotaryclub@gmail.com
Last meeting
We had a fantastic evening with Dr Gary Abbott, who shared insights into the incredible work of the Rotary Tawa Dental Aid Programme.
Each year, a team of volunteer dentists travels to Taveuni Island, located northeast of Fiji's main island, carrying several hundred kilograms of dental equipment and supplies. During their most recent two-week visit, the team performed an astonishing 748 examinations, 645 restorations, 454 fissure sealants, and 253 extractions, providing essential dental care to hundreds of school children.
Dental decay remains a significant challenge, driven in part by the widespread availability of low-cost sugary foods and drinks. As Dr Gary noted, “The biggest change we've seen on recent trips compared with a few years ago has been the amount of marketing by Coca-Cola and other sugary drink brands.”
It was truly fascinating to hear about the impact of this work and the challenges faced by communities in Fiji. We were both inspired and humbled by the dedication of Dr Gary and his colleagues, whose commitment continues to make a meaningful difference to the health and wellbeing of so many children.
Membership profile
Bene is originally from India and has called New Zealand home for the past ten years, after moving here from the United States.
She works as a Senior Home Lender at Westpac and has a background that spans pharmacy, business, and a love of connecting with people. Her Rotary journey began in India during her undergraduate studies in Pharmacy, when she joined the
Rotary Club and took part in the Polio-Free India campaign. After moving to New Zealand, a work colleague introduced her to Sunrise Rotary Club, and she quickly found a strong sense of connection through the club and its focus on giving back to the community.
Through Rotary Club Dunedin, Bene has enjoyed being involved in a variety of projects, from fundraising and tree planting to a pyjama drive with Foster Hope Otago. She particularly enjoys the opportunity to meet people from different walks of life, work together on something meaningful, and make a positive difference in the community. At home, Bene lives with her husband, Neel, and their six-year-old furry baby, Pluto, who keeps life interesting.
Outside of work and Rotary, she loves gardening, cooking and baking, photography, and travelling to different parts of the world. Bene speaks four languages — English, Hindi, Urdu, and Bengali — and her love of languages reflects her curiosity about people and cultures. She genuinely enjoys striking up conversations, getting to know new people, discovering what they love, and learning about the cultures and traditions that are important to them.
WE NEED YOU! Registrations now open!
22 September 05.45 - 08.00 pm
Our Oktoberfest Extravaganza is shaping up to be a spectacular evening and one of the highlights of our club calendar.
Recently, I had the opportunity to watch The Table Learners Band rehearse, and I can assure you that we are in for a treat. Their performance will feature a fantastic range of music, including the world premiere of an original song written by one of the band members and performed publicly for the very first time. The talent, enthusiasm, and entertainment on display promise to make for a memorable night.
Alongside the music, guests can look forward to a delicious menu, games, festivities, and a few special surprises. Whether you're coming for the food, the fun, the fellowship, or the entertainment, this promises to be a truly great and memorable evening.
Bring your family and friends, register today via tawarotaryclub@gmail.com and join us for what is sure to be a fantastic night of laughter, music, and celebration. We look forward to seeing you there!
Our Rotary Quiz Night is fast approaching, and the excitement is building, with tickets already disappearing quickly. For just $15 per person, gather a team of 6 to 8 and join us for an evening filled with laughter, challenge, and community spirit.
The funds raised from the Quiz Night will support our friends at WellFed, an organisation that does an incredible job ensuring families have access to nutritious meals when they need them most. Their work makes a real difference in our community, and we're proud to support them.
And there's a little extra incentive to come along. Rumour has it that the WellFed team will have a special gift for everyone who attends!
Join us for a great night of fun, friendship, and fundraising, knowing that together we're helping make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
If you don't have a team, don't let that stop you. One of the great things about Rotary is that nobody is left on the sidelines. We'll have casual and social teams available, giving everyone the chance to meet new people, make connections, and enjoy the evening together.
So come along to Sprig + Fern, test your knowledge, share a few laughs, and support a great cause. Whether you're a trivia champion or simply looking for a fun night out, you'll be among friends.
I am proud to share that our club is sponsoring two outstanding young men to attend the upcoming Rotary Science and Technology Forum.
These forums provide talented young people with an opportunity to explore careers and innovations in science, technology, engineering, and related fields while connecting with like-minded students from across New Zealand.
We are delighted to support these exceptional young men as they embark on this exciting experience and look forward to hearing about their learnings, discoveries, and aspirations when they return and report back to the club next year.
Investing in the next generation of leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers is an important part of Rotary's mission, and we wish them every success as they represent our club at this remarkable opportunity.
Want to know who’s standing for the Kenepuru electorate? Come along and meet them! The Tawa Rotary Club is hosting a Meet the Candidates evening - a great opportunity for our community to hear directly from the people seeking to represent us in the newly formed Kenepuru electorate.
Come along, listen to the candidates, hear their vision for our communities, and find out what issues they would prioritise if elected. Most importantly, bring your questions. This is your opportunity to be informed, be heard and be involved - and to help make an informed choice at the General Election on
Saturday 7 November.
Questions can be submitted in advance to Michael Nestmann at nestmannmichael@gmail.com by Sunday 6 September.
👉 Everyone is encouraged to attend.
Be informed. Be heard. Be involved.
Please reserve the date for our upcoming Polio Fundraiser, which will be held during our club evening in November.
As Rotarians, the fight to eradicate polio remains one of our most important global commitments, and this event will be a wonderful opportunity to support that cause while enjoying a great evening together.
An incredible team is already hard at work planning what promises to be a fantastic event, with plenty of fun, fellowship, and opportunities to make a difference. More details will be released soon, but for now, please mark the date in your calendar and start spreading the word.
17 October - please mark your calendar!
We are piloting a one day STEMM event in the Wairarapa, open to year 11 and 12 female students from the Wellington region. The event is on Thursday 8th October 2026 9.15am - 3pm at Wairarapa Events Centre (Carterton) as part of Carterton Space Week.
This IYM Satellite event offers a hands-on opportunity to explore careers in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths and High Tech Manufacturing). We have a diverse range of speakers working in various jobs. This event could genuinely shape their future. During the day, students will meet local experts working in a variety of STEMM industries and participate in hands-on activities, engaging directly with scientists, engineers, researchers and innovators.
We would greatly appreciate your support in sharing this event with teachers and students in your area.
Applications are limited and will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications will close when we are subscribed, apply here!
If you would like additional information to share or have questions, please contact us at info@iym.org.nz
