Causes and Projects
Waitaki Indoor Sports and Events Centre
The Rotary Club of Oamaru has pledged funding toward the building of the Waitaki Indoor Sports and Events Centre.
Lighting Up the Craig Fountain
A crowd of nearly 200 people who gathered in the 1876 Oamaru Public Gardens witnessed the lighting of the resored Craig Fountain. Thank you to everyone who donated to this project, your contributions have helped shine a light on this historic fountain. With your help, the Rotary Club of Oamaru raised $10,000 for the Craig Fountain Lighting Project.
If you missed the fountain being lit make sure to head down to the Oamaru Public Gardens tonight or any night to see what your donations and fundraising have achieved!
Chemo Chair for Oamaru Hospital
When the Rotary Club of Oamaru asked people to choose how funds raised at Bookarama should be spent, the result was a landslide.
Among other projects, book-lovers voted to support the Oamaru hospital’s proposal to offer patients the benefits of a specialised chemotherapy chair when they came in for treatment.
The idea came about when then Oamaru Rotary Club president Jim Hopkins approached the hospital to ask if the Bookarama team could use the pipe band hall as a drop-off and sorting base for books.
They agreed funding a chemotherapy chair would be a good way to “rent” the building.
Original article: https://www.oamarumail.co.nz/community/bookarama-helps-buy-chemotherapy-chair/
Bookarama raised more than $30,000, a figure thought to be a record and the proceeds were split between several Rotary projects – the chemotherapy chair, the work-ready passport, migrant worker support, and emergency response kits.
Oamaru Hospital chief executive Ruth Kibble said it was important for chemotherapy patients to be as comfortable as possible when they were getting infusions.
“That’s one of the key benefits these chairs offer,” Mrs Kibble said.
The specialised chairs also allow other treatments to be administered and can be used by people recovering from minor surgery, like the procedures carried out when the surgical bus visits.
The chair, installed at the hospital last week also benefits nursing staff. Because patients are better positioned, it is easier to give the care needed.
Kindergarten Van
https://www.drivesouth.co.nz/news/details/van-makes-kindy-accessible-to-all-2346
Kindergarten is for everyone . . . Celebrating the official handover of the new Oamaru Kindergarten Association van are (from left) North Otago Motor Group owner Peter Robinson, Rotary Club of Oamaru president Blair Middlemass, Bookarama co-ordinator Jacquie Webby, Oamaru Kindergarten Association general manager Julie Craig, president Rosalie Hyslop and Rotarian Alex Regtien. PHOTO: REBECCA RYAN
Not having transport is now not a problem for parents and caregivers of children at Oamaru kindergartens.
Last week, the Oamaru Kindergarten Association was handed keys to a new vehicle that will be used to collect children from their homes and drop them off after the kindergarten day.
The eight-seater vehicle was donated by the Rotary Club of Oamaru, using some of the proceeds from last year’s Bookarama, to help parents and caregivers overcome barriers to education.
In the past, the Oamaru Kindergarten Association has used Driving Miss Daisy to get some children to and from kindergarten.
“This will make a huge impact – massive,” Oamaru Kindergarten Association board chairwoman Rosalie Hyslop said.
“It’s been on the board’s radar for years that there might be children in North Otago who are missing out on attending kindergarten because they can’t get there, or transport is a barrier.
“Kindy is for everyone. It’s part of the North Otago way of life and we don’t want anyone missing out.”
There were about 10 children, from three kindergartens, who required the service. The Oamaru Kindergarten Association was in the process of employing a driver, who will be accompanied by a teacher when transporting children every day.
Last year’s Bookarama raised more than $30,000, a figure thought to be a record, and the proceeds were split between several projects, Rotary Club of Oamaru president Blair Middlemass said.
Everyone who supported last year’s Bookarama had played a part in the purchase of the new Oamaru Kindergarten Association van, Bookarama co-ordinator Jacquie Webby said.
“I’m just thrilled to see this.”
Bookarama
The Bookarama book sale is our primary fundraiser each year and has grown to be a local institution marked firmly on the calendar of hundreds of readers all over the district.
Thousands of books are donated to the sale each year as space is made on the book shelf for the next bargain haul. Prices are kept affordable and quality is high.
To be the first informed of Bookarama news go to our Facebook page or keep an eye on the local media outlets such as the Oamaru Mail.
Rotary Youth Leadership Award
Each year Rotary clubs from across the South Island sponsor young leaders to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) where they access the knowledge and experience of successful Rotarians and other guests to further their leadership skills. If you are interested please contact us at oamaru.rotary@gmail.com for details.
Rotary Youth Exchange
Students learn new languages, cultures and become global citizens on Rotary Youth Exchange. This program is open to 15-19 year old students in more than 100 countries and The Rotary Club of Oamaru is proud to take part in sponsoring our local students on the exchange, and we enjoy hosting students from overseas as they experience life in New Zealand.
Rotary National Science and Technology Forum
The Rotary National Science & Technology Forum is an annual event which celebrated 30th Anniversary in 2019.
Up until the late 1980’s, six students from New Zealand attended a Science School in Australia each year. It was then that three key people, Norm Winterbottom, John Yolland and Professor Roy Geddes, explored the possibility of establishing a Science Forum in New Zealand and set up the platform on which this Forum is based with the aim “to grow more Science graduates for New Zealand”. Today it is evident that their vision has delivered an enduring and most successful programme designed to suit New Zealand Students.
To find out more, or to apply email us at oamaru.rotary@gmail.com
District and Global Grants
Rotary members contribute skills, knowledge and expertise to a wide variety of projects beyond those mentioned here. Projects can also be funded by Rotary either directly by our local club, or with contributions from the district through District Grants, or in the case of large humanitarian projects there are Global Grants. If you have the next big idea click here to apply, particularly if it aligns with Rotary causes and values listed below.
Causes
Rotary has seven areas of focus:
Promoting Peace
Fighting Disease
Providing clean water, hygiene and sanitation
Saving mothers and children
Supporting Education
Growing Local Economies
Protecting the Environment
