Shock Admission by District Governor and exemplary support for youth at South Wairarapa Rotary

Martinborough Fair which I will definitely be at next year. 

The iconic Martinborough Fair, with over 450 stalls, was established by, and is still run by, South Wairarapa Rotary.  On Wednesday night I had to admit to South Wairarapa Rotarians that I had never been to the Fair, although all of our six children have been.  President Pat Dette and the Board came up with a novel solution to ensure I attend and am fully engaged in the next Fair - I will be helping out with the portaloos. I'll be looking forward to helping out and hope to bring Denise across with me so we can work together on our assigned task (I haven't told her about it yet!) http://martinboroughfair.org.nz/

While the Martinborough Fair is a signature project for the Club and its main revenue earner, South Wairarapa Rotary is involved in many other activities.  The Bike Ride is another good fundraiser.  Rotarians help out at the races and at Wings over Wairarapa and are involved in many other community activities.

The support South Wairarapa Rotarians provides for youth is exemplary and inspirational.  Not only do they support young people attending RYPEN (Rotary Youth Programme of Enrichment), RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award) and RYDA (Rotary Youth Driver Awareness), but they provide scholarships for students at Kuranui College and at Taratahi Agricultural College.  This is one of the four Wairarapa Clubs that won the Australasian Gold Award for Community Collaboration for the RYDA programme from Road Safety Education Limited.  The Club also provides books for new entrants and dictionaries in schools.  

South Wairarapa also sponsors a speech competition in local schools and we were privileged to hear from Felicity speaking about the use and abuse of power and Charlotte talking about the inspirational Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala and the rights of young women.  These were informed and powerful speeches that provide us with such hope from our next generation.  Malala's father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, was a member of the Rotary Club of Swat https://www.rotary.org/en/malala-one-us
   
South Wairarapa made a special effort for the evening by holding a mid-winter Christmas complete with Christmas trees, mulled wine and presents.  Congratulations South Wairarapa Rotary for the huge contribution you make to local and international communities and young people.