Kindred Associations

The Rotary Club of Taradale has over a period of nearly 50 years, been the instigating body responsible for the establishment of a number of service and fellowship clubs for the benefit of its local community.

The Formation of the Greenmeadows Rotary Club

In 1973 the District Governor visited the Club  and suggested another Rotary Club could be formed in the area. The idea took hold over the following year and on the 13th Nov 1975, the Club resolved to form a new Rotary Club in the area. DG Bert Holmes visited and agreed to the move. Formalities for sponsoring another Club (Greenmeadows) were in place by November 1975.

An Action Committee of Ned Holt, Arthur Stafford, Win Geenty, Dave Nichol, Ken Carson and Doug Rees was formed and they called an interest meeting on the 10th December with 21 present and 10 apologies.

• R.I. approved the action and congratulated the Club for their "farsighted and generous attitude".

• The Club was formally launched with it Charter night on April 29th 1976 with Bayne McKellow as President, Darryl Merrie transferred from Taradale to Greenmeadows. Of interest was that Brian Stitson, son of Taradale Charter member and Past-President John Stitson, was a Charter Member of the new club. Norm Compton transferred from Taradale to Greenmeadows.

Back: Darryl Merrie, Alan McMahon, Ian Carr, Charlie Demancer, John Hanlen, Mark Titter, Ron Young, Ray Le Couteur.

Middle: Bert Miller, Albert Lightband, Dennis Barrett, Brian Stitson, Brian Ford, John Dorrington.

Front: Paul Bryant, Norm Compton, DG Bert Holmes, Bayne McKellow, Ned Holt, Tdle Club, PDG Fred Beattie, Jim Callinicos

Photo courtesy Rotary Club of Greenmeadows

• The Greenmeadows Rotary Club meet in the Taradale Town Hall, sharing the Rotary Lounge with the Taradale Club. Often members from both Clubs make-up at each others Clubs respectively.

• On November 25th,  2004,the Rotary Institute Dinner was jointly hosted by the Taradale and Greenmeadows Rotary Clubs, and welcomed a great array of past District Governors from around New Zealand, Australia, Europe and Asia as well as visitors from Canada and USA. A good representation of Rotarians from Taradale and Greenmeadows were present, as well as representatives from other clubs in Hawke's Bay. The purpose of the Dinner was to meet and hear from Rotary International President-elect, Carl-Wilhelm Stenhammar. Also present was the RI nominees choice for President, Bill  Boyd, from Auckland, who in all probability will be RI President in 2007-08.

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The Taradale Cruse Club

The  word Cruse comes from an old parable in the Bible about the Widow's cruse of oil which never went empty.

 In 1959 Dr and Mrs Torrie started a club for widows in England, and the following year Dr Ted Morris of the Taradale Rotary Club saw an article in the British Medical Journal outlining the objects of the Cruse Clubs of England. With Arthur Stafford and John Stitson, he investigated the concept and corresponded with Mrs Torrie. They were convinced that the idea had relevance to the Taradale community of widows and took the idea to the Rotary Club who backed the idea. A survey was taken which showed there were around 200 widows who might benefit from such a club.

On the 4th of December 1960, President Ron Munro invited prospective members to a meeting to discuss the proposal and as a result of this meeting, the club was formed in in December 1961 with Mrs V Franklin elected as the interim President with a committee comprising Mesdames M. Wallace, K. Evetts, D. Anderson, A. Downes, L. Kane, B. Bell and R.Bradley.

A cheque was presented to Mrs Franklin by Pres. Ron Munro on behalf of the Rotary Club.

Highlights

• The Club started in rooms in the centre of Taradale with about 40 regular members. A panel of advisors was assembled to assist members with the problems that confront widows including financial and legal matters. Members met to have friendship and formed a drama group.

• The original advisory board consisted of Arthur Stafford, Ted Morris, Arthur Miller and Ron Munro. It was supplemented by Mr G Laird of the Social Welfare Department.

• Cruse Clubs were formed in Napier and Hastings.

• After 3 years membership grew to 50.

• Mrs E Yeo, widow of Taradale's mayor became President in 1964 with Mrs Wallace as secretary. Mrs Yeo resigned the position following year and was succeeded by Mrs Downes who served for 4 years up until 1968

• In 1967, the Cruse Club took over the former Taradale Council chambers.

• 10th Year celebrations held in 1972. 60 people attened including the Mayor, Mr Peter Tait.

• In 1975, 5 members were entertained by the mayor, Mr. Clyde Jefferies, to a function at the Council rooms. Much to their surprise they enjoyed the chance of meeting Patricia Pheonix (Else Tanner) and Alan Browning, two stars of "Coronation Street".

• In 1976 the RSA, through its Chairman, Jim Germain (also of Taradale Rotary), presented the Cruse Club with its first TV set for the benefit of members.

• The same year its membership reached 110.

• Dr Ted Morris served as patron and chairman of the Advisory Board for more than 20 years until he retired. Arthur Stafford too served on the Advisory Board for more than 30 years.

• During the duration of the Rotary Club Auction, members of the Cruse Club provided morning tea to the auction workers, and a number helped out on stalls where they could. They served their last morning tea for the 1996 Auction.

• By 1996 the Cruse Club was struggling for members as many of the original members had passed on. On the 6th March 1996, under the Chairmanship of Mrs L Lister, members decided to dissolve the Club after 35 years of service to the widows of Taradale. Arthur Stafford was present when the decision was taken.

• In disbusing of their assets, crockery was donated to the Camp Kaitawa kitchen. A donation of $250 was made from their funds to Ozman House and the same to Cranford Hospice. The rest of the funds was returned to the Taradale Rotary Club. The funds were used to build a seat on the corner of Devonshire Place. This seat is used regularly by residents of the Masonic Home.

"Downie", Dot Jones and Leila Olsen

prepared for another drama production

The committee outside the Cruse Club building beside the Town hall

Back: Sally Hayes, Edith Yeo, Gladys Cuthbert, Masie Goldfinch, Mrs Waldon, Elsie Badley

Front: Dot Jones, Edith Reynolds, "Downie"

Pat Pheonix meets members at a Mayoral reception

The Music Group gets ready to entertain

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The Formation of the Probus Clubs

Probus clubs were first formed, as an acronym for Pro(fessional) and Bus(iness), in the early 1920's in Saskatchewan, CANADA, and in New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A., the latter devoted to helping people with mental retardation, physical disabilities, and autism. Because they were not restricted to retired Professional and Business leaders, and had a different objective, they are (were) not associated with our present mainstream of Probus clubs worldwide.

The name was fused into a different type of club in England, and the first non-sectarian Probus club specifically for active retirees was formed in 1966 by the Rotary Club of Caterham, England to allow retired professionals to continue to meet together for fellowship. The previous year, the Rotary Club of Welwyn Garden City, England, formed the "Campus Club" that had the same purpose. The two soon merged and flourished under the sponsorship of the Rotary Club of Bromsgrove, Birmingham, England.

In 1974, Probus expanded into New Zealand and by 1976 the idea had spread to Australia. The first Probus club for seniors in North America was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Galt in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada in 1987. Although Probus membership has its greatest concentrations in Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand, clubs today exist in all parts of the world, including the U.S., Belgium, India, South Africa and several other countries in Africa and Asia.

• 1991 Taradale Rotary Club  sponsored the first Taradale Probus Club as a mixed club. The Club donated the  Chain of Office.

• 1993 Taradale Ladies Probus Club launched with a huge response from retired business women. The convener of the Charter committee was Gil Cooper and secretary was John Burrell. The Club donated $350 for regalia.

• 1996 a new Otatara Combined Probus Club was formed thanks to the efforts of Arthur Stafford and Bruce McLeod. There were 30 foundation members. Renamed Taradale Probus Bob Twaddle was the initial chairman and later made a Life Member. Since 2015 the Club has been renamed the Taradale Friendship Club.

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Rotoact

Rotoact is a Rotary movement to encourage young people to involve themselves in service to their local communities by setting up a Club. In a sense it represents "Junior" Rotary for young people just starting their working career. 

In 1971 a local Napier Rotoact Club was set up, sponsored by the Napier and Taradale Rotary Clubs.

Highlights recorded by the Bulletin:

• Napier Rotoact Charter night 14th August 1971. This club for youth was sponsored by the Club in conjunction with Napier Rotary Club. Ron Schofield involved in the setting up.

• 15th July 1972. Local Rotoact Club mentioned in Bulletin as trying to get British High Commissioner to speak at a meeting, and TRC members invited.

• 1973 Rotoact put on a Fashion Show and seek Club's support. They also held a Beer Festival in the Centennial Hall to raise funds to purchase a van for the Intellectually Handicapped Children.

• 1975 Dave Prebeson liaising with Rotoact and reports they need more members. Dennis Alexander, Pres Napier Rotoact speaks to Club and asks that the 4 Napier Clubs be rostered with a member attending Rotoact meetings every week. Membership of 40.

• 1978 The movement is strong and host the Rotoact District conference and inducted two new members at the same time.

• 1983 Club continues its association with Rotoact through Richard Howell. Fiona Bussell addresses Club on the problem of membership. and asks for help.

• 1985 Rotoact down to 11 members -Leith Peddie

• 1991 Rotoact. John Burrell doing a great job but by...

• 1993 Rotoact membership down to 9. Graham Duncan keeping and eye on things. Then down to 5

• 1996 Rotoact appears to have wound up

• 2005 President Allen Stewart announces his plan to resurrect Rotoact on the EIT Campus.

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Interact

  From the Internet

Interact is a Rotary-sponsored service club for young people ages 14-18. The program gives young people an opportunity to participate in fun, meaningful service projects while developing leadership skills and meeting new friends.

Through service activities, Interactors learn the importance of:

• Developing leadership skills and personal integrity;
• Demonstrating helpfulness and respect for others; and
• Advancing international understanding and goodwill.

Taradale Rotary Club involvement with the Interact Club established at Taradale High School

• 1979 Move to launch an Interact Club at Taradale High School. Initial meeting showed an interest from 19 students.

• 1980 Interact Club at Taradale High School underway. Charter Night planned.

• 1981 Interact Club reports $2000 raised from their Telephone project for Wildlife Trust.

• 1984 Taradale Interact President Karen Laugensen addresses Club. Club has 20 members and meets fortnightly. Assist with Community projects. Later they appeal to Rotarians to attend their meeting and encourage young people to join.

No further comment can be found, and since the last entry the Club has not supported an Interact Club at Taradale High School.

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