This week our Guest Speakers were Keith Shaw and Natasha Dominey from the Y. In Keith’s words, “investing our next generation is the best job ever”.
Natasha has been part of the “Community & Youth” team for several years, delivering the “Y” Resiliency programme in schools and is also the Rainbow Community Advocate, having created a parent support group also.
Keith outlined the progress with “Y Drive”, which our club “seed funded”, providing community driving scholarships.
Previously known as the YMCA, and now rebranded as “the Y”, they now cover five sites, two in Timaru, one in Ashburton, one in Oamaru and one in Christchurch,
125 YDrive “learn to drive” scholarships have been provided this year, making use of funds provided by our Club, and 5 driving instructors are delivering learner license instruction to Migrants, etc, with a very high pass rate.
It is always good to hear when our club can assist making a difference in the community.
Unfortunately, this meeting is to be the last for Cheryl Price, as she leaves next week to enjoy some “overseas adventures” prior to meeting with Ian again in Perth in a few weeks, for a break together, following which they will be moving to Christchurch where Ian has a new job starting in the New Year.
Ian will be still attending a few more meetings until later in the year when he leaves for Perth.
Cheryl and Ian have been enthusiastic members of our club and been involved in our projects, i.e. Wood chopping and in the Hot dog van and we will miss their input, but all is not lost to Rotary, with enquiries already being made to find a new club to join in Christchurch.
We wish them well in their new ventures and “safe travel”.
All four students we put forward for selection have been accepted to attend the NZ Science & Technology Forum, to be held in Auckland, January 2024. - 3 from Craighead & 1 from Roncalli College, this is an excellent opportunity for these students.
Our next meeting will be a little different, when those who wish to, are booked to attend “Glorious” showing at The Little Theatre on the 31st October. If anyone wishes to meet for a meal prior, it is an option at the TT&C, choose a meal of your choice off the menu.
Our next scheduled meeting will be 14th November.
