What a lovely way to welcome the start of 2024 and the resumption of our Rotary activities, with a “BBQ in the garden” of our wonderful hosts, Jenny & Basil Ensor. The weather was perfect, and the rain held off until we were all home.
We welcomed past, present & incoming members, along with partners and of course our youngest attendee, 2yr old Leo. It was great to catch-up and share memories of the holiday break and also to celebrate the milestone birthdays that happened in January, - John Barton 80yrs, Stephen Don 70yrs and Jess Woofindin 40yrs, with a Birthday cake, along with Emma Walton-Woodings. Our thoughts were also with Lance Wensley, who was absent – certainly a busy month for birthdays.
This time a year ago, John Rushton was presented with a well-earned Paul Harris Fellowship from the Rotary club of Timaru, and it was my privilege and pleasure to welcome John into membership of our club on Tuesday evening. John shared with us the fact he really does now feel he is following in his father’s footsteps, as his father was a past member of Rotary, many years ago.
We look forward to sharing the friendship of Rotary throughout the world, and club activities with John and his wife Vicki and family. (He has already started his apprenticeship in the Hot Dog Van.)
Ashley Milliken joined the Rotary Club of Timaru 15th December 1981.
He was President 1990-91 and was presented with a Paul Harris award in December 2005.
He has always been a willing contributor to club activities over the years, ably assisted by his wife, Evelyn, and was part of the organizing team for the club auctions that ran over many years, along with his community involvement as a St Johns volunteer, track official at Levels Raceway, and he is very active in the Sth Canterbury Vintage Car Club.
Ashley became an Honorary member of our club in 2017 but continues to assist with the wood group most weeks when he is able and is a willing Tow-master of the Hot Dog van when called upon. The recent Xmas Community dinner saw him and his daughter assisting with the pack-in and pack-out of the dinner equipment in his van, along with others.
2020-2023 was a three-year commitment as a Rotary club of Timaru Charitable Trust Trustee.
Our community benefits greatly from his “can-do” attitude, and our club is really appreciative of his support and assistance, always delivered with a smile.
It was my pleasure to present a very well-deserved Paul Harris Sapphire pin to Ashley, also at our BBQ evening.
Looking forward to catching up with you all again on February 13th – there is no official meeting on Feb 6th, but I am sure if you were to go along to the T T & CC for a meal, you will probably find some members to share a table with.
Bev will share an update on the Charitable Trust activities at our next meeting.
Welcome Back!!
