The meeting started at 7.30 am;
Members Present:
Eight members were present plus one guest speaker. Apologies from: Greg, Ingrid, Max, Rory, Kathy, Henry and Peter.
President:
Welcome to Water and Sanitation month. There is a Gizzmo session on Thursday. Amanda will be there to help sort out the Parnell Rise section.
The President attended the Pre-election training which was very useful. A big group attended from the Waiheke club, A growing enhancement programme with their local primary school was mentioned. This could be good to emulate with Parnell Primary!
Soundings for the 31 March Waiheke visit were taken. Now up to seven attendees.
Fundraising for Starlight - two musical instruments so far. Gifts for Easter - $10 per person from the Sunshine Fund.
Three-Minute Speaker:
Colleen brandished a book of the Boyd family history. A crazy naming convention had applied to its members. Her grandfather, Patrick John, arrived in New Zealand in the late 18oos. His first job was to plow the "Domain" which was full of skeletons and artifacts, courtesy of Te Rauparaha and his merry band of murderous marauders.
We heard of an encounter with the Clarence River, involving a large, bouyant timber storage tank and a bevy of damsels in distress and Jimmy Newchum.! The book was titled: Donegal to Blackguards Corner.
Sargeant Colleen:
The president was fined for Water and Sanitation month. Mentioned also were Heathrow Airport's shutdown, The Government's score of 4.2 out of 10, all the Super Rugby teams, except the Blues, and the All Whites. Even the Police featured with their mistaken arrest of an 11-year-old autistic girl.
We learned that the difference between cats and dogs is that cats don't work for the police!
Main Speaker:
Wendy introduced Carol from the City Mission.
The Mission was established 105 years ago by the Reverand Jasper Calder. It has morphed progressively in line with societal changes. For example, Selwyn Village was originally retirement housing for the poor.
There are three pillars of service.
1. Homelessness:
We were introduced to Bryne who had led a successful life until his business was wiped out by the lockdowns. His descent into homelessness is a classic example of the fickle finger of fate. Finding housing and developing basic skills, such as cooking and shopping are fundamental to changing behaviour and achieving success.
2. Hunger and Food Insecurity:
One in five families are struggling. This affects many issues such as health care, as well. Some 40,000 food parcels were issued last year - these provide four days of food for a family of four people. There has been no reduction in demand since the plague years, but this year's budget can only do 26,000 parcels.
Many financially challenged people are very good at budgeting - they have to be so to survive, but there is much shame and trauma when people feel that, despite their best efforts, they have to rely on charity.
3. Homeground:
The New Hub building is a place of welcome with all services centralised here. International research led the architecture with 80 apartments and pleasing and calming spaces a key feature.
The community dining room operates 365 days per year and will feed any homeless person. Last year some 25,000 meals were served to 250-350 people per day.
The Calder Healthcare System provides low-cost doctors visits for $17.50. On the 9th floor is a rooftop garden.
Brune is now on the road to recovery.
This year's fund-raising target is $8M.
Malcolm thanked Carol on behalf of the Club.
The meeting closed at 8.30 am.
