Tuesday 26th February - Greg O'Connor
Our speaker last Tuesday was one of our local MPs Greg O'Connor. In the 2017 general election Greg ran for the Labour Party in the Ohariu electorate, and won it with a majority of 1,051, taking over the seat from the then recently retired and long term Ohariu MP Peter Dunne. Greg is a former police officer and represented the Police Association for two decades until he stepped down before the election. In earlier days Greg played rugby for both Tawa and Western Suburbs.
Greg reviewed some of his career in the Police force and lessons learnt in life, as a young constable in Porirua - the transformation of the plastic beer jug, his OE back packing across North America and Russia - the drug research of the Swedes, and as an undercover cop. He has come to realise that having a sense of belonging and knowing where you came from is transformational to be able to keep kids off the streets and out of the hands of gangs. Now in parliament he hopes to have the opportunity to apply some of those lessons learnt and connect problems with a solution.
As a parting thought to Rotary Tawa Greg advised that, having spoken to a large number of groups, we needed to understand our community, and to survive as a club we will need to have as members, numbers of new immigrants groups, as they are the growing groups that are looking out to connect with the community.
As a three-minute talk we also heard from our Youth Exchange Student Olivia, who provided an update of her travels over the past three months.
A highlight of the evening was the presentation by ADG Adrienne Murray of Rotary's prestigious award of a Paul Harris Fellowship to member Robert Tredger, with family members present.
Australian Friendship Exchange
During the past week a number of members experienced hosting a Rotary Friendship Exchange when a group of 12 people, mostly couples, from district 9700 (mostly from the town of Orange, Central NSW Australia) were hosted by District 9940, with two and half days with the Tawa Club. Friendship Exchange is an international exchange program for Rotary members and friends that allow participants to take turns hosting one another in their homes and clubs. This exchange is spending two weeks with Rotary Clubs from Wellington, Tawa, Masterton, Palmerston North, and the Hutt valley.
While with Tawa our visitors were taken to Southwards Museum, Raumati beach and cafe, QEII Park US Marines exhibit, the Tawa Lookout project, dinner at Yeay's House, a visit to the Plimmerton Rotary Te Piko pathway project and walk and screening of their drone video of the project, morning tea and lunch at Pauatahanui, a bbq at Liz's, visit to the Foster Hope store and talk from June, and a visit to Pataka, before drop off at Wellington rail station. During this time friendships were made and exchanged.
A reciprocal exchange is proposed from members of district 9940 back to district 9700, and while not yet planned in detail it could occur around September 2019. So if this is something you may be interested in, have a think about it, and we will share more details when these are known.
Many thanks to hosts and those that provided transport. Our guests spoke warmly of the clubs hospitality.
Visiting Southwards Museum
Morning tea at Pauatahanui hosted by Plimmerton Rotary
Fellowship at a cafe