Stewart Matthews
David Jack gave a eulogy for Stewart who died on 5 June 2026.
Stewart would have been delighted to have been at this meeting, particularly with so many young faces. Stewwartuart, sadly, died on Friday. He joined Penrose Rotary in 2004 so he was part of our Penrose organization for 20 years.
When we integrated with Newmarket, he took the decision to become an honorary member, but as an active member for Penrose, he would be especially remembered as a very humorous sergeant.
For most of the school year, for an hour on Monday mornings and 2 hours on Wednesdays, the Club organizes a group of volunteers to tutor year 9 students in reading at Aorere College in Papatoetoe. The sessions help build confidence of the students and improve their reading and comprehension skills. The programme is hugely rewarding for both students and tutors. REP has been running at Aorere since 2021 and so far we have helped around 200 students.
We are always looking for more tutors so we can help more students. Volunteers don’t need to be Rotary club members and don’t need any special skills. The school provides all the resources we need. There is a strong team ethos so there is back up to cover time off for tutors as needed. Please contact us if you might be interested in joining the tutor team. Email us at rotarynewmarketsecretary@gmail.com
Click this link for more information about REP. The programme is now in 12 schools in the Auckland region.
Rotary Youth Drive Awareness (RYDA)
The Club is a supporter of RYDA. Club members accompany school groups for the day of the RYDA programme. This is the premier road safety education program for senior high school students (aged 16–18) in New Zealand, focusing on changing attitudes toward driving risks. Sessions are delivered by Road Safety Education, and feature interactive workshops covering speed, distractions, and passenger safety to curb youth road accidents.
Breakfast Meeting, Charlotte McKeon
Tuesday 19 May 2026
Trade Academy teacher Charlotte McKeon was introduced by OTHC principal Nick Coughlan - who also took the opportunity to update us on progress with the new classroom block, rising so speedily and efficiently at the front of the school. It will be ready for use in term 4.
Many of us had seen the latest TV feature on the second $1 house to be delivered for refurbishment - and Charlotte opened her presentation by taking us back to the delivery of that original Kainga Ora, end of life house, where the thermal envelope was so poor that a blower test produced 19 air changes per hour.
Andrew Marshall - Film and TV Producer
Our speaker on Tuesday was Andrew Marshall, a film and TV producer based in Queenstown.
He discussed his experience in the industry and shared insights about producing films and television shows. He explained his work on projects like "Caterpillar" and "A Remarkable Place to Die," highlighting the challenges and processes involved in bringing these projects to life. Andrew emphasized the role of a producer in enabling storytelling through various means, including financing, locations, and people, and encouraged questions from the audience to make the discussion more interactive.
Karla Butcher; Hauraki Gulf Environment Award
Karla was the 2025 recipient of the Hauraki Gulf Environment award.
At our meeting, she updated us on her research into the biosecurity of the Hauraki Gulf. She explained the concept of invasive species and the importance of biosecurity in preventing negative impacts. Her research is focused on the biosecurity risks associated with potted plants and potting mix used in restoration projects.
Dr Helen Murray and Stanley Cardon
Our speakers at Tuesday’s were Dr Helen Murray and Stanley Cardon from the University of Auckland Centre for Brain Research. Their general theme was the impact of repeated head impacts and the link with dementia.
Helen opened the meeting by providing background on the research group's work and commenting on Stanley's master's highlights.
Helen explained the research on the link between repeated head impacts and the risk of developing dementia. Both she and Stanley have personal experience as they have engaged in collision sports, specifically ice hockey and rugby.
Come join us for a club meeting
Auckland, 1051
New Zealand