July 30th. Arne Cleland: Wilding Tree Irradiation in the Central Otago Basin.
My DNA determined I was bound to end up doing something with plants and/or conservation. I was brought up in National Parks as my father was the first Chief Ranger for both Arthur's Pass and Mt Aspiring National Parks and the first Supervisor of National Parks of NZ. In 1979 after working in local nurseries Jenny and I started Pukerau Nursery near Gore. We grew shelter and amenity plants for farms and the landscape industry. Gradually native plants became the bulk of production. Along side the nursery I did landscape design and contracting work in the urban and rural areas. After 38 years the nursery was sold and we moved to Wanaka. Now time is spent planning native restoration work and collecting native seed all of which includes a dog walk or coffee. Preferably both.
August 6th. Graeme Thompson: Antarctica
July 16th. Rob Wilton - new member profile
For those of you who were not there you missed an enlightening and entertaining presentation from a member who, whilst relatively new to our club, has been in Rotary for 50 years.
Rob's wife Gretel joined us at the meeting. They have been married for well over 50 years having first met at Franz Josef where they both enjoyed the outdoors,
climbing and hiking and later working as guides. Gretel's parents also met for the first time at Franz Josef.
Rob told us that he graduated in dentistry from Otago University. That same week he got a job and married Gretel.
In 1974 they bought a dental practise in Milton from none other than our own Doug Lovell.
In 1977 they spent a couple of years in London using that as a base for their European O.E.
In 1981 they had returned to New Zealand and purchased a dental practise at Balclutha. They went on to buy a 100 acres at Table Hill near Milton where they built a beautiful house and farmed sheep and deer.
They have 3 children Jonathan, Hamish and Heidi. Rob spoke of the joy his children and grandchildren have bought them and are very fortunate to have Jonathan, his wife and their children living and working in the area.
Rob and Gretel's love of the outdoors was a theme that ran through the talk. They walked the Milford Track for the first time in 1986 and have walked it several times since. In 2008 Rob climbed Mt Aspiring accompanied by well-known local guide Geoff Wyatt.
Rob has been a big part of the Milton Rotary tramping group which has become extremely well known in Rotary circles for the organisation of tramps for Rotarians, and their families from all over New Zealand and overseas.
Rob and another South Otago identity, Bill Thomson, were instrumental in setting up The Life Education Trust Otago and Southland (think Harold the giraffe). They also played a large part in helping Reg and Catherine Hamlin set up the Fistula Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
If ever there was a couple that epitomized living life to the full and a life of service it is Rob and Gretel.
Many thanks to Dave Evans for the summary of Rob's presentation
July 23rd. Meeting at Stoked.
Rotary members were welcomed by Andrew Horton a Director of Stoked and Ross a Supervisor.
Andrew gave us a quick overview of his Company, it's history and how he came to setting up "Stoked."
Currently the Wanaka plant produces between 12-15 units per week and their Invercargill plant 5-8 units per week. These are for domestic and export - mainly to Australia although some units have been sold as far as the Ukraine.
The current product range of 11 units covers bathtubs, round spas and square spas both woodfired, electric and hybrid.
Andrew mentioned they were using lean manufacturing techniques to organise their production. Some of these techniques could be seen in the semi circle setup of the workstations, the equipment boards and the QC checkoff sheets.
Ross then took us through the various workstations from basic assembly to full welded assembly, insulation, testing and final QC and loadout of the finished tubs.
A very worthwhile visit and the overall quality of the finished products was impressive.
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