BULLETIN 9th October 2026 

Welcome from Our President, Steve.  

Guests: former members, John Carlson & Ken White. 

Notices & Announcements 

Steve advised that his research indicated that there is life on the other side of the Kaimais, and stated that he would prove this with his guest speaker. 

Steve: Also, there is a Rotary golf day on 6 November. 

Warren: He had interviewed a candidate For the Science & Technology forum to be held in January. The girl from Mount Maunganui College was exceptional, so she has been put forward to attend. Warren is looking at fund raising options. 

Simon, speaking for Michele, now he has a pacemaker. (I hope the doctor didn’t set it too fast; he already runs pretty quick).  Quiz night, 17 November. This is a fundraiser.  Special requests to offer prizes were made to those of us who have Ferraris, baches, and yachts, but if you have anything that can be sold or borrowed to auction, please tell Michele, and remember to bring all your mates to the Quiz night.  The Quiz master is a professional at this, Doug Hendry, and is doing it for the cause with no fee.  

Prospective member: Tom Robin has applied for membership. 

Guest Speaker: Ken White was introduced by David Mac. Ken is a former president, who left Tauranga for Matamata a few years back. 

Ken started by updating us on his status. He just sold his beautiful old villa last week and is now foot loose and fancy free. He has an ambition to be a sugar daddy, but no takers yet. His plans to run an Air BnB, and a food truck were hindered by the Covid lockdown and associated events, so he has been earning some coin by managing the Matamata RSA, and enjoys acting for the Matamata Dramatic society, doing improv. Then, he unveiled his new look: longer locks, and a return to the hippy approach. Ambition is to get a caravan, and tour all of NZ’s RSAs, before they disappear. In the meantime, his collection of precious objects, such as non-working spa pools and spinning wheels is enjoying the rural life, near Te Aroha.  Ken was his usual effervescent self, unhindered this time by the technology let downs which featured back in the day.  

Sergeant: was Buddy. Ken’s talk reminded him of the joys of rural life. When he lived at Maramarua, he trained his dog to collect the newspaper each morning. If the paper was missing, or thrown somewhere obscure, the dog took his duty so seriously that he would go and steal the neighbor’s one.  Then on to the date.  Who knew that it was international eggs day? Buddy told us about his 7 hens. His family has a tradition of talking to them, explaining the events of the day. His late mother was responsible for keeping the hens up to date, and Buddy has taken over this joyful practice. He gets 5 or 6 eggs a day and consequently has developed a fondness for Eggs Benedict.   

 There was time for the wine draw, won by Ross, but he passed it on to Ken.   

 Parting thought: from Jim: “if at first you don’t succeed, don’t become a sky diver”. 

 Next Week’s Duties: