Club News

Team members gather as Team Leader Frank Spears presents DG Peter Signal with a commemorative book about Georgia.

From Bulletin report written by Bob McCaw

This was a special meeting to welcome and meet the GSE team from Georgia, D6920, USA. Held in the Lower Hall, the Club also welcomed members from Greenmeadows, Ahuriri and Ahuriri Sunrise.

President Selwyn Dyet extended a welcome to our special guests; Team Leader Frank Spears, DG Peter Signal and wife Rebecca, DG Elect Raewyn Kirkman, DG Assistant Derek Powell and wife Jill , District GSE, Inward District 9930 Chairman Chris Yandell and wife Lorna, Past and present GSE members Sarah Bryant and Tim Agnew, Ahuriri President, Ian May, Greenmeadows President, Carol Charman, Ahuriri Sunrise President, Peter Graham.

As this was the first formal function for the GSE team, District dignitaries had travelled some distance so that they could partake in the formalities.

Frank discusses tactics with DG Peter Signal

Chris Yandle (Club Tauranga-Te Papa), Chair of the District GSE committee, and organiser of the visit, introduced the Georgia team.

Frank Spears, Team Leader, originally from Florida, has been a resident of Augusta (home of the Masters) for 35 years. He is married with 2 sons and owns his own insurance agency. He is a past president and Paul Harris Fellow. He has wide interests including playing golf at Augusta, scuba diving and more recently bungy jumping.

Frank Spears

Team members

Nicholas Giovino, William Hanley and Leslie Johnson

With Frank, were a team of six; Carly Kobasiar who works in Sport Recruitment and Tourism in Augusta; William Hanley: from Savannah, Georgia, is a historian; Jamie Kutner is an artist and yoga teacher; Nicholas Giovino works for Club Car in Augusta and exports golf caddy carts all over the world; Leslie Johnson is a veterinarian  specialising in small animal medicine and surgery; and Jefferson Kirkland who works for Savannah County as an engineer.

Jamie Kutner

Carly Kobasiar

At the conclusion of the presentation, Team Leader Frank Spears made a number of presentations. These included banners to the Presidents of the attending clubs, and a special book on Georgia to District Governor Peter Signal.

President Selwyn Dyet replied, presenting Frank with a Taradale Club banner. He also made particular reference to the work of Chris Yandle and Rob Pattullo in organising the visit.

Jefferson Kirkland

The Kel Tremain Memorial Scholarship is sponsored by Tremain Real Estate and has a value of $5000 spread over 3 years. This years winner is Marc Wakeling.

Marc attended Napier BHS where he excelled  both academically and in sport. He was a school prefect and played for the 2nd Hockey XI. In between his studies, he found time to complete the Gold Level of the Duke of Edinburgh Award, coach junior hockey, and junior student tutoring. Out of school he did voluntary work for SPCA.

His Level 3 NCEA was endorsed at Excellence gaining a perfect 24 Excellent credits in Chemistry. He gained two NCEA Scholarships in Chemistry and English. He is attending Otago University, enrolled  Health Science with aim to get into Medical School and qualify as a doctor.

Marc Wakeling

Hi! I’m Nicola Manzan, the Italian student of the Oenological School of Conegliano.

I am thrilled that I have been chosen as the Bragato Exchange Scholar for 2011.

 My passion for studying oenology was born during my holiday in Tuscany, especially in the “Chianti Classico” area, where I remained impressed by the local quality, viticulture, and wine making techniques. (The photo was taken above “Torre Grossa” the highest of the 15 medieval towers of San Gimignano during a recent holiday in Tuscany).

I started studying oenology and viticulture in 2006 at the oenology school of Conegliano, the year in which  the school was celebrating the 130^th year since its foundation (1876).

I live in Oderzo, a small town in the province of Treviso about 30 kilometers from Conegliano and about 50 kilometers from Venice.

My father Eugenio works in a local furniture factory. My mother Patrizia was born in Australia by Italian parents and she lived there for 17 years before coming back in Italy. Therefore she speaks English very well. I have also a sister, Giulia, who is seventeen.

In my free time I like practicing archery and skiing in winter; but my  passions are classic cars and everything about  cinema.

Last summer I spent a great period in the south of France through a European study project called “Leonardo da Vinci” that consist of five weeks of training in a foreign country.

I’m excited (and also a bit scared) thinking what awaits me in New Zealand;  I’m sure that this experience will be the best way to know the people of New Zealand, its lifestyle and its culture and more specifically the New Zealand’s viticulture. It is an opportunity for improving my English and for extending my personal culture. And, why not, I may decide to move to this country to live and work in the future!

I hope I will meet you in August

 Ciao Nicola

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President Selwyn said the club welcomed the opportunity to return to St Joseph’s Maori Girls’ College to hold its weekly meeting and enjoy the wonderful meal and the company of the girls of the college.

Marek Pipi, teacher, dean and speech coach of the girls, in the absence of Principal (Hon. Member) Georgina Kingi, welcomed us and passed on Georgina’s best wishes. Following our meal we enjoyed a brilliant musical ensemble from the year 9 to year 13 girls who make up the Concert Party.

As is customary, we were entertained as well by two girls who had prepared speeches which they recited for us. First up was Estelle Sword (left) who spoke of "Teenagers through the ages". Estelle had recently come second in a speech competition run by Karamu High School. This was a very amusing look at teenagers’ behaviour across many decades. Next came Evana Schinkel who spoke of "What does it mean to be a digital native?" This was an award winning speech as Evana had recently returned from the national Maori speech awards in Dunedin and had won the best junior English speech from a student of Maori descent. Fittingly, Evana also won the Sir Turi Caroll trophy named after the Ngati Kahungunui leader.

It was fitting that the evening should conclude with Rotarians present singing a very fine version of "Hine e hine", ably led by Brian Wright and Hans Hollis. The girls were absolutely delighted and many Rotarians were surprised at how good they could sing. Great effort Brian in coaching us over the last couple of weeks.

Pres Selwyn thanked the College, girls and staff for a wonderful evening and meal and their company. He spoke of the Eric Mason Cup which Taradale Rotary awards to a top speech by one of the SJMGC girls and this will be awarded later in the year.

Marek Pipi thanked the club for visiting St Joseph’s and wished the club all the best for the future.

At this meeting Kevyn Moore introduced Mattia Spagnol, the 2010 Bragoto scholar inbound from Italy. Mattia is staying with Kevyn and Corinne and will spend about 4 weeks in New Zealand.

Mattia writes. "I’m nineteen years old and I come from the region of Treviso in the north of Italy. I live in a small village called Colbertaldo. My mum is a housewife and my dad works in our vineyards. I am the youngest of four brothers.

Something about me. I am in the fifth year of study at the oenology school in Conegliano. I have some hobbies but I am usually very busy so I don’t practice them very much. I like jogging and playing soccer, I love reading and listening to music. I like travelling also and meeting new people and sharing opinions about everything. During the time I’m not studying I work with my brother and my dad in the cellar or in the vineyards. This is for me very important because I can transform the school theory in practice.

Mattia’s family vineyard is predominately the Prosecco variety and they make 300,000 bottles of sparkling Prosecco wine a year. All the grapes are handpicked and the contour of the vineyard ranges from flat to steep hillsides. Most of the wine is sold in Italy but a small and growing amount is exported around Europe. The vineyard has been in the family for 80 years and currently returns for the wine growers in Italy are very good.

Mattia Spagnol,

Bragoto Scholar 2010

Kevyn also introduced Tom Lovelock, the 2010 outbound Bragato scholar.

Tom Lovelock was born in Auckland in 1985. From the late 80s to the late 90s he and his family lived between New Zealand, England and Niue Island. On their permanent return to New Zealand in 1999, Tom completed high school at Auckland Grammar, and following a 2 year stint at Auckland University studying law and commerce, left New Zealand’s shores for 4 years. 

During this time Tom lived in Australia and travelled extensively through Europe, the United States, Mexico and Central America, before migrating to the Hawkes Bay at the start of 2009 and enrolling in concurrent wine science and viticulture degrees at the Eastern Institute of Technology. Since early 2009 he has had a permanent part-time position at Moana Park winery, with roles in both the winery and vineyard. Tom says that he is looking forward to the challenge of visiting Italy in January and February next year, being selected as the Bragato Student Exchange Scholar for 2010.

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Tom Lovelock,

Bragato Scholar 2010

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Assistant Govenor, Trevor Powell [Greenmeadows],  presented a District Award which had been made at the recent District Convention. Much to the surprise of the reporting team, they found they had been judged to Best Bulletin in District 9930 for the year 2009-2010. Since joining the reporting team 5 years ago, Co-editor, Gil Cooper has used his growing imaging skills to provide Bulletins that are greatly enhanced with photos. He has also pursued members involved in travel to report on their activities thus broadening the Bulletin to embrace activity beyond the walls of the meeting room.

The reporting team (left to right)

Rob Pattullo, Gil Cooper, Janey Grant, Bob McCaw

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Guests, members, wives, husbands and/or partners were welcomed by President Doug McGechan and wife Claire together with President-elect Selwyn Dyet and wife Heather. As well as the Paul Harris Medal Award to Frank Crotty (see below), members were entertained by Doug gave a special welcome to Bill and Sheena Beaton, Bill’s first time back with us for quite some time.

Kjerstine Severinsen, to whom the Club has given support, has been selected to represent New Zealand to dance at the Edinburgh Tattoo later this year. Accompanied by piper Graeme Plank, she displayed her expertise. He thanked her and presenting her with a $500 cheque to help with her costs.

Doug’s final act was to hand over the chain of office to his successor, Selwyn Dyet.

PP Doug greets PP Bill Beaton with PP's Peter Sugden and Warren Cooper are in attendance.

Pres Doug presents cheque to Kjerstine Severinsen.

The power behind the thrones- President wives Claire McGechan and Heather Dyet.

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I first met Frank Crotty as a Freshman at Weir House, Victoria University, in 1956. For the next 5 years our lives revolved around study, sport and flatting together. Friends made during those days have become friends for life and as a result we became close family friends, as our families grew up side by side.

Frank honoured me by asking me to be his best man at his marriage to in 1963 to Julia Monro, great grand-niece of Sir Charles Monro, famous for overseeing the evacuation of the allied forces from Gallipoli, and grand-daughter of Charles John

Frank with wife Julia (Tig).

Frank responds to the Award

Monro who is credited with the introduction of rugby into New Zealand. Julia was introduced to Frank by her brother and flatmate, David Monro, and love flourished. In one letter he wrote to her “for two pins I’d ask you to marry me.”  The return letter contained two pins.

Frank was born in Foxton in 1938, son of a chemist. His father was a sergeant in A Company of the NZ Rifle Brigade, which fought in the famous battle for the walled town of Le Quesnoy during the last 10 days of World War 1. The family moved to Wanganui, and from 1951 to 1955 he attended Sacred Heart College, Auckland, as a boarder. Sport impacted significantly on his studies but he graduated with a B.Sc. in Chemistry from Victoria University in 1962. During this time he had to work to pay his way through university with holiday jobs in freezing works, timber yards and part-time teaching at Wellington Girls’ College. He gained an M.Sc. in 1963, studying extramurally while at the Makarewa works of the Southland Frozen Meat Company. 

In the late 1960’s, Frank, Julia and their young family moved to HB when Frank took up the position of Production Supervisor and Chief Chemist of the East Coast Fertiliser Works. He was appointed Technical Manager and during this period he was the overseer of the building of the biggest sulphuric acid plant  in the country.

In 1977 he was appointed works manager of the NZ Farmers’ Fertiliser Company in New Plymouth and was there during a $6 million upgrade. In 1984 he was appointed General Manager of Moa-Nui Co-operative Dairies Ltd in Inglewood.

In 1992 Frank and Julia  returned to HB and brought a vineyard alongside the Napier Golf Club. They sold this in 1999 and are happily retired playing a lot of golf.

Sport has been a very important part of Frank’s life. In his youth, he was an elite sportsman, achieving heights few reach. He joined the Union Rowing Club in Wanganui in 1956. He made an impact on the rowing scene as a member of the Club’s Youth 4s.  They won the Auckland Championships at Karapiro in 1956. In 1957 he was a member of the Union Club senior fours. This crew won at several provincial regattas and took out the Karapiro Plate at the National Championships . Later that season the crew beat the New Zealand champions, Clifton (Waitara), in an epic race on the Wanganui River.

In 1958, as a member of the Union Senior 4, his crew won the Auckland and the National Championships.  For the first time in 30 years the famous Boss Rooster trophy was nailed to the Union clubhouse mast.

This crew was selected for the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff and they finished a metre away from a bronze medal. During these years, he rowed for Victoria University and was awarded 3 University Blues and well as a New Zealand University Blue.

We know about his rowing exploits, but following his return to HB he coached for the HB Rowing Club.

Rugby was another sporting passion. He played senior rugby for Victoria University as a prop, before rowing demanded all his spare time. However his expertise in elite sport saw him involved in coaching the Marist senior rugby team which at the time included names like Furlong, McRae and Thimbleby. Later he became chairman of the club for 2 years.  

Cricket one has to say, was not one of Frank’s sporting strengths. Briefly he played for the Wanganui Teachers’ cricket team. A report reads; “He came to the wicket with the Teachers reeling at 28 for 4. He scored 10. The first ball was a 4 off an outside edge. He French Cut the second down to fine leg for another boundary. He then ran the captain out going for a suicidal third run, and he was clean bowled on the last ball of the over. The following week he was selected as 12th man!”

While in New Plymouth, Frank joined the New Plymouth North Rotary Club and served as President during the 1981-82 Rotary year. The following year he served as the District Governors’ Representative. On returning to Napier in 1992, he joined the Rotary Club of Taradale. Since then he has been the constant figure behind the bar, running Fellowship (with Gordon Buckley) for more than 15 years. He was a Sergeant for two years, and a regular worker for the Auction and Charity Fair, always turning up for sorting weekends. By default he has disguised himself as Father Xmas at the Children’s Xmas party each year. Currently he is a Trustee of the Kelvin Tremain Memorial Education Trust.

But perhaps his major impact on the Club has been his organisation of members to act as ushers at sporting events at McLean Park. Since 2004, these efforts have resulted in over $15,000 being raised for the Club. 

Upon retirement, Frank had too much energy to just potter around at golf, so together with Gordon and Margaret Buckley, he helped get a SeniorNet organisation up and running in Napier. He served on the committee for several years and was its chairman for 3 years. The love of teaching he discovered when teaching young adolescent school girls in 1960 never deserted him, and he continues to tutor post adolescent students weekly at SeniorNet.

During all this time, Frank and Julia (Tig to her friends) found time to raise 5 children, Philip, Peter, Martin, David  and Kate. This successful family is scattered around the world with Kate in France, Philip, Peter and Martin in Australia, and David in Christchurch.

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