In Gear | Rotary in Southern New Zealand In Gear - Issue 3 | Page 7

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Rotary’s youngest-ever president at
22, Australian Holly Ransom didn’t
mince her words after taking up an
invitation from 9980’s past-district
governor, Jonathan Usher, to share
her perspective with members.
Not only did she spell out the perceptions she held
before joining Rotary – “male, pale and stale” – but her
surprise at discovering, of Rotary’s global membership,
just two percent were under 30 and only 12 percent
were women.
Sitting in the audience that day in May 2015 was Rotary
Club of Dunedin Central’s Susanah Walker, then 37, a
fashion designer, who owns boutique clothing brand
NOOZ. She enjoyed her club, and made its traditional
format work for her, but knew, for her friends, it wasn’t
a good fit at all.
That got her
thinking … and
into action.
By that July,
Dunedin’s
fledgling NRG
club had held
its inaugural
meeting.
As well as rock-solid backing from 9980 district
governor Janice Hughes, NRG has enjoyed strong
support, advice and practical help through her Dunedin
Central club, particularly from president Derek King,
and long-time champion Jonathan, Susanah says.
In all, NRG has raised more than $35,000 to date,
turning their skills and talents to everything from
organisation and co-ordination, to security and traffic
management, marketing, innovating and relationship-
building.
In the past two years, they’ve tackled countless projects,
including the highly-successful Dunedin Brick Show,
to which NRG is now an official partner, designing
and delivering “kiddy distraction packs” for Dunedin
Hospital’s emergency department, and co-ordinating
corporate “jumbo tennis”.
NRG also puts its weight behind organisations and
events like Parent-to-Parent, which supports families
of children with disabilities, children’s counselling
service ChatBus, Foster Hope
Dunedin, and HopeWalk, run
... rather than getting too
by the Life Matters Suicide
hung up about age, we like Prevention Trust.
to just think of ourselves as
‘young-spirited’.”
Late last year, NRG Dunedin
members Shannon and Mark
Clarke travelled to Thailand
Susanah Walker, and Cambodia with the Rotary
Dunedin NRG president Project Starfish mission, which
As young
included staying at the Rescue
professionals, students and parents, what the new
Mission for Children to roll out horticultural, dental and
members lacked in free time, they more than made up
medical projects. (See the full story on page 52.)
for in ideas, enthusiasm and social conscience.
Of the current membership, Dunedin’s average age is
With Jonathan’s help, Susanah oversaw NRG’s very
26.
first project, a “pop-up op shop” which raised $6500
“In reality, we range from 20 to 40-plus – rather than
for Adisyn’s Hope for Others, a cause spearheaded by
getting too hung up about age, we like to just think of
fellow NRG member Emmerson Morgan, and named
ourselves as ‘young-spirited’,” Susanah says.
for her daughter. With the proceeds, Emmerson has
“We have a great mix of members – business owners,
just donated three CuddleCots to Dunedin Hospital’s
managers, stay-at-home parents, marketers, truck
Queen Mary Maternity Centre for