TAIERI RECREACTIONAL TRAMPNG CLUB
PRESIDENT’S REPORT 2025-2026
Introduction
It is my pleasure to present The President’s Report for the term September 2025 to August 2026 inclusive. The year has been another eventful one for our very active Club.
Membership
– Our current membership stands at 130 with 13 new members joining us this year. Welcome to all new members.
– Sadly, two of our Life Members passed away this year – Margaret Smith and Molly Vaughan – our sympathies are extended to their families and loved ones.
Major Events
– Christmas Function: This was held on 10 December at the Lee Stream Community Hall, and attended by 80 members, catering being provided by the Lee Stream School PTA. All agreed the standard of the meal provided was exceptional, especially for $25 per head. Special thanks to Wendy Langley for investigating this venue and event format.
– Bannockburn Camp: Held on 9 to 13 March at the Bannockburn Camp. Feedback from those attending being extremely positive. Testimony to the organisation and hosting abilities of Anne and Rod Ward and their helpers.
– Mid-winter Lunch: Held on 17 June at the Concord Tavern and attended by 60 members. Unfortunately, due to the weather, the prior planned walk to Tunnel Beach was cancelled. Again feedback from the event has been extremely positive. A big thank you to Barbara Shackell and Jenni Wright for organising this event.
– Social Get Together: Held on 30 July at the Village Green and attended by 27 members. This afternoon tea catch up was thanks to the initiative and organising abilities of Jenni and Bruce Wright – thank you to you both.
Initiatives and Activities
– Hand Held Radios: A set of Uniden UH755, two-way hand held radios were purchased on 23 January from Dunedin’s Hunting and Fishing for use on tramps and combined walks. The instant communication between Leader and Tail End Charlie these provide already proving valuable on several occasions.
– Petrol Prices: The volatility of petrol prices this year has been closely monitored and discussed at Committee meetings. By motion, approval was reached by the Committee to use the IRD Tier 1 petrol reimbursement rate. As in the past, vehicle rates for trips rounded up to the nearest dollar. Additionally, our trip programme has focussed on trips closer to home recently. This, in consideration, not only of costs, but also at times some supply uncertainties questioning the ethics of recreational fuel use. A thank you to Graeme Souter for his work on this.
– Trip Guidelines: “How to run a trip”. A new post on our website under Trip Guidelines has been worked on by Phil Keene. Under separate headings of “Pre-Trip”, “Trip Day”, “Medical”,
“What to Take” and “Post Trip” these comprehensive guidelines are designed to reassure and assist leaders to run trips. A huge effort – well done Phil.
Track Clearing
– Combined Workday with Green Hut Track Group: On Wednesday, 6 May, in conjunction with the Green Hut Track Group, a combined workday was held, clearing tracks in the Swampy area involving 17 Club members and 5 Green Hut Group volunteers. With our Club’s focus on the Swampy area’s tracks, future cooperative track clearing efforts with the Green Hut Group volunteers are ongoing, “spearheaded” by Graham Thurlow and Phil Keene.
– Track Clearing Days: Graham Thurlow, along with a group of our Club volunteers, are planning additional track clearing working bees. These are to be held on weekdays other than Wednesdays in the Swampy area. Thank you Graham.
Trap Clearing
– A new, Club-related, personal initiative involving checking, clearing and re-setting pest traps in the same Swampy area is under way. Assisting the Halo Project, trap clearing programme, with 8 Club members volunteering to help. Thank you to Phil Keene for coordinating this.
Website
– Communications Officer, Ross Davies, resigned as our Communications Officer at the 18 June Committee meeting due to other commitments. A special thank you to Ross for all his efforts in ensuring our website is such a valuable tool, and he will remain an important source of knowledge as he continues as a member of the web team. Special thanks to Graeme Souter for taking over the Communications Officer role.
– Future-proofing of Website: Our website future proofing, including backups, offered by our current Website host, is being investigated with the possibility of migration to a new host. This seemingly complex issue being investigated jointly by Graeme, with assistance from Ross.
– Capacity of Website: The capacity of our Website has been increased – doubled – so that we now sit at only 48% full.
– Use of Website. The use of the club’s website for non club specific notices has been discussed at length by the Committee. It has been agreed that this should be restricted to club related matters and activities.
– Web team: Our Website is ever expanding and becoming a more and more valuable tool for our club. Special thanks to the Web team: Chris Wither, Diane Paterson, Marijke Schofield, Ross Davies and Graeme Souter.
Committee Thank You
Our Committee has functioned well throughout the year. A special thank you to:
Vice President, Lyn Keene
Immediate Past President, Phil Keene
Secretary, Wendy Langley
Treasurer, Sarah McCormack
Communications Officer, Ross Davies, latterly Graeme Souter.
As well, Committee members assumed extra responsibilities as follows:
Katrina McKenzie as Hiking Coordinator
Pam Cocks and Esther Willis as Tramping Coordinators
Barbara Shackell and Jenni Wright as Social Convenors
Barbara, Jenni and Pam have signalled their intention not to stand for committee again. Thank you for the ability, enthusiasm and dedication you each brought. All these ladies may no longer be on the committee, but I know they will remain true powerhouses of our Club.
Special thanks to Esther and Wendy for their hospitality in offering their homes as committee meeting venues.
Thank you also to Annette MacRae and Dave Melish for being our PLB emergency services contact people.
Quote
This quote comes from Indian Industrialist and Philanthropist, Ratan Tata:
If you want to walk fast, walk alone
But if you want to walk far, walk together.
Lastly, thank you for the privilege of serving as your President this past year. I move that my report be adopted.
John Gardiner