Category: Presidents Report

Taieri Recreational Tramping Club
President’s Report 2024-2025 

It is with great pleasure that I present this report. 

The Club continues to go from strength to strength based on the quality of it’s members as well  as having a sound framework, at the same time keeping things reasonably informal. 

Membership numbers are 131 with seven life members. 

Major events have included 

– the Xmas walk at Takitakitoa Wetlands with hosts Otago Fish and Game followed by  the shared lunch and great entertainment at the Waihola Hall 

– A week based at Kelvin Heights where a myriad of walks were undertaken including a  touch of wilderness and walks based closer to lakes; a return to Bannockburn could  be on the cards for 2026…. 

– a very successful ‘cuppa’ afternoon tea at Wals for those who we do not see so much  at the regular walks 

– 45 members attended the travel night that covered the Dolomites in N Italy,  Melbourne and some of the USA National Parks as well as tips on how to get the best  photos from your phone 

– 65 members attended the mid winter lunch that followed a walk around Waihola Lake  and looked at recent developments there. 

My sincere thanks to everyone who contributed in making these all ‘a great day/ night out”. We have continued to fine tune communications with our web notices and information and the  presidents’ updates have covered a range of matters. Unfortunately, we did not have the power  to make every Wednesday fine! 

We also made submissions to Councils on Puketapu/Palmerston Hill and the Tunnels Trust closer  to home, it appears with some positive impact along with that of other submitters. 

For a range of reasons our track clearing working bees were a little limited. I have met with the  Green Hut Group and our machines will be kept warm over the winter by the main group and  we’ll evaluate our efforts in the Spring. Again thanks to everyone who contributed. 

The Committee has functioned very effectively and it has been enjoyable working with  everyone. As this is my last report I would especially like to thank Jenni Wright, John Gardiner  and Ross Davies for their advice, support and contribution and for making my role so much  easier over the last few years. 

Some of the reading I do, in fact a fair bit of it, is the work of Brian Turner who sadly passed away  this year. In ‘Place’ he captures perfectly the essence of walking in the hills not too far from our  homes

“….yet nothing is categorically
this, or that, and before the dusk
mellows and fails
the light is like honey
on the stems of tussock grass,
and the shadows are mauve birthmarks
on the hills.” 

So vivid, spot on! I’ll see you in the hills soon. Keep walking keep talking. I move that this report be adopted. 

Seconder 

Phil Keene, August 2025

Taieri Recreational Tramping Club 

President’s report 2022-2023 

It is my pleasure to present this report. 

We have had a full on year, of major and minor events, contained within a varied trip programme  which in turn has been affected by a few wet Wednesdays! The latter being most unusual but hopefully  not setting a long term precedent; one benefit being to remind us that there is no substitute for wearing  and carrying the right gear for the weather on the day. 

Majors being a very enjoyable Xmas function at Taieri Mouth with standout entertainment, as well as  discovering the efficient taxi service that exists down there….This was followed by a successful week  at Bannockburn that comprised a varied walking programme, some walks being a first for many of us,  as well as undertaking a Tour de Dunstan and environs on Les bicyclettes. . The travel agents we used  

for this event were most efficient and we look forward to their offering planned for Kelvin Heights and  the Queenstown area in the coming Autumn, but of course we do need to get through spring and  summer first! 

Our recent 35th birthday and mid winter celebrations were outstanding and subsequent discussions  thought provoking. The photo show displaying a trip down memory lane is currently to hand and we  are hopeful it can be made available shortly. 

We have had a range of new walks and variations on previous walks and have tried to pick up on those  not done for some time. The big turnout to support the Halo Project at Long Beach was wonderful and  a more than useful adjunct to the flax clearing undertakings we do. As discussed with a range of folk  we are assessing with the Green Hut Group how we can take a ‘working bee’ approach to the track  clearing work and continue the club’s contribution to track maintenance on our side of Flagstaff/  Swampy. More on this shortly. 

The Committee and sub committees/ web team continue to fine tune processes and communications  such as the ability to print the trip programme from the website, as well as the ongoing reassessment  of fuel costs The latter has been recently looked at again for when we do the summer trip programme.  We have looked at why disclaimers of liability are not required as well as settled a process for walks to  accommodate folk who may wish not to complete the full walk on the day. 

Our membership has blossomed through the last few months and stands at 109, with some pending!  Our life members are Bev Harvey, George Haggie, Margaret Smith and Molly Vaughan.  

For your information the current office holders and Committee members offer themselves for re election and Graeme Souter has been nominated for the sole vacant standard position on the  committee. 

Thanks to everyone who has contributed in so many ways outlined above to make a successful year,  supporting each other is a hallmark of the club. 

This year will be the last for Jill Dodd on the committee as she has decided ‘to retire’. Jill has had a  lengthy stint since 2015 as vice president/president/past president and of course acting president  during Covid. In addition, Jill has initiated a range of trips, first aid training as well and events such as  the recent Halo project contribution and more. We look forward to walking and talking with you Jill  for many years to come! 

I move that this report be adopted. 

Seconder 

Phil Keene, August 2023

Taieri Recreational Tramping Club
Presidents report 2023-2024 

It is my pleasure to present this report. 

The year has been another outstanding one with 80 or so walks enthusiastically completed by  members across the walking spectrum! Our membership stands at 131.  

Particular Highlights have been – 

– a very successful ‘combination’ Xmas function at North Taieri that included the garden tour at Joy  and Peter Horrell’s, an uphill walk that took the breath away and then a successful Xmas lunch.  The bring and buy also worked well! 

– A week of walking, with some challenges, and talking based at Kelvin Heights in the Queenstown  Lakes District that catered for all capabilities and there are so many more options in that area…  Over recent years we have also visited the Upper Hollyford, Borland Lodge, and Bannockburn.  What could be next? 

– a successful mid-winter function enjoying the spectacular Tunnel Beach walkway followed by a  great meal and camaraderie at the Concord Tavern, so successful that I see the Tavern is now going  to double in size! Goes to show hospitality is still a goer if you get the mix right. 

The Committee has worked very well together to produce another varied walking and social  programme as well as address matters of the moment; we have monitored the membership numbers  and impact on walks, and options for formalising the Ramblers, fuel costs for trips, and tweaked the  track gradings and track guidelines documents. In addition, working with the Web team, the club’s  website is undergoing a makeover and is receiving great feedback for its clarity and simplicity. 

The working bee approach to the track maintenance on the Lake Whare track network we undertake  on behalf of the Green Hut Group was a significant achievement with 220 hours of volunteer time – so successful that the Green Hut Group would like to add a couple more tracks to our  responsibilities! We’ll hold fire on that until we get underway again over the summer. Our efforts  are reported through the GHG to DCC and DOC. 

I would particularly like to thank John Gardiner, Jenni Wright and Ross Davies for their support and  great work through the year. Also, Karen McInnes, Jan Butcher and Jay Devlin for their committee  work as they have stepped down this year. Jan and Jay have been on the committee since  2018/2019 respectively, and always provided good practical advice and solutions. They have been  the drivers for the Hiker’s Walk programme. Thanks so much. 

I move that this report be adopted 

Seconder 

Phil Keene August 2024