PHOTO - Whangarei City Rotary http://www.whangareicityrotary.org.nz/galleries

I often get asked why we need service clubs. 

Whangarei would not be where it is today without service clubs helping out.  There have been so many projects done throughout this city and country, yet we wouldn’t even know many projects have happened because of the effort put in behind the scenes.

The annual fireworks show that is put on in Whangarei is put on by the Whangarei Lions Clubs. They organise it, they man the event and they tidy up afterwards. I’ve heard that at these fireworks displays, there is around $40,000 of fireworks going up in smoke.  It’s a wonderful night out with the family, and it’s all down to the generosity of a service club.

The Rotary Club of Whangarei South deserves acclaim, too. The upcoming Bernina Northland Fashion Awards (August 21) has been going for just under 40 years. Rotary have been organising and producing this event for the past eight years. This event has produced some amazing talent, with designers going on to big stages worldwide and creating a name for Whangarei.

The Freemasons also need a nod. They’re probably the oldest service group around. Many of their actions are filled with secrets; however, the Freemasons have been behind the setting up of much of the structure of Whangarei, with medical departments at our hospital being recipients of their generosity. They also look after many of the retirement villages around Northland.

When service clubs get together, they achieve amazing things within the community. For example, Lions, Rotarians and Freemasons got behind Whangarei’s new oncology centre,  Lions and Rotarians help at our rugby games, the Lions and Freemasons built up the park in Hikurangi, and the Rotarians and Freemasons have built several of the children playgrounds.

Why get involved?  Why not is a better question.  Take the opportunity today to do something good and help them out.