Class of '97 District Governor's School (Philadelphia)

Getting Connected with Lions from New Zealand - 1999

In Christchurch, I called on IPDG Diane Barrett. She was from the Garden City Lions Club. There was no introduction as we attended the DG classmates in Phedephia in 1997. We caught up again and started talking about our governorship experience. I told her that we could get together again sometime, maybe the following year in Hawai.  

The following early morning Lucy and I left for Fox Glacier. I found the country roads with few cars We had traveled overland to the West Coast across the Canterbury Plains. All around us we saw snow-capped mountains. The scenery was breathtaking. It was a wonderfully varied province incorporating every landform from plains, forested foothills, significant mountains, lakes, and deep river gorges to unusual, wide braided rivers.

I could not find Terrence Fuller. He was a teacher and President of the South Westland Lions Club. I needed a drink badly and entered a motor inn. When I asked for him they looked at one another. They know who I was talking about. But, the girl serving food at Hari Hari Motor Inn helped me to call Terrence. We spoke and exchanged bannerette. The people in Hari Hari were a friendly lot.  

My visit was a fruitful one. I enjoyed the island and the Lions' hospitality. I called on President Keith Box after stepping on New Zealand soil.  It was my first trip and I enjoyed the autumn scenery.  Lucy and I drove around the south island and visiting my towns. We flew to Wellington and drove northward to Auckland. It was a good trip and I met many lions along the way. 

Lions Club of Dunedin Host

I visited PDG William (Bill) Ernest Mckeich when I reached Porirua. He was a Member of the Plimmerton Lions Club. We had so much to talk about. The brief moment we had together was meaningful. We shared about the type of services carried out to mankind, those who are less fortunate than us. 

We were on the way to visit IPDG Vic Pitman. I was quite astonished especially when I entered the town I felt the instinctive scent of sulfur wafting through the geothermal hot spots.  I was not told about the steaming water shooting from the ground and there were pools of boiling mud bubbles. Then I realized the town was in a diverse volcanic area and by a lakeside.

Lucy and I were looking for Hotel Hyatt but somehow landed in Lake Plaza Hotel. The meeting with IPDG Vic was great and meaningful. It reminded us of old times. 

Queenstown is a beautiful, town with an alpine ski resort and it has a beautiful bay. I enjoyed the trip to Bob’s Peak in the Skyline Gondola Ride. The view up there was enough to see the whole township.

During my trip I managed to visit the following Lions:

President Keith Box

Lions Club of Christchurch Avon

33, Belfast Road, Belfast, New Zealand

IPDG Diane Barrett

Lions Club 0f Christchurch Gardencity

13, Kaplan Avenue, Christchurch, New Zealand

 

President Julia Margaret Carson

46, Greendale Ave, Avonhead, New Zealand

 

IPDG Vic Pitman

29, Hillcrest Avenue

Rotorua, New Zealand

 

IPDG William Wrnest McKeich

Lions Club of Plimmerton

5, Pope Street, Plimmerton

Porirua, New Zealand

 

President  Lynda Read

Lions Club of Queenstown Wakatipu

P.O.Box 1022

Queenstown, New Zealand

 

President Gerald Birley

Lions Club of Wanaka & Districts

3, Parry Crescent

Lake Hawea, New Zealand

 

President Terrence Fuller

Lions Club of South Westland

Wangangi Flat Road

Hari Hari, New Zealand