20^th Anniversary

The Rotary Club Of Drury

A visit by Sister Club The Rotary Club Of Surfers Paradise

By Iain Sprod, Milton Preston, Ping Partridge and Gary Field

 

The members of Drury, our New Zealand sister club had our entire visit planned in spectacular fashion. After we settled in to the Waipuna Resort we were met by John and Denise Parker and were also introduced to our chauffeurs for the weekend Bill and Raewynne Kuegler and Terry Culpan and his partner Mary, who stayed with us at Waipuna.  They were ready and waiting to transport us to all activities even though we would have had no worries as Iain Sprod thoughtfully brought his GPS. In fact Iain’s GPS let us know continually that we were 2,992km from Eagle Street Brisbane, and we could have found Turbot St without any problems. But finding places in NZ on his GPS proved bit of a problem – ask Sproddy about it, he's got some explanation.

 

Our first night was spent at The Auckland Trotting Club. We were given "Member's Passes" and privileges and enjoyed the clubs member’s area which was situated on the top floor of the grandstand with full facilities including restaurants. I think they even set up a few wins for us as we all came away a little richer on the night.

 

Saturday was the biggest surprise as we were taken to Ardmore Airfield just south of Auckland and transported by private aircraft, owned by Drury members and pilots Phil Pacey and Chris Snelson, over the Coromandel Peninsular tracking the coastline south to Tauranga for lunch and a visit to their famous Aircraft Museum. Talk about “boys and their toys” from Hawker and Sabre Jets, to biplanes and most in full working order. Tauranga is the “Surfers Paradise” of New Zealand and the Drury club also arranged a perfect warm Gold Coast clear day which made for excellent visibility for our return flight back over Auckland Harbour, around the Sky Tower and over the harbour islands of Waiheke and the volcanic Rangitoto. But a bigger surprise was yet to come.

 

Saturday Night was what we came for, to help Drury Celebrate their 20^th Anniversary. 130 attended the dinner held where we were staying at Waipuna. Special guest was Immediate Past Rotary World President Bill Boyd with a Jazz Band finishing off the night in fine style.

 

Alf and Rosemari Williams hosted us for Sunday morning tea at their home, which turned out to be a feature itself.  Alf not only restores old cars, but has also created a model train set in his lawn bigger than most backyards on the Gold Coast. Alf also insisted for our next event, that he transport the “Aussie Crew” to Ardmore Airfield in his recently and perfectly restored 1939 Chevy.

 

At Ardmore, Chief Pilot Chris Snelson and crew were waiting for us by their 1944 amphibious Catalina aircraft, one of only a handful still flying in the world today. This unique flight once again took us over the City Of Sails including the circling of Auckland’s Sky Tower. A truly sensational experience as the large bubble windows on each side allows spectacular viewing. This was all part of a fly-over by a number of old Warbirds including once again a number of bi-planes and WWII fighters including a Mustang.

 

What a weekend. Words cannot describe the hospitality extended to us by the members of our New Zealand sister club, The Rotary Club Of Drury.