Photos by Peter Poulsen and Yvane Fifita

Siosaia ‘Uta‘atu (27), the new President of the Rotary Club of Nuku‘alofa, is the youngest person elected to the post in the club’s 36 year history.

Over 60 people attended the annual handover night held at the Joe’s Kahana Lagoon Resort recently to farewell the outgoing President, Neil Jenkin and his Board, and to welcome the new President.

Saia is working to establish the Rotaract Club of Nuku‘alofa. Rotaract was established by Rotary International for younger people to participate in a less formal setting, while engaging with various initiatives for youth. Six members of the new Rotaract club also attended the handover.

Community projects

Rotary Nuku'alofa has supported the community with a number of projects over the last year, working closely with the international family of Rotary Clubs, in particular from Australia, New Zealand and the USA. These projects have included:

• maintainance of the Rotary Playground next to Fangalua;
• Fixing gutters, tanks and toilets at various primary schools
• GPS Ma‘ufanga, with RC of TAWA
• GPS Lapaha with RC of Jerrabomberra
• GPS Vaotu‘u with RC of Bowral Mittagong
• GPS Nukunuku with RC Sunny Bank Hills;
• Ambulance and equipment;
• Reading Books (Ranfurly) and School Dictionaries, annually;
• Initiating Rotaract Club of Nuku‘alofa;
• PACE (Pacific Australia Cultural Exchange);
• Garden and chicken rearing in Popua, Sopu and Pea, (RC Frankston North, NZAid, Tonga Trust, and RI).

Fund raising activities have included a successful Rotary Golf Fund Raising Day. The annual Rotary Children’s fair is due to be held in late August.

Eight members received their certificate for completing Basic First Aid Course with the Red Cross. Sione Taumoefolau of the Tonga Red Cross attended the evening for the presentation of the certificates. Guest Speaker Lennie Nitt recalled the twinning project between Vaiola Hospital and John of God Hospital in Ballarat, Australia, and stressed the need for greater awareness of the contribution made to the community by the Rotary Club.

The new board of the Rotary Nuku‘alofa is:

• Siosaia ‘Uta‘atu, President;     
• Neil Jenkin, Immediate Past President;
• Amy Lofgren, President Elect;
• Robert Bolouri, Treasurer;
• Lynette Foliaki, Secretary;           
• Peter Poulsen, Director International.

The RCN is one of over 34,000 clubs in over 200 countries, with some 1.2 million members world committed to community service and friendship.