3 minute read
for Fijian children
Two Takapuna Rotary Club members accompanied a life-saving medical mission to Fiji for which the local service group was the main sponsor.
Geoff and Bev Pownall returned home this month from the Hearts4Kids Trust trip. The trust, which draws on the expertise and volunteered time of New Zealand health personnel, makes annual trips to Fiji. On the latest mission, 13 open-heart surgeries were done, one of which allowed a child to walk unassisted for the first time.
“It was so neat seeing the kids before and after surgery and how precious life is,” said Geoff Pownall, the local club’s secretary.
He said his day-to-day tasks consisted of doing “anything that came up” including supporting worried Fijian mothers and getting anything the medical team needed.
“It was rewarding just being a part of it.”
Takapuna Rotary was the mission’s main sponsor this year. In this role, Pownall said it helped get funding for the trust from different arms of Rotary as well as donating money from its own accounts.
Hearts4Kids is still fundraising to cover the full $90,000 cost of the trip and welcomes donations, with details on its website.
Forrest Hill in running to host community bike hub
Forrest Hill is in competition with Devonport to host the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board area’s first Community Bike Hub.
Greville Reserve has been identified as a potential site, after board members asked Auckland Transport (AT) to scope out options in the northern area of the board area, where need may be greater.
Dacre Park on Lake Rd was initially identified by AT as a preferred site in the city-wide project. But after the feedback, locations in Takapuna, Sunnynook and Forrest Hill have also been considered, along with more visible sites in Devonport.
At an update, members said it would be good to have hubs at each end of the board’s territory, but were told by an AT representative this was not possible at this stage. Funding allowed for nine new hubs to open across Auckland by the end of the year.
Members agreed that Greville Reserve was a good accessible site, with parking and a flat area on top of the reservoir for biking. But they called for more detail before deciding on their final preference.
If a decision is made soon, the board area’s hub could be open by mid-year.
Bike Hubs will be free and community-run and operated out of shipping containers for 15 to 25 hours a week. Locally staffed, they aim to encourage cycling and offer basic bike repairs, and advice, education and training, donated bike resales, and events.
Heari ng and Memory
Heari ng and Memory
Heari ng and Memory
Heari ng and Memory
Heari ng and Memory
Heari ng and Memory
Did you know hearing is good for your brain? Recent studies show people with mild hearing loss are twice as likely to develop dementia, and people with severe hearing loss are five times more likely1. If you or someone you love has trouble hearing, book in for a hearing check. If you have a hearing loss - get hearing aids! If you have hearing aidswear them!
Did you know hearing is good for your brain? Recent studies show people with mild hearing loss are twice as likely to develop dementia, and people with severe hearing loss are five times more likely1. If you or someone you love has trouble hearing, book in for a hearing check. If you have a hearing loss - get hearing aids! If you have hearing aidswear them!
Did you know hearing is good for your brain? Recent studies show people with mild hearing loss are twice as likely to develop dementia, and people with severe hearing loss are five times more likely1. If you or someone you love has trouble hearing, book in for a hearing check. If you have a hearing loss - get hearing aids! If you have hearing aidswear them!
Did you know hearing is good for your brain? Recent studies show people with mild hearing loss are twice as likely to develop dementia, and people with severe hearing loss are five times more likely1. If you or someone you love has trouble hearing, book in for a hearing check. If you have a hearing loss - get hearing aids! If you have hearing aidswear them!
Did you know hearing is good for your brain? Recent studies show people with mild hearing loss are twice as likely to develop dementia, and people with severe hearing loss are five times more likely1. If you or someone you love has trouble hearing, book in for a hearing check. If you have a hearing loss - get hearing aids! If you have hearing aidswear them!
Did you know hearing is good for your brain? Recent studies show people with mild hearing loss are twice as likely to develop dementia, and people with severe hearing loss are five times more likely1. If you or someone you love has trouble hearing, book in for a hearing check. If you have a hearing loss - get hearing aids! If you have hearing aidswear them!
1. Strutt, et al (2019). Hearing Loss & Dementia Incidence in Australia Findings from the Sydney Memory and Ageing Study
1. Strutt, et al (2019). Hearing Loss & Dementia Incidence in Australia Findings from the Sydney Memory and Ageing Study
