Well didn’t they do well??  Penny lead the 'Team Tavenui' report back saying it was an amazing experience to spend a week on Tavenui Island doing something practical and important for the community.  Penny regaled us with a few facts:  Tavenui Island is the third largest Fijian island with a population of 9,00o people. It has incredibly poor infrastructure, which has no power supply (generator only) and no reticulated water system.  The Island is very vulnerable to natural disasters still evidenced in the devastation caused by Cyclone Winston in February 2016 where many of the dwellings remain as shanty buildings. Nevertheless, Penny said the people have a happy and simple life.    

An incredible achievement by the Rotary Club of Tavenui is from July 2016 to June 2017 they funded $650,000 worth of projects ranging from painting teachers’ quarters to providing Taveuni Eye project, all supported by a very dedicated and productive team of local people.   In turn this also provided the opportunity for the locals to learn new skills on the job.  Penny said each two-bedroom house costs $47k and nothing is wasted so brown tiles are used in the bathrooms, kitchen benchtops, floors and walls and green paint is the only colour choice for housing painting.

 

 

 

 

In support of the Mental Health Foundation, an "elite" group of club members enjoyed a wine tasting hosted at the Ingram Residence on Saturday evening. Superb wines were provided by Roger Garrett who divided us into four teams and coached us through a challenging game to see which team was best at identifying each wine's country of origin, grape variety, age and alcohol content.  

 

The teams, aptly named:  Que Syrah Syrah; Wineskis, Wine Knot and Gewurty Old Men grew amazingly more confident as the evening progressed!  The Wineskis unexpectedly won the evening with a last minute run on the reds. 

 

The funds Roger makes from these special wine tastings are part of his commitment to the Kilimanjaro Challenge 2017. Roger is one of 25 individuals registered for this 12 day adventure, culminating in a climb to the summit of Kilimanjaro.  Led by Ultramarathon Runner, Mal Law (who has partnered with the Mental Health Foundation) each individual registered is set a fundraising target of $4,000. Collectively (so far) the group have raised over $100,000 for the Mental Health Foundation. Departure date for the challenge is September 13.  We look forward to hearing back from Roger on how this epic adventure goes.  

www.inspiredadventures.co.nz