A YEAR of support for the incredible vaccination programme in Newton Abbot has been heralded as probably the biggest volunteering project in the 100 years of Rotary Newton Abbot.

Here Rotarian Martin Smith reports on this remarkable achievement and, just as remarkably, the fact that the club has been busy in many other areas as well.

MARTIN SMITH REPORTS: Rotary Newton Abbot continues to marshal the car park at the vaccination centre at Newton Abbot racecourse.

For more than 12 months there have been over 90 people marshalling possibly as many inside the centre via our colleagues of Rotary Club of Dartmoor Vale and other organisations.

This community volunteering project is believed to be the biggest in the 100 years of the club, with somewhere in the region of 110,000 vaccinations delivered by the centre and thousands of volunteer hours.

It started to slow down before Christmas but with the Omicron variant appearing there was an increased demand for boosters and the younger members of the community taking up the opportunity to have the vaccine over the holiday period with clinics most days.

February has seen a slow down with clinics expected for just two days each week.

At a meeting on Tuesday, February 1, 39 Rotarians and volunteers picked nine charities to receive £250 each from the centre donations, they included The Towersey Foundation, Dyron’s Journal (Teignbridge Talking Newspaper), Newton Abbot Brownies and Meadowside. This is on top of the £6.400, the club was quick to redistribute to 16 charities in the autumn.

Coronavirus has been quite a challenge to many organisations, Newton Abbot Rotary have adapted and been particularly active where possible, enjoying its highest ever membership in its centennial year.

Membership stands at over 70 members both male and female with an age range of 21 to 92 years coming from all walks of life.

Corporate membership has been particularly successful with the highest amount of business members out of the 83 clubs in the southwest district.

The vaccination centre marshalling attracted eight new members, having experienced the effect volunteering made in the community and Rotary’s role in it.

NAME CHANGE

Membership lead Rotarian Martin Smith explained: ’The club has removed the word ’club’ from its title and is now known as Rotary Newton Abbot, following the lead of international members across the world as ’club’ is seen as inclusive which is something we are definitely not, welcoming all who share the same ethos of supporting the community where needed financially, but more often with time and talents.’

At present Newton Abbot meet at Dainton Park GC every first and third Tuesday for a meal, fellowship and to discuss projects and requests of support as well as via Zoom on the second and fourth Tuesday.

It is hoped the zoom meetings will be replaced very soon with physical meetings.

Several events are planned to celebrate the 100 years including a civic reception at Newton’s Place, a granite Rotary Roundel to be installed in Courtenay Street and plans for a Trompe-l’Åil on a local building (an art technique that uses realistic imagery to create the optical illusion).

GOLF DAYS

Future fundraising events include two golf days on May 18 at Stover Golf Club and September 22 at Dainton Park.

To acknowledge the fantastic support of both clubs Rotary have donated £200 each to the thriving junior sections.

The Great Rotary Wheelbarrow Race will return as part of the Newton Abbot Carnival on Saturday, July 9, after an absence of two years, in addition plans are coming together to add a junior’s race to precede the main race.

Interest from local primary schools will be sought and an opportunity for them to raise funds for their school or chosen charity.

THERAPY DOG

Rory the therapy assistance dog purchased and the training funded by the club, relocated to Newton Abbot College just before Christmas and is now regularly at the college and settling in well, a calming influence on many youngsters who have challenges attending school.

The gardening group of members and partners continue to spruce up the town centre particularly Golden Lion Square, Newton’s Place, and following a request from a local business tackled an overgrown flowerbed close to the library.

Rotarians were busy leading up to Christmas, customers of Fermoy’s Garden centre generously donated more than £600 and a one-day collection in the town raised over £100. Members also participated in the Victorian evening earlier in the month.

On Thursday, February 3, Rotary facilitated an event Let’s Talk... Lets Listen, inviting organisations and charities that help individuals with additional and special needs.

The event was a great success with 10 attending including The No Limits Café, Forde Park Community Project, Bidwell Brook School, Glendinning Academy and Meadowside.

Hosted by Rotarian Martin Smith he said that ’What was a speculative idea proved very worthwhile, giving the attendees an opportunity to share ideas, contacts and knowledge.’

BOTTLE TOPS

Partnering local business JJB electrical, Rotary Newton Abbot collected milk bottle tops to benefit the Children’s Hospice Southwest several local businesses joined the initiative, Jason & Rachelle Burford from JJB delivered 270kg tops equating to 194,000 milk bottle tops to Devon Contract Waste who will convert the tops into recyclable furniture, the value amounts to about £1,000 that will be donated to the charity.

A keen collector Heston Wood (pictured) from Liverton presented his collection to President Tracey Cunningham. It is understood that JJB will start collecting again later in the year.

An invitation by Jess Veacock Business Development Manager at Newton Abbot RFC to carry out a collection at the recent game against Tiverton, resulted in £112 given by the generous spectators.

Rotary and NARFC share years of history, the club’s founding President Charles Lane Vicary in 1922 was also President at the same time of the rugby club.

On March 22, Rotary Newton Abbot will be inviting anybody interested, to attend an Open meeting at Dainton Park to hear about how the club works in the community and to dispel myths that Rotary is full of middle class men in their senior years, when in effect the 70 plus members ages range from 21 to 92 and a third are female.

l Anybody wishing to attend or want to know more about Rotary in Newton Abbot to contact Membership lead - Martin Smith vie email [email protected] or check out the club website www.rotarynewtonabbot.co.uk