In Gear | Rotary in Southern New Zealand Issue 1 | Page 18

Newest club
totally rocks!
District 9980 and the Club of Waimate are very
proud to present the New Zealand Rotary family’s
youngest-ever president – 12-year-old South
Cantabrian Abi Lapthorn.
Abi, a Year 8 student at Waituna Creek School, will go down in the New
Zealand Rotary history books as the country’s first Rotakids leader,
joined by her fellow officer bearers: vice-president Alysha Melecio, 12,
of St Patricks School, secretary Stella Bilcliffe, 11, of St Patricks School,
treasurer Scott Warwood,10, of Waituna Creek School, and public image
chair Logan Clarkson, 11, of Centennial School.

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Rotakids Waimate chartered on June 30, and saw 15 children from
five different schools take the Rotakids pledge and become Rotary
Foundation members. Three children were unable to attend, and that
number, together with the five new members who have already signed
up since the chartering ceremony, brings the new club to a 23-strong
roll. The youngest member is just 7 years old.

Page 18 | In Gear - Rotary in Southern New Zealand - District 9980 | www.rotarydistrict9980.org