
St Patrick's Day fun at Plimmerton Rotary
Members and friends celebrated with a hilarious evening of fun and laughter. President-Elect Kay with her helpers had created a splendid social evening with an Irish joke from Mike, singing from everybody, very ably accompanied by Graeme on the keyboard, and a very difficult Irish quiz created by Kay. Out of a possible score of 28, two tables came close with 16 and 15.5 respectively - so close that both tables received prizes. The table that scored 6 received the booby prize! There were also prizes for the best and worst dressed, judged thoughtfully and creatively by Peter, nefariously 'aided' by Jim. They decided that the worst dressed was John O'Connell (because they'd never seen an Irishman in a suit) and prizes for the best-dressed men went to John Barber with Graeme Tongs runner up, and to the best dressed women to Donna Reed with Linda Sinke coming in a close second. Kay writes, 'Irish Night! Thanks - Wow! What a wonderful group of Rotarians you are. Many thanks to everyone for entering into the spirit of our Irish night. The touches of green and the more elaborate costumes set the relaxed mood. I particularly loved the hats and wigs. Thanks to the hooters. To Graeme Tongs, Philip Whearty, Peter Sinké, Phillip Reidy, Bryan Waddle, and Mike Doig – thanks for your grand efforts in helping make the evening a success.

Poll: Would you use a pet cemetery?
Dave Stephens has created a pet cemetery on his land.
The 10-acre site in Albany, Auckland, features graves nestled among beautifully manicured gardens and unique art pieces, offering a serene space where visitors can pay their respects in their own way.
Is this something you think you would use? Share your thoughts below.

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26.3% Yes
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72.6% No
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1.1% Other - I'll share below

NZSQ to play in Paekakariki
Paekakariki's Mulled Wine Concert series has been presenting top-class music in Kapiti for nearly twenty years. Organiser Mary Gow says she is really excited to be bringing to her home region one of the most well known and highest quality groups of classical musicians.
The New Zealand String Quartet is probably the best loved chamber music ensemble in the country. It is made up of talented musicians who are all dedicated performers and mentors to students across the country. The longest-serving member of the Quartet, violinist Gillian Ansell, was awarded the MNZM (Member of the New Zealand Order of
Merit) honour for services to music in New Zealand. The other permanent member is violinist Peter Clark.
As an exciting development in their history, and for the first time ever, the NZSQ have announced that two other positions in the group - violinist and cellist - will be filled by invited guest artists The invited musicians for the Paekakariki concert will be violinist
Monique Lapins, who was previously a member of the NZSQ. The other invitee - who will be of great interest to followers of the Mulled Wine Concert series - is Andrew Joyce, dynamic first cellist of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. Andrew is no stranger to Kapiti audiences, having played in many concerts here.
As a group, the quartet promise that their 2025 season will be an epic one.
The rest of 2025 will be filled with toe-tapping, awe-inspiring, boundary-pushing chamber music. From epic works for chamber orchestra by Shostakovich to the premiere of a brand-new New Zealand piece; from dancers to poets; from your local community centre to the depths of
space, we’re bringing the music to you they say.
The Paekakariki concert will take place at St Peters Hall on 16 March 2025 at 2:30PM and will feature works by Haydn, Dame Gillian Whitehead, Dave Flynn, Dvořák String Quartet No. 12, Op. 96, the American Quartet and excerpts from the Danish String Quartet Wood Works The Last Leaf. A concert not to be missed, indeed!
===ENDS===
Mulled Wine Concerts presents the New Zealand String Quartet in concert
Sunday 16 March 2025 at 2:30PM
St Peter Community Hall, Beach Rd, Paekakariki
Tickets $35, Students $15.
Online sales: marygow@gmail.com. Tel: 021 101 9609
Info: www.mulledwineconcerts.com... or on FaceBook: Mulled Wine Concerts.
Ticket outlets: Magpie Paremata, Mana Esplanade; Finns Hotel, Paekākāriki; Moby Dickens Bookshop, Paraparaumu Beach; Jenoa, 2 Mahara Place, Waikanae.
Haydn String Quartet, Op. 64, No. 5, 'The Lark'
Dame Gillian Whitehead, Poroporoaki
Dave Flynn, Slip
Dvořák String Quartet No. 12, Op. 96, the 'American Quartet'
Excerpts from Danish String Quartet's Wood Works / The Last Leaf


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