Rotary connection comes full circle for new club president

Garry Hassler, outgoing president of Dannevirke Rotary, passes on the chains of office to Dianna Mancer. Photo / Christine McKay

More than 30 years after Dianna Mancer first connected with the Dannevirke Rotary Club, she's been presented with the chains of office as the new club president.

And making the evening extra special, Dianna was joined by June Carr on the eve of her 90th birthday.

Although not a Rotary Club member in 1985 - it was a men's only organisation then - June stepped up to help interview candidates for the Rotary Youth Exchange to the United States, with Dianna one of the applicants.

"I wasn't one of the Rotary exchange directors, although my husband Art was," June said.

"But as a member of the Inner Wheel, the women's arm of Rotary, I was asked to sit in on the interviews as there were female applicants."

In 1986 Dianna went to Arizona as part of the Rotary Youth Exchange and her first connection with the organisation was cemented.

"June gave me some very good advice before my departure, too," she said.

"I thought going to Arizona it would be hot, but June told me to take a good woollen sweater and she was right. I needed it."

Dianna turned 17 while in the US and returned to New Zealand to train as an occupational therapist.

"After I had my family, I came back to Rotary.

"Rotary, as a service organisation, fits well with me and my involvement in the community."

Outgoing president Garry Hasler handed over the chains of office to Dianna, pleased with how his year at the helm of the club had gone.

"There is still some tidying up on the walkway and of course, there's the third stage to be undertaken, but it's been a good year," he said.

"Dannevirke Rotary has achieved a lot in the past year.

"It's good to see the bus shelters we had installed on High St being well used and this year we distributed 250 dictionaries to schoolchildren in our district."

Dianna has her own plans for the year ahead, too.

"Our club turns 90 later on this year and we'll celebrate on Saturday, November 4," she said.

"As a club, we like to focus on youth activities and this will continue.

"We could do with more members, too."

And while women weren't part of the Dannevirke Rotary Club in 1985, today almost half the members are women.

Dianna's mother, Liz Edwards, said her daughter had kept her connections with her Arizona family.

"I never dreamed this connection would remain but we've had Dianna's [Arizona] 'mother' out to visit us. It's very cool," she said.