The District 9999 Transition Management Team gave a lot of thought to creating a District Governor’s ‘chain’ that was relevant and represented our new District 9999. As a result, a Breast Plate carved from West Coast Pounamu by Garth Wilson was created. The Breast Plate is housed in a handcrafted box made of Southland Beech.

Ko te whakakotahi i te Pounamu me te Southland Beech e tohu ana i te whakakotahitanga o ngā rohe. I ahu mai te Pounamu i Rotary District 9970 me te Beech no Rotary District 9980.

Combining the Pounamu and the Southland Beech symbolises the bringing of the districts together. The Pounamu comes from Rotary District 9970 and the Beech comes from Rotary District 9980.

The koru represents the opening of new shoots of the fern plant, and symbolises growth, harmony, and new beginnings. For our new district, these attributes are important. It also can represent the family as a whole, so going forward, it embodies the Rotary family as an eternal movement, with regeneration, growth, and development.

We decided to promote two koru, each side of the rotary wheel, to give balance and harmony, bringing together the two districts as one. While that is appropriate for the first few years, the attributes of an eternal movement, with ‘regeneration, growth and development' become more relevant.

The Southland beechwood box

It can signify the end of something, but also stand for the changes that rise through realisation. Since its gift is the revelation of experience, Beech suggests you should cross the threshold that is challenging you, gain experience from the unknown, seek revelation and increase your knowledge. 

By bringing the two districts together we not only meet the challenge in doing so, but also increase our knowledge and grow our resources and experiences.