Community Engagement

The Rotary Club of Bishopdale Burnside engages in a number of projects each year in the Community whether this is in the Bishopdale or Burnside suburbs or the wider Christchurch City environs.

Purchase of Vehicle for Dementia Canterbury

Our Club recently supported Dementia Canterbury by purchasing a new vehicle for their use to support their community based services.

Supported the fitout of BrainTree Wellness Centre

The club contributed to the fit-out of the the new  BrainTree Support Centre which opened in 2022. The centre based in Papanui supports people living with neurological conditions to live well in the community.

Support to Odyssey House

Odyssey House Trust Christchurch provides therapeutic support and education to clients with drug and alcohol addictions. 

The Rotary Club of Bishopdale Burnside donated to its recent rebuild with a donation of $50,000 and more recently in conjunction with 7 other Rotary Clubs provided furniture for rooms in a new female wing.

Co-funded a Truck for Christchurch Foodbank

The Rotary Club of Bishopdale Burnside in conjunction with other Rotary Clubs support Christchurch Foodbank in providing a truck for food deliveries.

Donated to Nurse Maude Hospice

In 2020 the Rotary Club of Bishopdale Burnside continued its support (as in previous years) of the Nurse Maude Hospice by donating $15,000 from proceeds of our successful ARTarama project.

Bishopdale Community Day

Celebrate Bishopdale is a free annual family event with everyone coming together as a community to celebrate living in Bishopdale.

The event is held at Bishopdale Park and includes entertaining stage performances from local school groups, artists and organisations.

Canterbury Charitable Hospital Trust

We have been proud to donate items to the Canterbury Charitable Hospital Trust.

The Canterbury Charity Hospital Trust provides FREE elective day surgery, medical outpatients clinics, dentistry and counselling for those in the Canterbury community who can’t access care from the public or private health systems.

Willowbank Planting

New Zealand’s most comprehensive NZ themed wildlife park, the Willowbank Wildlife Reserve experience tells the story of our country’s natural heritage.

The Club provided hands on support in planting some of the area.

Working Bees

The Club has been active in a number of working bees over the years including at the Bishopdale Community Trust House, Kindergartens, and pre-schools to name a few.

Post Earthquakes Support

Immediately after the 2011 February Christchurch and the 2016 Kaikoura earthquakes the Club participated in a number of projects supporting the relevant communities during that time.

Tree Planting

Members of the Club have participated in tree planting on the Port Hills, Styx Mill and more recently in the Dallington area at the  Rotary Peace and Remembrance Forest Park.

Burnside Park Fitness Trail

In colloboration with Rotary Clubs of Riccarton, Avonhead, Bishopdale-Burnside, Christchurch City Council and the Commodore Hotel a fitness trail was installed at Burnside Park in 2017.

Community Awards

Awards are given for Business Excellence, Vocation Excellence, Community Service and Young Totara Award to local business and community people.

If you know of someone in the Community deserving of an award then nominate then for our next round of awards. Nominations forms can be found on this page.

 

Canterbury Charity Hospital Trust

 

The Rotary Club of Bishopdale Burnside is a supporter of the Canterbury Charity Hospital Trust and has contributed in a number of ways including:

  • Purchase of a van
  • Vital Signs Monitor for the Endoscopy Unit
  • Donations for the purchase of medical instruments
  • New defibrillator
  • Supply and installation of a maintenance shed
  • Coffee machines for staff and patients

The Club was honoured to award a Paul Harris Fellow to Phil Bagshaw to acknowledge the contribution that he and his team have made to Christchurch and Canterbury.

Hands on Community Project with members giving the garden at Braintree some well deserved maintenance

Hands On

 Members enjoy the hands on projects that the club gets involved in.

Our Projects have included: 

Regular Gardening at Braintree

Tree Planting Styx Mill, Port Hills, Darlington

Barn painting at Orana Park

Clean up at Willowbank Wildlife Reserve

Working bee at Kendal Avenue Kindergarten

Working bee at the Charity Hospital

Working bee at Bishopdale Community Centre

Painting the Bishopdale Plunket Rooms

Warm Homes Project to facilitate warm homes for the elderly

Community Giving

Community Projects are enjoyed by many of the members and is one of the primary reasons that a person chooses to becomes a member of Rotary. It gives the member to the opportunity to give back to their community where they live or work.

Club based Community Projects have included:

Collecting for Heart Foundation

Donation to Dementia Canterbury

Contribution to Champion Centre

Assisted with Blood Pressure booths

Collecting for Blind Institute

Disabled Snowsport Canterbury – van fit out

NZ Suicide Prevention Trust

Burnside Primary Muslim Community

Literacy Christchurch

Royal foundation of Blind – Talking book

Canterbury Medical Research Foundation

Heat pump installed at Darfield Community Plunket rooms

Supplied a van to Queenspark school for sports transportation

Donated ‘Tear Drop’ Signs to Cotswold Pre School

Assisted Cantabrainers Choir Therapy Professionals

Provided Volunteer Drivers to Presbyterian Support Services

Contribution to The Champion Centre

Provided equipment to St Patricks School

Provided support to Harewood School

Contribution to Victim Support

Grant to Bishopdale School for sunhats and digital cameras

Grant to Isleworth School for paint and sports equipment

Supply carpet square to Kendal Kindergarten

Provision of paint for the Bishopdale Pre-school

Donated computers to Odyssey House

Contributions to City Mission

Isleworth School to assist children to school camp

Harewood School for the purchase of equipment for a new classroom

Kendal School for the purchase of paint for the repainting of the pool

Contribution to Big Brother Big Sister Mentoring programme

Contribution to Kidsfest

Accompanied and paid for day out on Weka Pass Train for Bishopdale Community Centre users

Distributed firewood

Community Recognition

Each year the Club honours local people with the Rotary Club of Bishopdale Burnside Community Awards.

These awards cover the following categories:

Excellence in Workmanship

Community Award

Vocational Award

Young Totara

Awarded to a Young person who displays strength of character, courage of conviction, care of community, and pursuit of excellence.  

The recepient is given a young totara tree to plant.

Nominate a Future Community Award Recipient

If you would like to nominate a worthy recipient in the above categories for our next Community Awards please complete our nomination form.