Our Story

A BRIEF HISTORY OF OHARIU TOASTMASTERS

Ohariu Toastmasters club has a unique and varied history. It was started by the Johnsonville Toastmasters club in 1989 whose membership had grown too much for them to handle. Both clubs met at the Union Church in Dr Tayor Terrace from 7.30 – 7.30. Johnsonville on every second Thursday and Ohariu on Tuesday.

By 2004 both clubs were low in membership and Ohariu, with 13 members had a final meeting and voted to disband the club and members said they would join with the Johnsonville club.

However, a group of Toastmasters, including Rob Julian who was the District Club Coach Coordinator, Colin Perfect who was the District Governor, Steve Bullock the incoming District Governor, Andrew Smith, and Arthur Norgrove met and made plans to revive the club.

All sorts of activities were put into effect, ranging from letter drops to all the businesses in Johnsonville, staffed desks outside Countdown and in the Mall, displays in the Library and chalk messages on the footpaths. (Rob Julian came home after writing such messages around Johnsonville to find an irate message from the Mall management saying that graffiti had been written on the Mall carpark and this was illegal. Rob waited until the Mall Office closed and phoned back leaving a messaged that he was appalled by such behaviour and would deal with it.)

Finally, after two years and almost giving up, the membership started to reach double figures and Ohariu Toastmasters survived. (Oddly, Johnsonville Toastmasters have collapsed and no longer exist). Initially we met from 5.30 to 7.30 every second Tuesday but members having to come from the CBD complained that they could not get to meetings on time, so the decision was made to meet from 6.00 – 8.00.

Ohariu Toastmasters had had members win through to District (New Zealand) contest finals. It has had Glen Pearce getting the District Award for the most Valuable Contribution to Toastmasters New Zealand and he is now the District Club Growth Directo, the second highest District Officer and on the way to becoming the District Director. Rob Julian has won the District Humorous Speech Contest (and now can’t even win the club contest, the standard is so high).. We have received the most prestigious Toastmaster International Award for President’s Distinguished Club and we have received the Jack Duffy Rosebowl for the greatest Community involvement of all Toastmaster clubs in NZ. We have four Distinguished Toastmasters (the top ward one can earn in Toastmers), in Rob, Roger, Glen, and Merlyn.

At present, a strange thing is happening. Toastmaster clubs throughout New Zealand are struggling to maintain membership. There are various theories as to why this is happening, but Ohariu is booming. At each meeting we invariably get guests, who when they see the vital, enthusiastic and friendly meetings, with laughter flashing around like summer lightning, they want to join. We are now into the mid-20s, a membership which few Toastmaster clubs in the world get to.

Not bad for a club that almost collapsed.

Written by Rob Julian DTM.