Rotary Meeting – Cambridge High School 21st April 2022
Ted Mason opened the meeting on the dot of 6pm. Ted shared a ‘This Day in History’ and reminded us that it was the Queen Elizabeths actual birthday. Going pretty well for 96 years of age.
President Ian spoke for a few minutes with a few anecdotes and about the Covid-19 level change to Orange and what that means for us as a group moving forward. John Bishop is going to approach the Cambridge High School and see what their policy is with the level change and report back to us which will define our road forward.
Shona introduced our guest speaker Jono Gibson. Shona used the pun that Jono was deemed an essential service during recent Covid-19 lockdowns which raised a laugh from the audience.
Jono opened with some basics for us:
- Born 1st November, 1985 and grew up in Wanganui.
- Married to Ashleigh
- Has an 18 month old son Monty
His more recent interests are:
- Fishing
- Music
- Drums & base guitar
- Snowboarding
His previous interests have been:
- Motorcycles, all sorts, road bikes and racing bikes
- Drums and rock music
Jono grew up in Wanganui and went to Wanganui High School.
He told us of a few detentions and the reason behind leaving school at 16. His first job was for a boat building company in Wanganui and he seemed to spend most of his time picking up food for the staff and non boat building duties.
One day when he went to multiple food shops one morning and returned and put things in the pie warmer in the smoko room and the racks had been raised and he burned all the food..apparently that was a firing offence which finished his 6 week career as a boat building apprentice.
At 18 years old Jono was involved in a major car crash on the road between Wanganui and Palmerston North. Jono was the sober driver but fell asleep with 4 of his mates in the car and the car rolled 4 times and remarkably everyone walked away. This event changed his life.
Jono worked in the automotive parts industry for a number of years and also completed a Diploma in Radio Broadcasting where he was hoping to become a radio presenter. The station he worked for was Rock FM and he ended up driving around the North Island in a V8 Ute towing a caravan and handing out promotional materials and having a ball.
He didn’t end up being a radio presenter as the only shift he was offered was the graveyard shift midnight to dawn and there was no pay for this role which compromised his day job working in automotive parts.
In 2008 Jono formed a metal band called Dakota Scream and they managed to release an album. Jono played us a clip from those days and I am pretty sure none of us in the room would have been in the audience back in the day..but a great success for Jono.
Jono told us of his motorbike experiences and a bike he called ‘Suzie’. This bike was a Suzuki TR1000 and nicknamed ‘The Widowmaker’..Jono managed to learn his own experiences with the bike leaving the road on a trip to Raglan and missing a corner ending up leaving the road and joining the vegetation.
2 months in hospital followed with shattered ankle, wrist and broken leg, various metal plates and screws and 6 months rehabilitation.
Jono shared a quote with us that he recalls was in his mind as the bike left the road..”if the bike is starting in the wrong direction, open the throttle, it may not improve the situation but it will end the suspense..”
Then came the racing bike era with 3 years of racing his 600CC race bike. Jono raced in the Paeroa Battle of the Streets and various street events around the country. He showed us another clip of his last race in the Paeroa race where he was what he calls middle of the pack.
The race circuit was called the Cemetery Circuit and Jono was allowed to have the Davis Funerals strip on his bike and showed us a picture which amused us all.
One of Jono’s friends passed away who lived in Marton and after attending the funeral and the 2 day wake that accompanied the event he decided that’s what he wanted to do.
Jono worked for Sibuns Funeral Directors in Remuera and then was offered a job at Davis Funeral Directors where he was hoping to work.
Jono and Ashleigh moved to Cambridge in 2018 and Jono joined Cambridge Funerals which is owned by the Legacy Trust. In 2019 Jono completed a Diploma in Funeral Directing and told us why he loves his job.
90% of the situations he is involved with is with older people who have had a good life and the role he has is to assist in celebration of life which he finds quite enjoyable. The 10% however involves younger people and he told us of one week he had specifically where he held services for a stillborn, a young child and young person that committed suicide. He took a week off after that and went fishing.
Ashleigh is a qualified choreographer, wedding celebrant and dancer.
Jono and Ashleigh met in 2011 and were married in Henley Hotel 2018.
Jono took a number of questions from the floor and Chris Smiley thanked Jono for talking to us for the evening. We all really enjoyed his speech and learning more about his life and experiences that have made him who he is today.
Updates
Doug Lang updated us on the Apprenticeships scheme and District Assembly coming up on the weekend of the 30th April
Ray Milner updated us on the Bookarama plan and he has plenty of slots available for people to help
David Partis gave us an update on the Taste Waikato website in his Our Rotary World.
David Partis advised an order for apparel will be going in on Friday and called for any more requests.
David Partis outlined the Firewood Project plan for Sunday 1st May calling for volunteers.
Firewood Splitting Plan is to run 2 splitting machines out at David Blewdens place on Sunday 1st May splitting firewood and stacking against the fence. Any help from members please is welcomed. Please contact David Partis for more information.
President Ian wrapped up and closed the meeting at 7:40pm.
Please look at the roster as a number of alterations have been made.
