Another year has passed and as I look back on it, I see that it has turned out to be a year of change and transition.  The family days ran successfully and those that attended had a very good time.  The annual camp held recently at Lakewood lodge was a perfect venue held in perfect weather and although numbers were down on previous years it was one of the most relaxed and enjoyable camps I have attended in recent years. 

There were both highs and lows over the year.  We accepted with regret the resignation of our secretary for the past few years.  We thank him for dragging us into the electronic age with the advent of our brilliant web site and for encouraging us to do our business by email, which has improved the group’s efficiency, and for the success of his various fundraising endeavours, which leave the group in good financial health.

We noted also with profound regret the passing of Trish's mum who was a great support for Trish and a great supporter of the work the group was doing.  Circumstances and a change in Trish's life saw her move to Ruawai, near Dargaville, and then her resignation as field officer, which resulted in the curtailing of some of her workload. She still remains part of the group, with her tasks being vastly reduced and as time passes refined ever more as we continue to work out the best way to utilise her unique skills and experience wherever possible.  It is worth noting that the MoH felt her work was of such high value that on hearing of her resignation they encouraged us to find and employ an education officer to continue her excellent work in educating children, parents and teachers towards the reduction of preventable burn related accidents in schools throughout the Waikato.

The result of this has been the employment of Colleen Caldwell as Education Officer who is doing a great job of filling, in her own words, “Some very big shoes”.  Colleen already has 60 plus schools on her books and her enthusiasm and energy for the job at hand is beyond reproach.

Ted Anderson, our special project manager, has successfully negotiated a deal with Wendy Pye publishing for our Keeping Safe books to be sold on our behalf through their sales channels.  As a result we have high hopes for the future of this venture, which, if successful, could contribute significantly towards our expenses and running costs.

In closing I would like to thank the board for their support and hard work during the year.  Quite a lot was achieved through the year and, of course, this could not have been achieved without the Board's willingness, as volunteers, to attend the meetings once a month and shouldering, without complaint, the various tasks allotted.

This year also signals my resignation as President.  I wish the incoming President every success and, as l will remain a board member, my continued support in her new role.

To the board, I would like to say, be very proud of yourselves and your efforts over the past year.  They have been very worthwhile and you can know that they impact, in no small way, on the world around us.

Kind regards

Paul Evans -McLeod
President