Honorary Rotarian Michele Mann joined St Johns Rotary one average morning on 8 May, back in 2006, and sadly left us on Monday, 20 March, having spent her last days in Respite Care at Dove Hospice, which was one of many organisations she supported.
There will be a Memorial Service on – Wednesday 5 April, All Saints Chapel, Purewa Cemetery, 12 for 12.30 – to reflect on her generosity and the wide-ranging institutions and individuals she supported.
Today we remember a Rotarian colleague, friend and presence who could delight with her artistic talent, motivate with drive, determination and enthusiasm, while partying and mingling with equanimity and purpose. Many will recall the “fish & chips” evenings in the Mann’s lovely Long Drive home.
She first raised eyebrows by joining Alex McKenzie, PP, Honorary Rotarian and another irresistible force, doing reading with pupils at Glen Taylor School, an institution she grew to love and support in every way, until her untimely death. Recalls principal Chris Herlihy: “Michele loved coming to events at the school. Whether it was an assembly, prize-giving or any other event, Michele so enjoyed and expressed her joy supporting the kids at GTS. “On the odd occasion, I would forget to invite Michele to an event. That was the wrong thing to do!”
She had created her own business, Care Cookies, previously and brought the idea of Rotary co-ordinating a Great Kiwi Anzac Day Breakfast, after seeing the growing number of younger generation attendees at the Dawn Service. She believed this would provide an occasion, post-dawn service, for Rotarians to invite family and friends into their homes to reflect on the importance of the day and raise funds to support the upkeep of memorials and / or general well-being of ex-servicemen, when it became clear that municipal regulations would impede and frustrate the original idea.Each year the club honours and celebrates that ideal. Michele received a Paul Harris Fellowship Award, early on, for her passion, under-writing and mobilising efforts.
But her true love was to be Dictionaries in Schools. Her husband, Eddie, would be enlisted to fetch a couple of hundred dictionaries which she would personalise to each youngster, in her artistic hand, from up to 10 primary schools in the Tamaki area. But that was just the initial preparation. Murray, possibly Aubrey, Miles, and Kevin had the pleasure of accompanying her to photograph these special events. These were not occasions to dole out books and pat youngsters on the head. No way. Michele would give a short pep-talk on the importance of language and being able to communicate. Then she would pop down on the floor and gather everyone around. It was a bit like watching the Pied Piper at work. Michele had the unique ability to chat to one of the youngsters, without condescension, and simultaneously keep the rest of the group scurrying to find the word she had identified. They were never random words, but words to reinforce her message of self-help and responsibility. All subtly delivered.
Michele was one special irreplaceable Rotarian.
