Rotary Gifts Harley Riders With Birthday Bash Survival Packs
A small group of New Zealanders attending the Harley Davidson 100th birthday bash in Milwaukee Wisconsin next week, are
about to find out whether the survival packs gifted to them by the local Palmerston North Rotary Club, will enable them
to survive through 10 days of rigorous activity at the worlds biggest party.
On the eve of their departure a month ago for Canada & the United States to join 60 other HOG members riding their Harleys Across America, the three Palmerston North
Rotarians were presented with an array of kiwi memorabilia, to ensure their personal survival during the Harley Davidson
motor cycle company’s centenary celebrations.
Tour Organiser & Travel Company Manager Stephen Parsons, Roger Clausen, a Rongotea farmer, and local businessman Graeme McLaughlin have
so far travelled 3,000 miles across mid west America’s seven states without having to access any of the items in their
packs. Their uniquely New Zealand contents include:
A Bum Bag, a tiki, a NZ bandana, kiwi soap, face cloth, tooth brush, tooth paste, coffee, sugar, US & Canadian small change, a sewing kit, scissors, kiwi band aids, rubber bands, vitamin E cream, refresher sachet, Bic
ball point pen, New Zealand mini flag, a lemsip sachet, packet of Panadol, Mylanta pills, nail clippers, Redoxon sachet,
Rotary Club President Maureen Ax–Doolan says the idea for the packs was a personal one. She says the club wanted to give
its members something unique, something they could use in case of an emergency. Each pack has cost about $30.
Mrs Ax-Doolan was elected Rotary President some two months ago and is the first woman appointed to the position by the
predominantly male parent club in the city of Palmerston North, in its 80 year history.
“I’m also an avid traveller, and I recognised that these small survival packs would come in very handy for our three
local Rotarians especially while they were partying with more than 750,000 other Harley riders in Milwaukee,” she said.
The club meets weekly, and is eagerly following the progress of its three members via the official website, and a map of
the United States that identifies the Harleys Across America riders’ progress and location.