Verna Van Shaik

Verna was introduced by Kunal Bensai.

Verna is amongst other things a Guinness record holder for deep diving, a solo sailor, ontological coach, and senior transformation leader at Vector.

Verna is recognized for her deep-diving achievements, having reached a depth of 221 meters in 2004, making her the deepest diving woman in the world.

Verna has been helping people and teams push beyond their comfort zones through guided sessions and personal coaching.  She has also created the Explorers Compass, a tool to help people find direction even when the path is unclear, emphasizing the power of exploration and embracing discomfort.

Verna gave us an insight into the challenges and techniques involved in deep-sea diving, including the use of lines and depth gages to prove depth.

Her dive to 221 meters was the fifth deepest in the world, and she had to invent her own methods due to the lack of precedent. She commented that the downside of exploration is that it often requires inventing new methods and techniques, as following others is not always possible.

Verna went on to discuss her experience of breaking world records and the psychological and technical challenges she faced.  ◦ She explained the physical and psychological challenges of deep diving, including the need for decompression stops and the effects of nitrogen narcosis.

She set out her approach to overcoming these challenges, including breaking down tasks and using different equipment. An important element of facing these challenges is courage and trusting one's own skills and methods, even when they differ from traditional. 

Verna went on to discuss the broader applications of exploration to personal and professional growth, using examples from her own experiences.  She highlighted the importance of pushing beyond comfort zones and embracing discomfort as a means of learning and achieving goals.

She emphasized the importance of persistence and resilience in the face of challenges and setbacks.

Turning to her record-breaking dive, Verna provided a detailed description of the practicalities of deep diving expeditions, including the logistics of equipment and team coordination.  She explains the challenges of managing dives in a cave environment, including the need for precise planning and safety measures.

She highlighted the physical and mental demands of deep diving and the importance of preparation and training.

Verna went on to talk about the emotional and psychological aspects of deep diving, including the fear and uncertainty that come with pushing boundaries.  She shared her strategies for managing fear and maintaining focus during dives, including the use of visualization and mental preparation. She emphasized

Verna went on to reflected on the impact of her deep diving experiences on her personal identity and self-perception. ◦ She noted the challenges of seeing herself as an explorer and the importance of adopting a mindset that supports her goals.  She highlighted the importance of believing in oneself and trusting one's abilities to achieve success.

Verna went on to discuss the importance of support and community in exploration, including the role of mentors and peers in her journey. She told us of her experiences of receiving support from others and the impact of having a supportive community on her success.  In turn she noted the importance of giving back and supporting others who are pursuing their own exploration goals.

Verna then went on to draw parallels between her exploration experiences and the challenges of business and leadership. She highlighted the importance of balancing constraints, managing risks, and pushing beyond comfort zones in both exploration and business.

She emphasized the value of learning from experience and adapting strategies to achieve success in diverse contexts.

Verna commented on the future of exploration and her ongoing commitment to pushing boundaries and achieving new goals.  It is important to have continuous learning and adaptation in the pursuit of exploration. She emphasized the importance of staying curious, open-minded, and committed to exploring new frontiers.

Returning to the record-breaking dive Verna talked about the challenges of coordinating a dive trip, emphasizing the need for thorough planning and communication. She gave us an example of issues that arise referring to an incident where gas cylinders were delayed, leading to a critical path failure and the need for immediate action.

She noted that her preference was for morning dives due to the length of time required due to repressurising to return to the surface.

She explained the process of getting kitted up for a dive, including the need for assistance of others due to the multiple layers of clothing.

Verna then talked about what happens during the dive. The monotony of spending six hours underwater and the strategies used to stay focused. She talked about the challenges of dealing with medical incidents underwater, such as air embolisms, or the bends.

Of particular importance is continuous support for divers along with the need for proper planning and preparation.

Verna concluded by reflecting on the importance of adapting and finding new solutions when faced with challenges, emphasizing the need to keep moving forward. She also emphasized the need to pivot and find new perspectives to overcome constraints.

Verna concluded expressing hope that our members audience found takeaways they can apply to their own lives.

Verna was thanked by Shaun Peacock.

Ann Dunphy -Rep Program and Volunteer Opportunities at One Free Hill College 

Ann spoke to the meeting about the existing rep program at One Free Hill College, highlighting its effectiveness and the current need for more volunteers.

She told us that the new house that arrived last week at the college requires additional volunteers. She noted that volunteers do not need to be Rotarians but should be connected through their networks. So if you want to volunteer or know someone put your hand up or put their hand up to do that.

Rotary Newmarket needs you to help out with carparking at Mount Smart stadium.

Each game, this activity raises up to $2,000 for the club, or around $60,000 a year. This forms a major part of the funds for the club's youth programmes including RAP and RYPEN. Recently, Go Media Stadium has started blocking the road around the stadium when large crowds are expected meaning we need more volunteers, and the number of volunteers is beginning to fall below a sustainable level.

Each game requires 8 volunteers, 3 at 23 Maurice Road and 5 at 5 Maurice Road. We don't expect you to show up every week, that would be silly. However, the more people who volunteer, the less of a commitment it is for each person and the more funds we can raise for the youth programs.

You would be expected to arrive 2.5hours before the game starts and help with taking money via cash and EFTPOS and guiding drivers. Usually both parking lots are filled within two hours and after that almost everyone can go home. One or two volunteers would need to stay at 5 Maurice Road until an hour after the game to lock the gate. We'll provide safety vests and EFTPOS machines. We recommend bringing a water bottle. 

This crucial fundraiser can't continue to exist without your help, so please contact Shaun Peacock (email: shaun_peacock@windowslive.com Phone: 027 631 0065) to sign up.