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Vocationals A rotary theme is getting to know your fellow members and one of the ways that we do that is through Vocationals were members tell us about themselves. This week it was Jim Espie and Angus Fletcher who were in the spotlight, so to speak. Angus Fletcher Angus gave us a run down on the Fletcher Family from its earliest days in Dunedin, through to more recent times and the "family" business. Angus is the youngest of three brothers. He grew up in Penrose property owned by the family since the 1940's. But first James Fletcher - a stonemason and builder who arrvied in NZ in the early 19th century. In 1915 James Fletcher built a wooden villa in McAndrew Bay on the Otago Penninsula which has been refurbished and is now owned by the Fletcher Trust. Anguis told us that the profit on the build was 3 shillings sixpence. By 1917 Fletchers were building in Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin and Invercargill. Answering the unstated quesiton of how this was done, Angus told us that as well as James' brother other siblings and cousins came to NZ as well meaning the company was able to spread itself about. Fletchers became a public company in the war years to enable the company founders to extract value. Fletchers were involved in the development of the pulp and paper industry, the establishment of Pacific Steel in favona and generally engaged in import substitution and then to export industries in various areas. Of necessity Angus's address was brief but it gave us a great insight into the Fletcher Family and the company his grandfather created. Jim Espie With Jim, the "Fletchers" theme of the meeting continued. In short Jim was employed by Fletchers for over 40 years commencing as a drawing office cadet in 1941 and then moving to the Quantity Surveying office. He served the company in Samoa as manager of Fletchers operations there, then Sydney where he was assistant manager and manager of the Sydney branch and then joint managing director of The Fletcher Construction Co. Pty Limited from 1957 to 1960 when he returned to New Zealand. In 1962 he was appointed Managing Director of Fletcher Construction Company Limited. Jim retained senior leadership roles in the Fletcher Group until his retirement in 1984. Outside of work Jim was an Auckland soccer representative and played squash and tennis. Jim has been a rotarian since 1952 first in Sydney and then with Penrose since 1961. As is always the case member's stories are endlessly facsinating and a wonderful resource for all. |
JADURAM, Mike (Satyawan). Passed away in Labasa, Fiji, on 11 July 2022, aged 86 years. Loving husband of Savita. Proud father to Gayatri, Anita, Rohan and the late Terence Jaduram. Grandfather to Kiran, Matthew, Amara and father-in-law to Mark and Selina. Much loved family member and friend to many. A memorial service will be held to celebrate Mike's life at the Lyell Creek Lounge, Alexandra Park, 233 Green Lane West, Epsom on Sunday 21 August at 2.30pm. All communications to