On Saturday, 1 August 2026, Papakura Toastmasters celebrated a very special milestone: 30 years as a club.
Members past and present, charter members, friends and fellow Toastmasters gathered at Papakura Bowling Club for an evening filled with memories, laughter, speeches and celebration — a chance to reconnect, share stories, and celebrate everyone who has been part of Papakura Toastmasters since 1996.
Papakura Toastmasters (Club 1486, District 72) was chartered on 13 September 1996, with a celebration dinner held at the Jolly Farmer Inn in Drury. The club was sponsored by Colin Marshall ATM and Sara Wheeler CTM, and its eighteen charter members — Chris Johnson, Jenny Collins, Katrina Purdon, Kay Wheeler, Christine Foreman, Gary Foreman, Jonathon Dale, Shona Davison, Des Searle, Diane Colson, Andrew Pearson, Peter Rees, Lenis Katavich, Caroline Saunders, Bryony Veitch, Emma Trott, Bill Lusich and Ruth Maxwell — laid the foundation for three decades of public speaking, leadership and friendship in the community.
A Night of Celebration, Connection and Friendship
The evening was hosted by Grant Pepper and John Sumner, who guided guests through a programme of speeches, memories and special moments reflecting the spirit of Papakura Toastmasters today. District Director Mark Tweedale presented the club with its 30th Anniversary certificate, accepted by Immediate Past President Chris Way.
Keynote speaker Kevin Prohl shared his Toastmasters journey, former president Stephen Budai spoke about his time with the club, and charter members Jenny Collins and Katrina Purdon both reflected on the club’s earliest days — bringing the room right back to 1996. A specially made anniversary video took guests on a journey through the years, revisiting memorable moments from three decades of friendship, growth and shared history.
At the heart of the celebration was the evening’s theme:
Honour our past. Strengthen our present. Shape our future.
As one member put it, the night was about “celebrating where we have come from, appreciating the community we have today, and looking forward to the next chapter still to come.”
More Than Speeches and Meeting Roles
One of the most special parts of the evening was simply watching people reconnect — swapping stories, catching up with old friends, and enjoying each other’s company. It was a reminder that Toastmasters has always been about more than speeches and meeting roles; it’s about the connections, encouragement and friendships built along the way.
Looking Ahead
As Papakura Toastmasters moves beyond its 30th anniversary, the journey continues. There will be new members finding their voice, new leaders stepping forward, new friendships forming, and many more stories still to be written. The club will keep evolving, but the spirit that has carried it through three decades remains the same: people supporting people to grow.
The organising team extends a heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make the evening so memorable — members, former members, charter members, and fellow Toastmasters from across the community.
Thirty years behind us. Many more stories still to come.
Interested in building your confidence, communication and leadership skills? Come along and see what Papakura Toastmasters is all about — [visit us at a meeting] to find out more.
