Membership remained stable over the year with a slight increase from 316 to 324 this year. This increase follows a drop from 325 in the 2001 year.

This year we ended up making a small profit although we had budgeted to make a small loss. A significant donation of $1,200 to Chris MacLean to assist in writing a biography of John Pascoe was made this year. The section still maintains a healthy reserve.

The amount invested in this charitable trust fund is now $10,536. An award was made to Peter De Joux in 2002. Unfortunately this was not uplifted as the Otago University weeklong Stage 1 Avalanche Course he was to attend was cancelled at the last minute.

This year the section ran an Alpine Instructors training course (14 students), an Alpine Instruction Course (19 students) and our Summer Rock course (16 students). Special thanks to Peter de Joux, Scott Taylor and all the other instructors and helpers that made these courses happen.

March: Short talks by Pete McGreger, Caroline Duggan, (two), Hugh Logan Richard Thomson
April: AGM and Shaun Barnett on his Mt Cook to Arthurs Pass Alpine Traverse
May: Graham Charles on Antarctic Peninsula
June: Photo Competition judged by Rob Suisted
July: Kay Hart on Western Karakoram 22 July: Lecture by Doug Scott
August: Michele Domaneschi on Verdon/Yosemite
September: Short talks by Peter Laurenson, Nicole Medcalf, Peter de Joux, Glen Hodges, Eric Duggan, Tom Zink, Garth London, and Dave Shanks.
October: Mark Inglis on Mount Cook
November: John Rhodes on Mount Aspiring area
December: Pat Deavoll's ice climbing exploits
January: No section night
February: Barbeque at Fergs indoor climbing wall

All speakers gave excellent talks and were much appreciated.

Garden of Eden 27 March - 1 April (7 participants)
Mt Franklin 1-3 June (14 participants)
Mt Travers 21-24 June (7 participants)
Mt Taranaki 17-18 August (5 participants)
Mt Ruapehu 21-22 September (20 participants)
Mt Franklin 3-6 October (6 participants)
Mt Arrowsmith 25-29 October (5 participants)
Mt Aspiring 27 December- 4 January (15 participants)

Thanks to everyone that organised, led and participated in these trips.

Wellington High School indoor climbing wall is no longer available to members as it was dismantled in January. The Summer Rock Course evening sessions were held at the Hang dog facility this year. Members discounted rates continued at the local commercial walls (Hang dog and Fergs).

The Baring Head event in the National Bouldering Series was held on 25 January. Several Section members helped out running the post event BBQ.

Caroline Duggan and Maria Cassidy in their roles as section representatives attended Club Committee Meetings (CCM) in May and November during the year.

Office holders at the end of the year were:

Chairperson: Alan Lowrie
Vice Chairperson: Vacant
Secretary: Caroline Duggan
Treasurer: Nigel Roberts
Committee Members: Simon Chapple (Newsletter Editor), Kara Lipski (Section night administrator), Peter Shanahan (Library Backup), Mike O'Brian, Steve Hart (Trips subcommittee convener), Phil Suisted, Peter de Joux (Instruction subcommittee convener and AIC coordinator),Cathy MacLean (Treasurer backup), Maria Cassidy.
National Representatives: Caroline Duggan and Maria Cassidy

The following were non-members of the committee but carried out important roles through out the year: Judy Reid (Patron), Scott Taylor (Instruction subcommittee member and Spring Rock course coordinator), Derek Richardson (Library), John Barnes (Palmerston North Contact), Jane Furkert (Webmaster) and Fraser Crichton (Webmaster Backup)

During the year; Dave Shanks resigned from the committee, Steve Hart replaced Phil Suisted as Trips subcommittee convener and Peter Shanahan took on the role of Library Backup.

All committee and non-committee members, instructors and other helpers who have put in so much of their time and effort this year must be thanked. Without them the section would not continue to be one of the biggest and one of the most active in New Zealand. Thanks are also due to our local walls and retailers, Hangdog, Fergs, Mainly Tramping, Bivouac, Mountain Designs and Kathmandu, for their generous sponsorship of our photographic and bouldering competitions. The Hillary Commission is also thanked for its continuing support of our instruction programme, through both national funding and the Wellington City Council.

Alan Lowrie

Chairperson Wellington Section