Specific Rotary Awardees for 2011-12
Rotary International offers awards to recognize the efforts and contributions of Rotarians, Rotary clubs, and non-Rotarians. Eligible nominators may submit nominations according to each award’s criteria and guidelines There are many categories of award. As was the case at our club’s annual changeover dinner often they are made then. Outgoing President Geoff Dumayne announced the following:-
PAUL HARRIS FELLOW
TAMARA CANNON, you were selected to receive this recognition because the RCH believes that your life exemplifies the humanitarian and educational objectives of The Rotary Foundation.
Tamara is the daughter of our President elect Ngaire, and Don Cannon and graduated in law some 12 or 13 years ago. She is now the founder of Lille Fro.
In 2008, Tamara packed up corporate life to work on her own project. While travelling in Asia she found her way to Everest Base Camp and was blown away with the Himalayas. This inspired her to go in search of the perfect peak. This lead her to Ladakh in the north of India.
There she met a little girl living in destitute circumstances. Like many children in her village this child had never been to school. Tamara decided to pay for her education.
Seeing the difference she had made to this child’s life Tamara realised she could not turn her back on other children in similar circumstances. The seed had been planted and the Lille Fro Foundation had been born.
In October 2009, after months of talks with the Indian Government, Tamara was granted permission to enter a restricted part of India – home to some of the world’s poorest nomadic communities.
Lille Fro not only educates 85 children but also builds greenhouses to help support the villages. This year Lille Fro won a gold medal at the Melbourne garden show for its greenhouse display, designed, constructed and manned all by volunteers.
RCH is proud to be a supporter of Lille Fro.
Tamara it is a great pleasure to present you with a Paul Harris Fellow for demonstrating your commitment to helping persons in need.
PAUL HARRIS AWARDS
Geoff, Noel Halford, David Rush & David Owen
DAVID OWEN, you have been selected to receive this recognition because the RCH believes that your service above self to Rotary and the community exemplifies the objectives of The Rotary Foundation.
David was inducted in March 2008. Since joining RCH he has embraced all activities of the club. If workers are need David is there. Over the last two years he has looked after New Generations and this year also Community Service. He has done outstanding work with students be it for MUNA, where last year he organized and ran the whole program for District 9800, so well in fact that he was asked to assist this year, or promoting and then interviewing students for NYSF, RYLA, RYPEN. He reinvigorated and ran our annual Tasmanian Youth Exchange as well as attending many community forums. He also according to David personally catered for the Relay for Life.
It is therefore my privilege to award David a Paul Harris Fellow.
DAVID RUSH
David has been a member of RCH since 1981, served as president in 1991-1992, was originally awarded a PH Fellow in 1992 and subsequently has been awarded a one sapphire PH Fellow.
While I have known David for 30 years, in my six years as a member of RCH I have observed David as the quiet counsellor on all things rotary and mentor to many. His mentorship and encouragement to me this year has been greatly appreciated. David is always there quiet and unflappable.
His work and dedication to Rotary Foundation has been outstanding over a very long period of time. He has educated our members about Foundation, sourced and obtained numerous Grants and cajoled many a treasurer to provide more money for foundation than they thought was available.
David, it is in recognition of your outstanding service to RCH and in particular to The Rotary Foundation that it is my pleasure to award to you a 2 sapphire PF Fellow.
NOEL HALFORD
Noel has been a member of the RCH since 2003, president in 2006-2007 and is currently a 2 sapphire PH Fellow.
What can you say about Noel. Well firstly I would like to make it known that Noel has a slight affliction that affects his life. Every time a job needs to be done his right arm involuntarily goes up. Although Marjorie tells me that this affliction is not as evident at home. Noel also barracks for the Demons. Another affliction.
Apart from the contribution Noel makes to RCH he is actively involved in numerous community organizations such as The Boroondara Foundation.
This year I asked Noel to take up what was a new board position as Fund Raising director. What happens almost immediately is the council decides to upgrade the H.A. Smith Reserve and there goes our number one source of income the tennis parking. This is worth in excess of $20,000 annually. Noel set about getting ideas from members for new fund raising projects and so was born AussieFooty tips. Noel and his committee spent countless hours delivering this project.
He also organised and almost single handed ran the Camcare concert and as he does every year organized and directed our Annual Christmas Dinner for over 200 socially isolated Boroondara residents.
Noel, in recognition of your outstanding service to RCH and the wider community it is my honour to award you a 3 sapphire PH Fellow.
The next 2 awards have been awarded by Rotary International
Dr JOHN CARRE-RIDDELL
For I don’t know how long Dr John has looked after care for members. But it is a long time. He reports each meeting on any member who is on the sick or injured list. He phones, visits and offers assistance where possible. Unfortunately this year must have been one of his busiest on record.
He also sends each member a birthday card with a reminder to have your yearly check up.
John, for your exemplary service to care for members it is a pleasure to award you a 2 sapphire PH Fellow.
DG Elect DENNIS SHORE
Dennis, your contribution to The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International is allaying suffering, improving living conditions, and providing educational opportunities for young people somewhere in the world. This is a truly selfless action.
It is an honour to present you with a PH 6 pts which equates to a one ruby PH Fellow.
PRESIDENTS AWARD for ROTARIAN of THE YEAR
It is my great delight to announce that this years Hawthorn Rotarian of The Year is Geoff Wright.
Geoff is one of those people that is in everything and particularly if it is hands on. He has been running our Xmas ham, cakes and puddings for the past few years and indicated to me last year he would like to have a break. However as a favour to me and with his arm twisted up his back he agreed to another year. The result was he added wines to our offerings resulting in an amazing $23,000 being raised.
Now the RC of Collingwood that supplies the cakes etc has a raffle where any entries over a certain amount go into a draw for a prize. Lucky us we won $3,000.
Geoff assured me it was because he craftily ordered the cut off quanities to maximise our entries. Good treasurer material.
Congratulations to all,
Geoff Dumayne- President HRC 2011-12