June 25, 2014
Kingaroy has six new Paul Harris Fellows following the Kingaroy Rotary Club’s changeover meeting at Kingaroy RSL Club on Monday night.
The latest recipients of the prestigious award are: Neil Black, Wayne Bushell, Cheryl Dalton, Deb Hails, Margaret Huston and Ancy Pratt.
Past District Governor Eric Woods also inducted the new leadership team for the club for 2014-15: president Vince Evans, secretary Lloyd Hooper and treasurer Des Cook.
Outgoing president Damien Tessmann said the highlight of the year for the club was the Kingaroy Police and Rotary Ball which raised $31,000 for palliative care in Kingaroy.
Other fundraising brought in about $40,000 for Rotary projects both locally and internationally.
Another highlight was the introduction of Pride of Workmanship awards.
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To be made a Paul Harris Fellow is the highest honour a Rotary club can bestow.
It honours Rotary founder and Chicago lawyer Paul Harris who began the movement in 1905. Paul Harris Fellows must meet high professional and personal standards and are not limited to Rotarians.
About the latest Paul Harris Fellows:
- Past president of Kingaroy Rotary Neil Black was recognised for his efforts in relation to the Rotary Foundation. He has been instrumental in raising funds for the Foundation and PolioPlus. He has also donated the use of his facilities at the Pioneer Motel to the Kingaroy State High School’s hospitality students for training (with the Rotary Club as the guests) during their assessments.
- Police prosecutor – and Rotary member – Wayne Bushell was recognised for his efforts in assisting the club to raise $31,000 for palliative care. Sgt Bushell was a major organiser of this year’s Police Ball and catered for the event himself. He was also the conduit between Rotary and the police which has built a lasting relationship between the two organisations.
- Former South Burnett and Kingaroy councillor Cheryl Dalton was honoured for her long service to the local community; Cheryl is a member of the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Board, CEO at SB Care and chair of the Mayor’s Community Benefit Fund. She also serves on various State Government panels in a voluntary capacity, and as an executive officer on the disability employment services board of JobLinks. She is also involved with the Wooroolin Scouts and Durong Girl Guides.
- Kingaroy State School principal Deb Hails has been involved in the club since 2008. Retiring club president Damien Tessmann said Deb had been one of the major reasons the club had excelled in relation to youth-related activities. She has been the club’s youth director for a number of years and has developed a unique partnership between the community and Rotary with the delivery of the Rotary Readers program in the Kingaroy, Kumbia and Crawford State Schools. She has also organised the Kingaroy District Primary Schools Persuasive Speech competition and been instrumental in the Youth Exchange Program.
- Margaret Huston has been the driving force behind the club’s major fundraiser for the year, the Rotary calendar. For years, Margaret has been working with her Rotarian husband Mark to organise the calendar along with sponsors and the selling of the calendar. She has been an unsung worker of the club for years, working behind the scenes.
- Ancy Pratt has served the local community for more than 35 years. She has worked as a volunteer in the Red Cross opportunity shop and Blood Bank, Kingaroy Hospital canteen, Meals and Wheels as well as local Uniting Church activities. The former nurse is also well-known for her work at Castra and the Christian Bookshop.
[UPDATED]
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