Two local Rotarians have been recognised for contributing a lifetime of community service to The Rotary Foundation at a function at the Masterton Club.
John Waddington was honoured with a Paul Harris Fellow Award, and Marilyn Hunt was presented with the Paul Harris Fellowship Sapphire Pin, having previously been recognised with the Paul Harris Fellow Award.
Named after Paul Harris, who founded Rotary in 1905, the award was established in 1957 to acknowledge those who have made substantial contributions to the organisation and is the highest accolade that Rotary presents.
Christine Brewster, president of Rotary Club of Masterton South, said that although members can nominate someone for the award, it is the president and the board who have the final say.
“Sometimes the award is given to people in the community that we believe as Rotarians have given a great service, so that they can be awarded to just community people as well; it’s not always necessarily a Rotarian,” Brewster said.
Hunt told the Times-Age that she is the sort of person who gives 100 per cent to something she loves.
“When my children were at college, I was by myself, and I couldn’t afford to do a lot of things for my kids, and Rotary helped me fund something for my daughter,” Hunt recalled.
“I’ve never really forgotten that and that’s one reason why I joined because it’s given me the advantage to help people.”
Meanwhile, Waddington said receiving the award was humbling, while noting that “in the almost 60 years I’ve been in Masterton, I’ve been a member of various groups, and I’ve always played a full part in them”.
