Sunday 28 June 2015

Wellington South celebrates




Club President Sr Catherine Hannan 
gives the PHF badge to Annette King M.P.

Last Wednesday, June 24th 2015,   The Rotary Club of Wellington South held its annual dinner at ‘The Pines,’  Houghton Bay.   During this function the Club honoured Annette King, the long-serving Labour M.P. of our local electorate, by awarding her the Paul Harris Fellowship.


“You have been a Member of Parliament for 28 years, with 22 of those years as M.P. in this Southern part of Wellington. However, we don’t bestow this Award as an honour for your service to national politics or to any political party.” said Sr. Catherine Hannan, outgoing Club President.  “We see this as honouring you as the person who has given over two decades of service to all the people of Wellington South.  You have supported countless individuals and a host of community organisations, in so many ways.  We see you at all our community functions and celebrations -  the annual Newtown Festival, the Opening of the Leonie Gill Walkway -  and there you are, amongst the crowd.”


“When the new Compassion Centre Soup Kitchen was opened, we felt many  people were unaware of the new site, so we invited sundry Members of Parliament to come to dinner at that time, as media photographers would follow.  Most milled around in the Dining Room, talking together.  Where was M.P. Annette King?  She was at the sink, doing the dishes! That is a small snapshot of the priority you give to being of service to others, and that is what we now honour you for, with the Paul Harris Fellowship award tonight.” 


Club members parade the iconic “Bill Boyd” R.I. tie, treasured by many in our Club. Standing on the right of  Bill Boyd  is his friend, Club Past President and club stalwart Russell Gould, who as (then) President-Elect of our Club organised the District Conference where Bill Boyd became District Governor of District 9940 so many years ago.