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| With Jim and Aileen is L to R PDG Rex Morris PDG Peter Roselli, President Elect Kamaya Crawford DG Gordon Hooper and PDG Pat Clay |
On 3rd January 1954 James (Jim)
Keenan joined the Rotary Club of Hokitika in D298 now D9970.
At the time Jim was Deputy Mayor of
Hokitika. He served his community in this role from 1948 to 1955
He had recently returned from the war where
he saw service in North Africa and Italy. He was at the battle of Monte Cassino
where he served as a member of the 23rd battalion Second NZEF. His
battalion was mainly made up of West Coasters most of whom grew up with Jim and
they shared many happy memories of growing up on what was then one of the most
colourful communities in New Zealand.
He later was wounded by shrapnel in the
battle to cross the Rubicon River and after the war finished he was shipped
back to New Zealand and spent time recuperating at the Queen Mary Hospital in
Hanmer Springs. Most of the West Coast contingent returned to the Coast
although a number of them like Jim were injured.
He was honoured by the Queen with a DSO for
services to the community and later the 1990 Commemoration Medal for his
service to conservation. Jim is a JP and an Honorary Life Member of the RSA .
Jim was born in 1922 at Woodstock in the
famous Royal Mail Hotel which was built by his Grandfather in 1870. It remained
in their family for the next 82 years and it is still operating today.
Jim is a published author and is considered
an authority on early West Coast history. His book “The Coasts Colourful
Characters” is a record in humour of the early characters and life, collected
over a lifetime living and working on the “Coast” .
Jim,s service to his community is unquestionable as is his service and dedication to Rotary.
He served as District Governor in 1973-1974
and although his health “ ain’t what it used to be” he still regularly attends
Hokitika’s weekly meetings.
Both Jim and his wife Aileen where recently
honoured by then D9970 Governor Gordon Hooper acknowledging his 90th birthday
and his Rotary service of 60 years to Hokitika and District.
He has been a mentor to many DGs and his
hospitality of taking each visiting Governor for a mornings tour of his beloved
Hokitika is legendary. He is a great raconteur and loves to talk about his
early Rotary service and share his stories of the people and the many colourful
events that have embellished his life. In West Coast vernacular he is what they
call a “Good Bugger”.
Submitted by: PDG Gordon Hooper 2012-2013
