By CASEY NEILL
Dandenong Rotarians donated more than $4000 to drive positive change in the world in honour of three dedicated members.
Club president Susan Collier announced a Paul Harris Fellowship and two double sapphire presentations at its annual changeover dinner at the St John’s Regional College Graduate Restaurant in Dandenong on Wednesday 22 June.
But this year wasn’t so much a “changeover” as a “business as usual”.
Ms Collier will stay on in the lead role, the first person in club history to serve two successive terms as president.
“I hope that I live up to your expectations,” she said.
District Governor Don Ripper helped her with the presentation of a Paul Harris Fellowship to Irene Cantwell and double sapphire pins to John Grennan and Don Thompson.
He explained that the club donated US $1000 to the Rotary Foundation for each honour, which will be used for humanitarian and educational programs.
Mr Thompson is nearly 90 years old and is retiring from the club after more than 36 years of service.
“I don’t think that I warrant a second sapphire in front of a number of other Rotarians, who I believe have done greater service and put more effort into this club than I have,” he said.
“In retiring I thought somebody might say ‘goodbye Don, it’s been nice to know you’ and left it at that.
“But to get a second sapphire on my Paul Harris Fellowship is something really special.”
Mr Grennan interrupted Ms Collier as she started to read the second citation, and looked very bashful as he realised the nod was for him.
“Are you embarrassed now that you heckled me 30 seconds ago?” Ms Collier asked.
Head bowed, Mr Grennan replied with a meek “yes”.
“I’ve never heard this double sapphire thing. Thank you very much indeed and I do appreciate it very much,” he said.
Ms Cantwell’s involvement with the club has been as a non-member alongside her husband Don.
“I’m very proud to be associated with such a wonderful organisation,” she said.
“We help so many people locally, nationally and internationally.”
Ms Cantwell has played a key role in the Helping Hands project, which Ms Collier said was “a real shining light in our Rotary Club this year”.
She explained that a $400 sponsorship paid for a prosthetic hand. The Cantwells secured support for 30.
“That means 30 lives that have been changed,” Ms Collier said.
The donors had the opportunity to assemble the hand, to be sent overseas to landmine victims.
Ms Collier said the project helped people to regain independence and confidence, and had built interest in the club’s corporate membership program.
In the past year the club also participated in the Greater Dandenong Relay for Life last October, Cinema Under the Stars in Tirhatuan Park in Dandenong North in March with City of Greater Dandenong, barbecues and more.
