Rotary recognises residents

Peninsula residents took home several awards recently at the Rotary Club of Umina Beach Pride of Workmanship awards night.

President Peter Doherty presented eight Pride of Workmanship Awards and three Community Service Awards at a special function at Everglades Country Club on Wednesday, October 25.

Ambulance officer Marty van der Wallen, Ronald McGrath and Mary Doherty all received Community Service Awards.

Bremen Patisserie pastry cook Miah Hart, religious education teacher Sam Collins, Clark Dowdle and Associates survey field hand and draftsman Robert Garwood, Peninsula Village hostel ward clerk Carmen Hopson, Peninsula Village receptionist Sue Mayo, Bakers Delight worker Bree Jenson, personal assistant Jessica Stephenson and Peninsula Village diversional therapist Paula Newman all received Pride of Workmanship awards.

"Rotary's image in the community is one of a service organisation that does all sorts of good things," Rotary Club of Umina Beach publicity officer Mr Geoff Melville said.

"We raise money for Tsunami relief, we send bright young Australians overseas on Youth Exchange.

"We send teams of bright business and service people and academics overseas to study.

"Locally we build school playgrounds and teach teenagers road safety, help train youth leaders - a whole host of things.

"But there's another side to Rotary that dates back to the formation of Rotary 101 years ago in Chicago.

"The object of Rotary was formulated around then, and it is often repeated in Rotary Clubs, especially when we bring in new members.

"It is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis for worthy enterprise.

"One of the ways this is to be done is to foster the promotion of high ethical standards in business and professions and to recognise the worthiness of all useful occupations.

"Rotary seeks to improve business relations while improving the quality of industry, commerce and the professions."

Mr Melville said that this was where Pride of Workmanship Awards fit in.

"The basic idea is to encourage pride of workmanship, to create the chance for employers to recognise employees who display special qualities and, sometimes, to recognise employers who have made significant contributions to their communities," Mr Melville said.

Press release, October 26 Geoff Melville, Rotary Club of Umina Beach