Ten years ago, in October 2014, a meeting was held at the Hat and Creek Restaurant on a lovely summers evening to discuss the formation of a Rotary Club in Hoedspruit. Several enthusiastic residents, wanted to be part of this organization which had (and still has) the reputation of being the most financially sound, largest, most powerful networking service organisation in the world. Indeed, the rotary flag is recognized in more countries than any other flag in the world.
Inspired by Maurice Stander, Rotary District Governor at the time, and John Lategan (who had recently moved to Hoedspruit) – and other Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Haenertsburg the steps to form a Hoedspruit Rotary Club were put into place. The club was chartered with Rotary International in October 2015. Ten years on, Hoedspruit has an established, thriving and industrious club.
Rotarians have the capacity to elect a fellow Rotarian or community members to receive a Paul Harris Fellowship as a tribute to people whose lives demonstrate a shared purpose within the objectives of Rotary. It can be presented to those whom Rotary acknowledges to have made an outstanding contribution, either to the club or to the wider community, and particularly within the ideals of Rotary and “service above self”.
Paul Harris was the founder and organizer of the first Rotary Club in Chicago USA in 1905, the founder of the Rotary idea, and the first president of the worldwide organization – Rotary International. Past Hoedspruit President, Hazel Partington says, “I love the fact that his first project was building a public toilet in Chicago – and we’re still building toilets to this day! In fact, Rotary Hoedspruit recently received an award for the outstanding waterless toilet facilities provided to the Faith Burlington creche in our district.”
It was Hazel who had the initiative and vision to remind us to make sure that our local Rotarians and community members are acknowledged for their outstanding contributions. On the evening of the 17th October this year, at a well-attended event of community members at Blue Mountain Lodge, she had the honour and pleasure of recognising Club members as they became Paul Harris Fellows. Through their work and commitment, Rotary has been able to carry out an array of programmes that achieve beneficial changes in our world: improving living conditions, increasing food production, better education, wider availability of treatment and rehabilitation for the sick and disabled, new channels for the flow of international understanding and brighter hopes for peace.
The Paul Harris Fellow pin of honour was presented to charter club members, David Bertram, Lovelle Henderson, Michael Henderson, past President Wilna Mew, past President Rosemarie White, Paul White and Rotarian Alan Partington.
A special Paul Harris Fellowship was presented to Christine du Preez for her untiring and exemplary work within the wider Hoedspruit community. Every citizen of Hoedspruit will be aware of the amazing work carried out by Christine every day, in making Hoedspruit a better place for all of us.
There were also two posthumous awards granted to charter member Monika Golightly and John Lategan – our founding President.
As a matter of interest, here are twelve famous people who were/are Rotarians: Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Bill Gates, John F. Kennedy, Sam Walton (founder of Walmart), Pope Francis, Walt Disney, King Charles lll, Margret Thatcher, Angela Merkel (past German Chancellor), Neil Armstrong, Sir Winston Churchill and Colonel Saunders (KFC).
To each of the recipients, our congratulations and sincere thanks.
