30/10/2024
Our District Governor (District 9940), Jocelyn Hogg, visited our club this week. As well as entertaining us with tales of Vanu Atu and how Rotary is assisting with rebuilding following a cyclone, and in ongoing ways, she was able to present a Paul Harris Award to Kevin Harris.
Kevin's Citation is worth repeating in full. It reads "To Kevin Harris, a member of the Rotary Club of Petone, who has served the Club and the community in an exemplary manner as a leading example of commitment within Rotary and the community.
Your first contact with Rotary was though the Sunrise Club in Hamilton where you were living at the time and gaining work experience in the health sector. On 21 Jul 2020 you were inducted into the Petone club following your relocation to the Wellington region, where you were General Manager of Kenepuru Hospital.
Your management skills were quickly recognised by the Club resulting in you being President from July 2021 to July 2022.
One of your first roles in 2020 was to take over as convener of the Fair Committee at a time when Covid restrictions were in force and the potential for the Fair being unable to proceed on the day were a real threat. Your leadership at this time of doubt ensured that the planning continued and was ready for the Fair to proceed even though the movement restrictions were only lifted a few days before the scheduled Fair date.
This exceptional commitment was instrumental in a very successful 2021 Petone Rotary Fair which was a welcome activity for the local community after the prolonged restrictions on social activities due to Covid.
In addition to continuing in the role of Convenor of the Fair Committee, you have used your management experience to formalise some of the Club’s administrative documentation so that the logic of Board decisions can be recorded for reference when various members of committees are ultimately replaced. This together with setting out goals and guides for future decision making should ensure the Club will continue to fulfil its roles as required by Rotary International.
You have also been instrumental in getting youth mental health onto the radar of Petone and other Hutt Rotary clubs.
With your friendly demeanour and willingness to assist the Club in all its endeavours there is no doubt that you live by the Rotary Motto of Service Above Self.
Kevin, due to the way you continue to exemplify the humanitarian and community objectives of The Rotary Foundation, the Rotary Club of Petone wishes to give due recognition of this service through this award."
It is wonderful that Rotary has these awards - a way of recognising service to our own people :-)
