PHFs recognised in 2017

 
Delivered by Merv Paddison at the club's Changeover Celebration on 7 July 2017:
 
The Rotary Club of Caloundra has accumulated Paul Harris Recognition credits with the Rotary Foundation over the last two years.  The main source of these credits was the $10,000 our club donated towards a Global Grant in 2014 to improve water and sanitation facilities in the Solomon Islands.  The Rotary Clubs of Caloundra Pacific and Sydney Cove also contributed towards this project.  The Caloundra Team worked on stage two erecting three rainwater tanks at the Sassamunga Hospital on Choiseul.  Two toilets and a tank were erected at the Sassamunga Secondary School as well as a community toilet.
 
A committee was formed to advise on Paul Harris Recognitions for 2016-17.  Guidelines were that consideration be given to both Rotarians and community members.  It was resolved that six PHFs were to be presented.
 

Alf Muller PHF+2

A Paul Harris Fellow medallion with two sapphires, was presented to long time member and now honorary member, Alf Muller last November.
 
Five PHFs were to have been presented tonight but for various reasons three recipients could not be with us tonight.
 

Genta Tsukimori PHF

Firstly, Fellow Rotarian, Genta Tsukimori, has work commitments in his restaurant tonight.  Genta’s community work has centred around Japanese culture and wellness programs as well as duties at Dicky Beach Surf Life Saving Club.  In our club, Genta is International Director with a special interest in Donations in Kind, Gizo Hospital and sister club liaison with the Rotary Club of Komaki in Japan. He was a valuable worker in our team working in Sassamunga.
 
Genta's Paul Harris Fellow recognition was presented at our club meeting in August.
 

Bill Lavery PHF

Secondly, Bill Lavery has recently relocated to Nambucca Heads.  He will be back in Caloundra in late July when we will catch up with him.  Bill was involved with technology studies at James Cook University.  On his retirement to Caloundra, Bill soon found himself working as secretary for the Caloundra Men's Shed.  At his own expense, Bill volunteered for our Sassamunga Project.  He became our specialist in tank stand construction.
 
Bill's Paul Harris Fellow recognition was presented at our club meeting in August.
 

Ken O’Connell PHF

Ill health has prevented our third recipient, Ken O’Connell, from attending tonight.
 
Ken is being recognised tonight for his community service.  He began his community service with the Redcliffe Surf Club in1958.  After country service around Western Queensland, Ken returned to the Sunshine Coast.  He joined Metropolitan Caloundra Surf Club and before long he was club secretary.  He progressed to branch and then state secretary of Queensland Surf Life Saving.  In 1991, QATB was changed to QAS and restructured.  One result was the formation of Local Ambulance Committees.  In 1992, when Hugh Barkley, a former Rotarian and officer in charge of Caloundra was transferred, the local Caloundra Ambulance committee needed a new secretary.  Ken O’Connell has filled this role now for 25 years.  His organised and efficient manner has helped to make the Caloundra LAC what it is today.  In his spare time, Ken has been a volunteer with the Australian Business Volunteers working in Tonga, Vanuatu and PNG.
 
Merv Paddison caught up with Ken in October to recognise him formally as a Paul Harris Fellow acknowledging his community service.
 

Jillian Boyle PHF

It gives me great pleasure to introduce our first recipient present here tonight, Jillian Boyle.
 
While raising seven children as a single mum, Jillian found time to have many roles in the Kyabram Community.  She was a founding member of the Kyabram Athletics Club, a passionate player, coach and umpire for netball as well as school and church involvement.  When Jillian moved to Queensland, her involvement in netball became stronger as her daughters took to the court.  In 2012 she was the inaugural Telstra Net Mum winning the Queensland and Australian Award (see more here).  She met Liz Ellis at the National Netball finals that year.
 
Jillian soon became involved in mental Health groups in Caloundra.  MIFQ, Mental Illness Fellowship Queensland and ARAFMI, Association for Relatives and Friends of those with a Mental Illness are two groups where Jillian gave freely of her time to help others.  In 2013, she received the Order of Australia for her work in mental health for both those with a diagnosis and for their families.  She gave  as 15 years  of selfless dedication as a facilitator for ARAFMI.  In 2016, on her retirement from MIFQ, Jillian was described as a lobbyist for change in the mental health sector.  She used her voice in the design of mental health facilities at the new Sunshine Coast University Hospital.  She also helped changes to procedures for administrating the mentally ill into and out of Nambour Hospital.
 
Jillian has been nominated for the Sunshine Coast Senior Citizen of the Year.  In 2015, she was nominated for the Sunshine Coast Inspiring Women’s Award by Carers Queensland.  In recent times Jillian has retired from hands on coaching in netball for the first time in 65 years.  However she is still involved in coaching umpires and still cares for her young ladies.  Just to use up her spare time or maybe to relax, Jillian has been involved in the Caloundra Cake Decoration since its formation 20 years ago.
 

Jim Lombard PHF

I now wish to acknowledge Jim Lombard as our second PHF recipient with us tonight.  Jim retired to Caloundra and soon found himself involved with the Men’s Shed.  Our Rotary Club got to know Jim in his role as president of the Caloundra Men’s Shed when it was located at the Gateway Centre.  Four years ago, Rotary members helped Jim and his merry band gain access to the old Unity water facilities in Allen Street as a new location for the men’s shed.  Jim led his men to help our Rotary members build a shed at Caloundra State High School for a bus for the Lighthouse group.  His group also built a playhouse as a raffle prize for STEMM at Burnside State High.  Jim led his group to a new shed at Meridian Plains.  Unfortunately, this site was needed as an aged care facility so the Men’s Shed is back in temporary facilities in Allen Street.
 
In 2015, Jim became aware of our Rotary Club’s need for volunteers to travel to the Solomon Islands to work on the water and sanitation project.  At the isolated village of Sassamunga on Choiseul Island, Jim was an expert with the ruler and drop saw to make sure timber was ready for use in the construction of toilets.  In fact, as a consulting engineer for H2O solutions I think he was first to quality assure the new toilets.  He mixed well with the local people learning about their lifestyles.  He was the master of the chilli sauce preparation.
 
Jim, thank you for your work with the Rotary Club of Caloundra.
 

Honour Board

See all our Paul Harris Fellows here