Three awarded Paul Harris Fellowship
Three Drouin Rotarians were awarded Rotary’s highest honour at the changeover dinner last week.
Ian Bennett, Ian Haughton and John Tricarico were presented with Paul Harris Fellowship awards by outgoing president David Proposch.
Club secretary Tim Wills said Mr Bennett had put in many years of community service.
“Ian has been a scout leader for eight years, a coach at the Drouin Basketball Club and a volunteer at Drouin West Fire Brigade.
Mr Bennett joined Rotary in 2005 and served as president 10 years later.
Mr Bennett and Leigh Rees were instrumental in establishing Motorfest at Lardner Park.
“Ian, and his mate and fellow petrol head Leigh, were the key initiators of our adventures in the world of noise, smoke, black dust, huge workloads, tattooed younger persons and let’s acknowledge it…truly rewarding experiences on so many levels,” Mr Wills said.
Ian, in Rotary and Gippsland Tuff Streeters hats, was also marshall, spruiker, announcer and even ruckus apologist.
Thanks Ian for your significant contribution to the $453,000 we gave away to worthy causes and the nearly $800,000 we injected into the district’s economy.
Mr Bennett said he was overwhelmed by the award.
“I just try and contribute. It is my way of giving something back,” he said.
He said it was about giving his time to his family and the community.
Mr Haughton was also acknowledged for his commitment to Motorfest. He joined Rotary in 2010. Mr Wills said his key contribution to Motorfest was the organisation of volunteer rosters and general management.
“Ian has contributed to the community in many ways through his adult years. He has always been a hard-working member of committees, willing to put his efforts into both the administrative and physical side of organisations,” Mr Wills said.
He has considerable involvement with the West Gippsland Hockey association, working in particular on the undercover shelter for spectators. Ian also spent lots of Saturday mornings organising VicKick at the Drouin Football oval, he said.
Mr Houghton said he had enjoyed all the hours he had contributed to Motorfest.
“It is lovely to receive recognition for all the effort I’ve put in over the years,” he said.
Mr Tricarico joined Rotary in 2011 after moving to Drouin with his family.
“And from day one he has been fully engaged with the club and its members,” Mr Wills said.
There is one activity that John has almost made his own …. neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds or in John’s case, from running the monthly Drouin Craft and Produce Market, first as Bill Petschack’s right-hand-man and then as The Boss, a with Roger Playdon of late,” Mr Wills aid.
Mr Tricarico said he was very grateful that Peter Williams had introduced him to the club seven years ago.
“Rotary has given me a lot over those years, he said