General News
14 April, 2024
Rotarians' honour for outstanding service
Horsham East Rotary Club has honoured three woman for outstanding contributions to their community and beyond with the awarding of Paul Harris Fellowships.
Horsham East Rotary Club has honoured three woman for outstanding contributions to their community and beyond with the awarding of Paul Harris Fellowships.
President Wendy Lang made the presentations at a club international night attended by 70 people.
The awards went to Marguerite Goulding, who grew up in Horsham and now lives in Cambodia, and Horsham sisters Mary and Teresa Marchesini, who have donated more than $300,000 to the Cancer Council and a further $40,000 last year to Horsham organisations.
The Paul Harris Fellow award is one of the highest forms of recognition a Rotary Club can bestow on a Rotarian or community member.
Mrs Lang said people who attended were greatly impressed by the work of the three women.
"There wasn’t a dry eye in the room," she said.
"Everyone was so inspired and in awe of these ladies for their motivation and dedication."
Ms Goulding, who was guest speaker at the dinner, left Horsham at 19 to join the Royal Australian Navy and for the past 20 years has volunteered in many countries.
Her work includes helping the Eye Care Foundation in Cambodia, which is supported by the Horsham club.
Horsham Rotarians have sent more that 700 pairs of used spectacles to Cambodia since hearing about the program through Horsham resident Denise Dolby and her school friend Ms Goulding.
Mrs Lang said the glasses were collected over a couple of years and Rotarians later appreciated the opportunity to link online with recipients of the glasses and eye care.
"Dedication by Ms Goulding to her charity work through Australian Volunteers has taken her to Banda Aceh (in Indonesia), Bangladesh, Nepal, outback Australia, Vanuatu, Cambodia, Bangladesh and the Philippines," Mrs Lang said.
Ms Goulding told members that a volunteering highlight was her workin early education with indigenous people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh, despite having only minimal resources.
She also helped to establish a language-learning model that is now used around the world.
"My life is my hobby and the ability to continue making a difference is what inspires me to carry on," she said.
"My advice is follow your dreams and always be the ‘expat’ not the ‘expert’."
They Marchesini sisters' donations to their community include supporting the Christian Emergency Food Centre, giving money to Horsham West ^ Haven Primary School for playground equipment and donating to Wimmera Hospice Auxiliary and Kmart's Christmas Giving Tree for Children.
The three award recipients are among eight community members recognised by the club with a Paul Harris award since 1980.
The club continues to collect unwanted eye-glasses and asks people wanting to donate to contact Rotarian Steve Sosthiem on 0448 814 006 or take them to Alison Roberts at the Horsham Plaza office.