11th May 2019
72 present and past members and invited guests joined in celebration to acknowledge 50 yrs of Ashburton Plains Rotary Club and its commitment to charitable work and community association.
Fittingly, in an evening of reminiscing, celebrating and fellowship amid fine dining we first saluted faithful believers PDG Ellis Buchan-an and PP Russell Anstiss as Rotary Servants of loyal guild allegiance who have seen through the entire 50 of meetings, plans, projects and principally, ‘service’ to our club.
In truly typical Rotary freethinking we’ve committed $3,500 funds to signage on the Mt Somers Walkway as a 50th Anniversary marker.
As a tilt to our wealth of Foundation credits we proffered a ‘Paul Harris Fellowship Award’ gesture on Paul Thomas, a public spirited man whose path in agriculture and the meat industry has been majorly overshadowed and surpassed by his voluntary service to St John, St Vincent de Paul, Catholic Church, Budget Advice and Chaplaincy.
The Induction to membership of Banker David Jones, a notice of decision to give $3,500 in a Foundation Grant, plus $3,000 to Polio Plus rounded out a fitting celebration of 50 years ‘Service above Self.’
District Governor John Driscol (Left) and President John Duncan(right) with Paul Harris Awardee Paul Thomas