A Paul Harris Fellow and a Life Membership

Changover was was again a very enjoyable evening with 42 present including guests from the Ashburton Club, Ashburton Inner Wheel and Braided Rivers Inner Wheel.

Guest speaker Pup Chamberlain , Suicide Prevention Co-ordinator (Lives Worth Living) gave a moving and thought provoking talk on suicide in our community.

Philip Young did an excellent job as MC, Sue Blacklow-Cahill presented a Paul Harris Fellow and Wim Presented a Life Membership

Paul Harris Fellow Presented to Jackie Girvan
In recognition of a lifetime dedicated to service above self, the Rotary Club of Ashburton Plains is proud to name Jackie Girvan a Paul Harris Fellow.

Jackie’s commitment to community service began at the age of 12 when she joined the Junior Red Cross, setting the tone for a life devoted to the care and wellbeing of others. After entering the nursing profession, she became actively involved in the Student Nurses Association, serving as President of the Ashburton branch and later the Ashburton Registered Nurses Association.

Her contributions to health and welfare span decades. She served the Ashburton Branch of the Heart Foundation for 20 years, including terms as Secretary and President, and supported families in need through her work with Birthright. She also served on the board of ACADS (the Community Alcohol and Drug Service), and gave two terms of service to the Ashburton Licensing Trust and the Charitable Foundation. Jackie was a member of the DARE programme supporting the 2 local Police education officers.

Jackie joined the Ashburton Plains Rotary Club in 2002 and though she remained a member for only a few years she continues her Rotary commitment as a key member of the committee for The Youth Institute, a Rotary initiative for over 20 years.

Her dedication to health advocacy is particularly evident in her work in stroke care. Jackie has served on the inaugural Canterbury DHB Consumer Panel, the National Stroke Network, the Stroke Clot Retrieval Panel, and currently serves on Stroke Aotearoa Consumer Panel.

In addition to this, Jackie actively volunteers with St Vincent de Paul, delivering food parcels and serving as Secretary for the Ashburton conference. She is also a Trustee of the Ashburton Benevolent Trust and a volunteer at the Citizens Advice Bureau.

Perhaps most notably, in 2018 Jackie helped found the Ashburton Housing and Support Trust—also known as Haven Housing—in response to a critical lack of affordable rental accommodation for older residents of modest means. As founding trustee and Chair since its inception, Jackie has been a driving force behind the Trust’s vision, development, and fundraising efforts. Her compassionate leadership has helped the Trust acquire and build housing now valued at over $3.5 million, including the purchase of Cameron Courts, the construction of 17 units in Moana Square, and the planning of 10 more on Cambridge Street.

In all her work, Jackie Girvan embodies the Rotary ideal of “Service Above Self.” Her unwavering commitment to the vulnerable, her visionary leadership, and her tireless volunteerism have made a profound and lasting impact on the Ashburton community.

It is with sincere admiration and gratitude that we present Jackie Girvan with this Paul Harris Fellow, one of Rotary’s highest honours.

Sue with Jackie Girvan

Honorary Membership presented to Philip Young

President Wim presented Philip Young with an Honorary Membership, in recognition of his outstanding service to the Club and the wider Rotary movement.

With Philip moving from the district, Club members agreed this special honour was a fitting acknowledgment of his significant contributions over many years.

Philip’s connection with Rotary began during his student days at Southland College, where he was an active member of Rotaract, Rotary’s service club for young people.

His Rotary journey continued into the early 1980s when he was living in Papua New Guinea. There, he became a member of the Lae Huon Gulf Rotary Club, part of District 9600.

Upon returning to New Zealand, Philip joined the Invercargill Rotary Club and following a move to Ashburton, he became a valued member of the Ashburton Plains Rotary Club in 2008.

Since joining the Club, Philip has made a remarkable contribution across multiple areas, serving on the Community Service, Projects, International, and Administration committees. In 2010, he took on the role of Assistant Treasurer, a position he held for three years before becoming Treasurer in 2013—2018 a role he fulfilled with dedication and expertise.

Philip’s leadership continued as he served as President Elect for the 2018–2019 year, President in 2019–2020, and subsequently as Immediate Past President.

In recognition of his unwavering commitment and embodiment of Rotary’s motto “Service Above Self”, Philip was named a Paul Harris Fellow in December 2020. This prestigious award acknowledges those whose life and work reflect the humanitarian and educational values of the Rotary Foundation.

The Honorary Membership is a small but heartfelt way for the Ashburton Plains Rotary Club to express its gratitude to Philip for his outstanding service, dedication and the positive difference he has made in the Club and the Ashburton community.