Service to Others
Invicta Rotarians have just been collecting for two hours each over the weekend for Marie Curie Cancer Care. Volunteering service to our community is one of the main reasons people join Rotary.
However, Rotarians are not alone in volunteering and helping others. There are many people in our local community who also give service to others; often over many years, and yet their efforts generally go unnoticed.
So each year, the Rotary Club of Sittingbourne Invicta gives recognition to three local people, and we invite them to join us on a special Rotary Civic Awards evening.
This Year’s Award Winners
This year we have again found three very dedicated people who have served our local Sittingbourne community for many years.
John Clancy
Our first nomination for a Rotary Civic Award comes jointly from The Friends of Milton Regis Court Hall and Sittingbourne Heritage Museum.
Rotary Civic Award: John Clancy with President Mike Gee & Peter Morgan PHF
The citation reads;
“John Clancy is editor of the Sittingbourne Heritage Museum newsletter and journal, and he has contributed articles to both publications for many years. He is also editor of the magazine published quarterly by the Historical Research Group of Sittingbourne. He is the main correspondent for the Sittingbourne News Extra for the town’s clubs and societies and for several villages.
With his interest in the preservation of local heritage, John was instrumental in starting The Friends of Milton Regis Court Hall group in 2011, and continues to act as a Trustee and their Press Officer.
All told, he has written 18 books on the history of Sittingbourne and some of the surrounding villages. His latest project, in conjunction with The Sittingbourne Society, was organising the erection of a ‘Blue Plaque’ in the High Street to mark the childhood home of Julia Spicer.”
Louise Winzar, President Mike Gee, Christopher and Lynn Shortall
Louise Winzar
Our second nomination for a Rotary Civic Award comes from The Salvation Army (Sittingbourne).
The citation reads;
“Louise has been actively involved with the Salvation Army since the age of ten. Throughout that time she has given of her time and skills without stint serving as Primary helper, Sunday School teacher, Record Sergeant, and Assistant Young People’s Sergeant Major. She is currently Corps Secretary and brings to this task her extensive administrative and IT talents and skills. Her work is most valuable to Corps Officers, Section Leaders and Community Sections alike with many depending on her for advice and more practical services.
Louise also serves on the Community Care Ministry team helping others in their community work endeavours. She also finds time for mentoring and to be a prayer partner. She does many of those tasks that no one sees from a public platform, and her work has been voluntary throughout. The Corps Officers at Sittingbourne are delighted to nominate her for this award – she is an ‘unsung heroine’.”
Kenneth Shortall
Our third nomination for a Rotary Civic Award comes from St John Ambulance in Sittingbourne.
The citation reads;
“Ken has been a member of St John Ambulance for 42 years, joining as a Cadet in Dublin, Ireland. He is a dedicated member of the Sittingbourne unit, and is now a Divisional Officer responsible for training and logistics within the unit.
Ken has also been a member of Casualty Union for Kent for several years, an organisation that trains and supplies patients for training exercises, and he has assisted all of the emergency organisations.
Ken is trained to Emergency Transport Attendant level in St John Ambulance, and regularly attends events and duties as part of an ambulance crew.
Ken assists the South East Coast Ambulance Service with New Year’s Eve coverage and when winter weather causes a shortage of ambulances crews.
Ken is a valuable member of the Sittingbourne St John Ambulance Division.”
Unfortunately Kenneth Shortall was not able to attend the evening event, so his son Christopher picked-up the certificate on behalf of his father.
Our Rotary Civic Awards evening was on Monday 30th March 2015, and held at Hempstead House Hotel, Bapchild.
For recipients of Rotary Civic Awards from earlier years please see: http://www.rotary1120.org/sittingbourneinvicta/rotary-civic-awards
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