Surprise Paul Harris Award for Newtonhill Rotarian
Newtonhill man and Portlethen & District Rotary Club founder president Robbie Middleton received the surprise of his life on Tuesday night at the Club's annual, Touch of Tartan evening in the Newton Arms. Robbie had been signed up to provide entertainment for the Rotary partners social evening. He joked on arrival at the function with several Rotary District dignitaries who had tuned up for the event that, surely they hadn't come just to hear him singing. It was only after a sumptuous meal served up by the Newton Arms staff that Robbie suddenly became aware that the reason for the gathering of all the dignitaries was in fact to make a presentation to him. |
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Rotary Club of Westhill & District
The annual senior citizens Christmas party took place at the Ashdale Hall, Westhill on Sunday 2 December. The event was organised by the Rotary Club of Westhill & District and was attended by almost 200 people. The party started with afternoon tea and was followed by a range of entertainment, which included several musicians from Westhill Academy, Technip singer Bob Wilson and Rotarians Ian Duncan giving a recitation and Bill Troup singing bothy ballads. The Rotary choir, under Morag Simpson contributed greatly to the entertainment with a Beatles Medley, a campfire sing-a-long to mark the centenary of the scout movement and finishing with a number of Christmas carols.
President Kevin Carter expressed thanks to everyone who made the party such an enjoyable occasion and especially to Technip Offshore UK, who once again generously sponsored the event. |
North East Rotarians Come to the Rescue of RNLI
RNLI North East Scotland organised a car raffle at the Aberdeen Bon Accord Centre to raise funds for local crew training. When Rotarians heard that the RNLI was struggling to man the sales desk they readily agreed to sell tickets during a two week period in November. Approximately 130 Rotarians from all Aberdeen & Deeside Zone 4 Clubs with Fraserburgh and Stonehaven were involved in this community project.
John Shewell, Chairman of the Aberdeen Fund Raising Committee, stated that he was delighted to get this assistance from the local members of Rotary, and that the RNLI is most grateful for the total of approximately £8000 raised by Rotarians.
Aberdeen St Fittick Rotarians Scott Irving and Gordon Taylor selling raffle tickets to Aberdeen Deeside Rotarian Helen Fitzpatrick.
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Club President Colin Reid enjoys a glass of wine with members of Bon Accord Rotary Club.
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ROTARY CLUB TOAST FUND RAISING EFFORTS FOR SIGHTSAVERS…
The Rotary Club of Aberdeen Bon Accord held a charity wine tasting event on Friday 19th October at the Sportsmans Club - raising over £600 for the target charity, Sightsavers International. Rotarian Jim Anderson of the Ellon club and his daughter Lara hosted the evening which was attended by 40 people who were able to sample wines of the world.
Sightsavers works to combat blindness in developing countries, restoring sight through specialist treatment and eye care. The funds raised by the club are enough for 35 cataract operations. Club President, Colin Reid said, “This was a very worthwhile event and we hope that our support will result in some benefit of improved vision for those in need.” |
Aboyne and Upper Deeside Rotary Club celebrates Award for the second time.....
Members of Aboyne and Upper Deeside Rotary Club were recently awarded a prestigious trophy for the second time in just a few years. Club Members are pictured at their autumn barbecue with the Connestoga Wagon which is awarded annually by Rotary Clubs in the north of Scotland to a Club which has an outstanding record of international service.
In recent times, the Aboyne Club has, in addition to considerable support for local charitable activities, provided funding towards a dental project in Peru, led by local woman, Jackie Nimmo, and has supported one of its own members, John Forbes, in numerous practical projects in Bosnia. The Club has also contributed to various international charities, including Water Aid, Riders for Health and the work of a local VSO volunteer. The Club also helps with the cost of Rotary's Shelter Boxes and the Water Survival Boxes which can be deployed anywhere in the world affected by a major disaster.
The Club draws its membership from all areas of Upper Deeside including Aboyne and Ballater and is grateful to the many local people who support its work through its fund-raising activities throughout the year.
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At a meeting of the Rotary Club of Westhill & District on 13 September, Prof. Bob Orskov, a member of the Club and a Director of International Feed Resources at the Macaulay Institute in Aberdeen, introduced three friends from the Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Tri Yuwanta is Dean of Faculty of Animal Science at the University, while Kustantinah and Hari Hatardi are lecturers there.
The Westhill Club has had close links with Yogyakarta since 2000 at which time we supported a local initiative resulting in the purchase of 52 goats. Additional finance was provided to enable a further 130 goats to be purchased and through the revolving fund system, total goats in excess of 2000 have been produced. These projects have been managed by Women’s Farmer Groups, who have achieved so much with very little resources. The Indonesian Government took great interest in the scheme and having acknowledged its benefits to local communities, decided to finance the purchase of 8000 goats for 2700 families living in villages in east and west Java.
The representatives from the University of Gadjah Mada gave us an update on the progress of the projects and how the local communities have benefited from the introduction of the livestock and how more opportunities are becoming open to them through wealth generation. They also reported on how the bridge at Wonolagi had proved to be very popular with all sections of the community. The Rotary Clubs of Westhill & District and Deeside had contributed the sum of £4300 towards the construction of the new bridge. |
Bob Orskov, Kustantinah,Hari Hatardi,Tri Yuwanta and Pres.Kevin Carter
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All but three of the 06/07 Zone 3 Presidents and their partners gathered together at the home of retiring AG Peter and Ina Tong's home for an "End of Term Celebration" on Friday evening June 29th. prior to their retiring to the other ranks. Much fun and fellowship was had by all.
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Paul Harris Fellowship
Mrs Morag Mitchell has been secretary to the Aberdeen Branch of the Scottish Disabled Society for many years. One of the main functions of the society is to organise the participation of the Aberdeen Branch in the Scottish Disabled Games that are held in August each year in the Wishaw Sports Centre, with accommodation being provided in Motherwell College. Eight Rotary clubs in the Aberdeen area have been pleased to provide sponsorship and to transport the teams to Wishaw each year to accompany and assist the members in participating in the events. After many years of service Morag, who is herself disabled, has decided to retire from this particular duty, although she will stay actively involved in the Aberdeen Disabled Society. The Rotary Clubs in Aberdeen decided to mark the occasion by presenting her with a Paul Harris Fellowship at a lunch meeting in the Aberdeen Northern Hotel on Monday June 11th. The presentation was made by Peter Tong, Assistant Governor for the Aberdeen area.
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Looking on are DG Bill Leslie and 8 local Rotary Club Presidents. |
Portlethen & District Rotarians honour a worthy member.
Portlethen & District Rotarian Nick Mulligan became the first member of the club to be presented with Rotary’s prestigious Paul Harris Fellowship and was described by Club President Ray Mellis as, “a worthy recipient and true ambassador of Rotary International”. He is a founder member and past president of the Portlethen & District Club and has since its inception been one of its most industrious and committed supporters.
When volunteers are called for or when others need help Nick is invariably noted to be first to offer his services. He has over the years shown himself to be not only a great believer in the humanitarian aspects of Rotary but also an equally staunch believer in fellowship and has organised many club nights at various local eating venues, all of which were thoroughly enjoyed by club members, spouses, partners and friends. Nick is also the Club’s sports and Gavel competition convener and ensures that appropriate sporting opportunities are brought to the attention of members.
Rotary Young Leader Awards and other youth activities
Apart from his dedication and commitment to the club itself he was for several years District R.Y.L.A. Officer and during his tenure every facet pertinent to arranging the annual R.Y.L.A. camps was managed to perfection.
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He also gave of his time freely in support of various activities especially at Nethybridge Outdoor Centre near Aviemore where these events were held. Nick has also been instrumental in organising and delivering the Primary School Quiz for the club’s catchment area.
Various senior officials of Rotary District 1010 were present at the special meal organised by the club at the Newton Arms along with Rotarians’ partners and friends and the Fellowship citation and medal were presented to Nick by current District Governor Bill Leslie. |
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