Three Rotarians in our District have been honoured this year:
Allan Fenwick, President of the Rotary Club of Marton in 2011-2012, was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit ( ONZM) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to the thoroughbred racing industry. Allan has contributed to thoroughbred racing nationally and internationally and for more than 30 years has been honorary and senior positions in racing administration. He was Chief Executive of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing from 1993-2005. He has supported the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame since its inception and continues today as a Board member.
 Picture from the Whanganui Chronicle.
 

 

 Dermot Byrne has contributed to a range of community organisations in the Khandallah community since the 1970s and is a Past President of the Wellington North Rotary Club.

Mr Byrne has been involved in several fundraising efforts in Khandallah. In the 1970s he led the fundraising efforts to build the Onslow Free Kindergarten and became its founding Chair. In 1983 he was a key player in establishing the Cornerstone Resource Centre Trust and was the Chair of the Trust several times over 33 years. In the 1990s he fundraised for and led the extensive upgrade of Khandallah Village. He helped fundraise more than $250,000 over a period of nine years for the adaptive restoration of Khandallah Town Hall and he also oversaw its conversion into a multipurpose community centre. From 2005 to 2006 he served as the President of the Rotary Club of Wellington North. Mr Byrne was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 2011.

 

Dot McKinnon is the President of the Wanganui Rotary Club  Mrs McKinnon has been awarded the Queen's Service Medal for services to the community.
Dot had six years as deputy mayor from 2004 to 2010 and is the current chairwoman of the Whanganui and Mid Central district health boards as well as being on the national executive. Her CV lists more than 20 boards, committees and community organisations she had been involved whether at a grassroots level or in the boardroom.
Mrs McKinnon said the QSM was a nice award to get. "It's really lovely because this is the community that's putting forward my name," she said. "I'm just delighted for my husband and my family too because they've had to put up doing all those things over the years.
"I guess I've got a strong social conscience and I really think it's vital that people contribute in whatever way they can." As for her most treasured achievements? She says they've all been done as part of a team.  I'm not one to say 'Oh, I did this and I did that'.