South Wairarapa Rotary Biennial Community awards

Vicki and Edward after receiving their awards from Dame Lowell.

Sixteen individuals and couples were selected this year to honour their gifts of time and resource to the people of the South Wairarapa and on the 21^st of March, they were assembled at the South Wairarapa Working Men’s Club to be publicly recognised.

Dame Lowell Goddard officiated and in her thoughtful opening speech, she acknowledged the Wairarapa region and its people and spoke of her links with the area. She referred to the long history of the South Wairarapa Workingmen’s Club which was founded in 1877 and illustrated by the pictures on the walls of the room. She praised the award recipients saying that volunteers help in all levels of society and make our community better. Dane Lowell said they are “distinguished by willingness, pricelessness and selflessness”.

The three local recipients this year were:

Scott Macdonald. Known as the “Mayor of Pirinoa” Scott is closely involved with the Tuhirangi Rugby Club, and the Tennis Club and is the present Fire Chief of the Lower Valley Fire Brigade.

Vicki Jones & Edward Allen. Vicki and Edward have lifelong careers in music and since retiring from the NZSO they are utilising their vast skill and experience in bringing music to schools and to the wider Wairarapa Community.