Rotary clubs at The Entrance and Erina united recently for an awards presentation to honour some of their outstanding members.
The Entrance Rotary President, Peter Ward, said nine special people were acknowledged for their service in their workplaces and in their local communities.
“These people are so close to the Rotary ideals, and in many instances really epitomise this year’s motto of Serve to Change Lives,” he said.
Erina Rotary Club opened the event by awarding two Paul Harris Fellowships to Andy Nichols and Ben Brown.
Nichols is an artist, designer and sculptor of the Operation Jaywick-Rimau Memorial Garden, a project of Erina Rotary.
He has continued to maintain this special place since it was dedicated in September 2018.
Brown is well known on the Central Coast for his Walk to Cambodia last year, when he walked the distance from Australia to Cambodia raising money for Human and Hope, aiming to break the cycle of poverty by sponsoring education.
He volunteers with the Bateau Bay Police Citizens Youth Club, is a member of the Rotary Social Impact Network E-Club and is an honorary member of Terrigal Rotary Club.
He works as a Peer Support Program Officer at Self Advocacy Sydney which supports people with intellectual disabilities.
Pride of Workmanship Awards were presented by The Entrance Rotary to Kerry Crum and Nathan Greaves.
They both work at Mingara Recreation Club and were nominated by their supervisors who said Greaves was “a very impressive young man” and that Crum was an asset to the organisation and her teammates in her 21 years with the club and 15 of those volunteering with the Mingara Social Club.
Erina club’s Pride of Workmanship award went to Joel Smeaton, team leader of HoTS (Health on the Streets) which assists those sleeping rough, and a group regularly supported by The Entrance Rotary.
The Entrance Community Service Awards went to Silvana Natoli, who is proprietor of La Carta Café and Art Gallery in Wyong, and John Daven.
“Since last year’s lockdown, Silvana has been producing 30 pasta dishes every week for our club to distribute to the needy — even though at the time she was unable to seat people in her café at all,” Ward said.
“Silvana also hosts fundraising dinners and High Teas for groups such as the IRIS Foundation and the Heart Foundation and ensures all the profits go to them.
“She supports Schooling Zambia, and her Art Gallery displays local and budding artists.”
John Daven joined the Central Coast Prostate Cancer Support Group in 2011 after successful treatment, and has been president for the past 11 years.
He has volunteered his time and personal experience to help other men on their own prostate cancer journeys, and also became an Ambassador Speaker for the PCFA and a Volunteer with Cancer Connect of the Cancer Council of NSW.
Erina Rotary’s Community Service Awards were presented to Alison Heathcote and Samuel J Lentini.
“Alison is named Waste Warriors and she is down around the Terrigal foreshores every morning early with her emu picker picking up rubbish and placing it in the correct receptacle,” Ward said.
“She is also famous for her effort with the Bin the Butts project where she provides containers filled with sand for smokers to put their cigarette butts instead of just dropping them on the ground.”
Lentini, from East Coast Beverages, has donated water to cyclists riding in the Century Challenge over many years.
“All these people start every day not expecting it to be noticed that they are making a difference -but through Rotary they now know that they are appreciated,” Ward said.
Sue Murray