The Paul Harris Fellow is named for Paul Harris, who founded Rotary with three business associates in Chicago in 1905. Paul Harris Fellow recognition was established in his honour to express appreciation to those who support the humanitarian and educational programs of the Rotary Foundation. Those programs include an array of projects that save and invigorate the lives of people around the world and enhance international friendship and understanding. Rotarians often designate a Paul Harris Fellow as a tribute to a person whose life demonstrates a shared purpose with the objectives of The Rotary Foundation, and to build world understanding and peace.
Dr Michael Plaister and Grant Olufson were both recognised for their support of our Club and Rotary - see details under. It is because of gifts like the one made in their honour by this Club that The Rotary Foundation can carry out an array of programs that achieve beneficial changes in our world; improved living conditions, increased food production, better education, wider availability of treatment and rehabilitation for the sick and disabled, new channels for the flow of international understanding, and bright hopes for peace.
Members of our Club, Mark Swain and Phillip Paraggio, received Paul Harris Sapphire Pins to recognise their substantial personal contributions to The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.
- Dr Michael Plaister is a senior paediatrician at the Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick. Over the past 20 years over 40 children from the Pacific Islands have received lifesaving surgery at this hospital under Rotary’s ROMAC program, transforming their lives. Michael has been instrumental in ensuring access for these children, not only to the hospital, but to an array of incredibly skilled surgeons and physicians, to say nothing of the fantastic nursing staff. He has done this with wonderful compassion and understanding.
- Grant is co-owner of AWS Signs. Grant has been self-employed for more than 20 years operating a business with over 50 staff in sign fabrication. Our club’s association with Grant and AW Signs has been for more than 15 years, where he has generous donated not only his time, but his business resources in supporting Rotary. From charity bins refurbishment, maintains and advice, Grant has been instrumental for our club, along with RC of Marrickville, in raising 100’s of thousands of dollars from the airport collection bins. Grant is a son of Rotarian, and he well understands the values of service above self. He and his business partner Scott O’Donnell continue to be active in sponsorship of the community in not only supporting Rotary but the Rugby clubs of Southern District and Burraneer, and the Kurnell festival.
A contribution to The Rotary Foundation is an investment in the ideal of goodwill, peace and understanding. That is an ideal held high by Rotarians the world over, and one that Michael, Grant, Mark and Phillip clearly share. Working with such individuals of goodwill, we believe the ideals can and will become reality.
Past District Governors Tonia Barnes and Jeremy Wright AM assisted President Christine to present each with the emblems of a Paul Harris Fellow: a Certificate and a lapel pin for Grant and Michael, and a Sapphire pin for Mark and Phillip.
The Certificate states that they have been named a Paul Harris Fellow “in appreciation of tangible and significant assistance given for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations between peoples of the world.”