Whitehorse Rotary Centenary Award Deakin University from Gabby Knaepple | |
On Wednesday 25 May, I attended the presentation ceremony for the Whitehorse Rotary Centenary Award – Deakin University. The event was hosted by the Rotary Club of Mont Albert and Surrey Hills This is an award that was a Rotary Centenary Whitehorse Cluster Project and has its launch in 2021. The award recognises students who have outstanding community service as a volunteer. This year, there were 28 applications from students enrolled with Deakins Psychology faculty. The 3 judges who came from Mont Albert and Surrey Hills, Forest Hill and Box Hill Burwood Rotary Clubs came up with a final group of 12 students all of whom received Honourable Mention certificates on the night. |  |
District Governor Daryl Moran, and last years winner Indigo Erez, took part in presenting the certificates. The winner, Mariah Kirksopp received $2,000, a certificate and a pin. Mariah had an impressive array of entities with whom she volunteers or has volunteered – some are listed here: Volunteer for Pets in the Park, a free veterinary care service for people suffering homelessness or financial difficulty; Landcare doing various tasks such as planting and rubbish collection, seed collection for Landcare seed bank and growing indigenous plants for Landcare use; Assistance to Landcare projects such as the Dung Beetle Breeding Program and the Deer Exclusion Fence Program to protect the endangered butterfly orchid; Volunteer assistance with Blaze Aid for the Bunyip complex bushfire recovery 2019; Prepare and deliver food to bushfire victims through the SES; Volunteer for Lifeline as a crisis support person; Volunteer for Australian Multicultural Community Services Visiting Program spending time with isolated elderly and helping with shopping and attending other appointments; Mother’s Day Breast Cancer Charity run volunteer; Clean up Australia Day A very worthy winner and an enjoyable event. |
