Irene represents District 9980 at PHF Award ceremony in Wellington last week.
Dr Ashley Bloomfield was honoured by Rotary NZ when the DG's of each district meet at a private ceremony in Wellington on Thursday to present Dr Ashley Bloomfield with a 5 Sapphire Paul Harris award. The award and the 5 sapphires (=6 PHF's) represent the 6 districts of Rotary in New Zealand.
District 9980 District Governor Dylan Murray was unable to attend and asked Irene if she would stand in for him as she was already in Wellington for work that week.
Irene reports that it was a lovely relaxed event. Each representative spoke briefly about the relevance of the award and likening the work of Dr Bloomfield keeping NZ safe to the work that Rotary does in their own communities to support. An excerpt from the speech written by 9980 DG Dylan and presented by Irene.... we see a parallel between your continuing high performance and Rotary’s ideals and values.
In 1943, Rotary International adopted the Four-Way Test which is a moral and ethical code that guides our behaviour, decision-making and personal conduct.
Of the things we think say and do we ask ourselves the following:
- Is it the TRUTH?
- Is it FAIR to all concerned?
- Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
- Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?
When you think about the four tenets: Truthfulness; Fairness; Goodwill & Friendships, providing Benefit to all, I think there is no doubt that in your work with the pandemic, you have applied a high moral and ethical code to all decisions and all communications with New Zealand.
It is partly because of your honesty, integrity, and logical reasoning that we have followed your recommendations throughout and will continue to do so.
Dr Bloomfield, on behalf of District 9980 we thank you and recognise you with a Paul Harris Fellowship.
Irene reported that Dr Bloomfield seemed genuinely thrilled to receive the reward. He spoke about his work and also his plans for the future. Once borders are open and things quieten down he hopes to take a biking trip through Europe with his wife. He was assured by some of those in attendance that wearing his PHF is a ticket to hospitality all over the world.
I