Continuing the tradition commenced in1986, our club presented our Australia Day Merit Award at a gala function at the Pennant Hills Golf Club on Tuesday 22nd January. However, this year we awarded not one, but two awards - the awardees being Nan Horne OAM, a well known resident of Cherrybrook, and Theo Glockemann, a member of our club and champion of a range of Youth programs.
A life dedicated to education and serving the community was recognised on Tuesday evening at a dinner at Pennant Hills Golf Club hosted by the Rotary Club of Pennant Hills. Continuing a tradition commenced in 1986, the club honoured Nan Horne OAM with their Australia Day Merit Award in recognition of her years as a teacher and principal in the Hills area followed by years of service to the Cherrybrook Progress Association; her 21 years of service as councillor on Hornsby Shire Council; the dedicated support she has given to Hornsby Red Cross Calling; her years of service as a counsellor with Lifeline; as president of Cherrybrook Seniors Group; and deputy president of Pennant Hills Neighbour Aid Management Committee. The presentation was made by the president of the club, Peter Wilson, assisted by the Honourable Philip Ruddock, member for Berowra.
A second Australia Day Merit Award was made to Rotarian Theo Glockemann, recognising his ‘lifetime of dedicated service to young people in Australia and overseas’. Theo has been involved in a number of programs aimed at supporting children and young people who have had a deprived start to life and also programs which encourage leadership and personal development amongst youth. Over the past few years, Theo and his wife Georgia have been instrumental in setting up a Rotary Youth Leadership Awards program in East Timor, providing vital youth leadership skills to hundreds of East Timorese youths. Together, Theo and Georgia have been sponsors in ‘Plan’ and ‘Uncles & Aunties’ organisations which support disadvantaged children both here and overseas. The presentation was made by President Peter Wilson and Rotary District Governor John Dodd.
Both awardees were surprised by the announcement of the awards and expressed their appreciation to the club for the honour bestowed on them. Brass plaques recording their awards will be erected on the wall at the entrance to Pennant Hills Council Library in the near future.
