Australia Day Merit Award 2015

AUSTRALIA DAY MEETING AND MERIT AWARD PRESENTATION

This is traditionally one of our major meetings each year, and this one was no exception. For the first time in many years, we actually got to have our Australia Day celebration on the actual day - January 26th!

President Adrian welcomed one and all with particular mention of special representatives from St Lucy’s School Wahroonga, Pennant Hills Neighbour Aid, Wee Care, and Hornsby Hospital. These are all organisations which we have supported over the past 12 months and in most cases over a much longer period.

After dinner, the representatives of the four organisations we support were invited to give a short summary of their organization and our club’s involvement with them. Following these talks, President Adrian outlined the history and purpose of the club’s Australia Day Merit Awards, highlighting the fact that 2015 marked the 30th year of the awards. Noting the list of past awardees, Adrian observed that there was, rightly he believed, a preponderance of local folk who had been honoured by the club.

He then announced that, in keeping with this emphasis, the awardee for 2015 was Mrs Marj Ebb. The announcement was greeted with applause although Marj looked to have been taken completely by surprise. Adrian outlined a range of activities Marj has been involved in over many, many years - Probus, Pennant Hills Uniting Church, Lutanda Village, Girl Guides & Brownies, and of course the Smocking Arts Guild of NSW and Wee Care. Marj acknowledged that for once she was speechless, but thanked the club for the honour.