Rochester Rotary Club president Eric Bish and past president Heather Watson receiving the Community Service Award from Rotary District 9800 governor 2024-25 Michael Lapina. Photos: Supplied.
A pillar of the community, Rochester Rotary Club was recognised on a large scale, along with a big nod to member Heather Watson.
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At the Rotary District 9800 changeover event on Saturday, July 5, the club was recognised with the Community Service Award, and Mrs Watson with the Royce Abbey Award.
Rochester Rotary Club is one of 63 clubs in the district, which includes much of metropolitan Melbourne, along with Bendigo and the Macedon Ranges, and it was the ‘Songs at the Silos’ event that garnered Rochester the community service honour.
“It’s all positive, and we’re going to hold it again next year on the seventh of March,” Mrs Watson said.
“It was something different ... they were popular opera pieces and people enjoyed it.
“It brought the community together, and just having the food and the drinks there, all different organisations.”
Mrs Watson receiving her award from Mr Lapina.
Individually, Mrs Watson earning the Royce Abbey Award is a testament to her service to Rochester and surrounds.
The award is in honour of 1988/89 Rotary International president Royce Abbey, and reflects the Rotary theme of that year, ‘Put life into Rotary, your life’.
Mrs Watson’s contributions to Songs at the Silos and the monthly Rochester Rotary community chat and breakfast created a strong case for the award, even if she doesn’t like taking the credit.
“It’s a whole Rotary club thing,” she said.
“I can’t do it on my own.
“If people didn’t turn up to these breakfasts and all of those things, I wouldn’t have brought the community together ... it just fell into place.”
Mr Lapina is also an Opera Australia vocalist, and performed at the Songs at the Silos event in March.
Mrs Watson has a plan for where she’ll show her new silverware and certificates.
She also brought the awards along to the July community chat and breakfast, a key initiative to garner the recognition.
“There’s spots at the courthouse, and I guess I can put it out somewhere at home,” Mrs Watson said.
“I was thinking, maybe if I photocopied it and I could put one in the courthouse and one here (Rochester Hotel).
“It is a special award done by Rotary.
“I thought I’d bring that along today because they’re all part of it.”
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