Rotary honours outsider

Few non-members of Rotary receive the Paul Harris Fellowship for services to the community, but Bob Francis is one of them.

He was given the award last Friday in a presentation at the Masterton Rotary Club.

Former Rotary club president Alan Kirkham said the Paul Harris award was named after the man who founded the first Rotary club with three colleagues in 1905.

The fellowship was instituted in 1957 to honour community leaders.

Usually the award went to Rotarians, but Mr Kirkham said Mr Francis was a "special exception". He wasn't nominated for any particular service to the community - he had been "involved in everything", Mr Kirkham said.

"The award is for the sum of everything he has done over the years and he has been involved in so many things in the community."

Areas the former Masterton mayor had been involved in included Heartland Football, the Wairarapa District Health Board, Search and Rescue, Wings over Wairarapa, rugby refereeing, "healthy homes", and many more community projects.

Mr Francis said the award was a "big surprise". He was honoured to receive it but didn't want to "talk himself up".

Others to receive the award were Rotary members Dermot Payton and Cam Stuart for their general services to the club including fundraising and being active in the community.

The club presidency also changed hands on the night, Peter Ladd replacing Mr Kirkham.