Community

In a ceremony on October 6, Rotary District Governor Paul Behm presented a Paul Harris Fellow Award with Sapphire to Carron Bourke of the Rotary Club of Phillip Island and San Remo.

The honour was bestowed in recognition of his outstanding community service, celebrating his dedication to local volunteer projects and charitable initiatives.

Rotary officials note that the Paul Harris Fellow recognition is one of the organisation's highest honours, used to acknowledge individuals for significant contributions to making the world a better place. 

"As Rotarians, we live by the motto 'Service Above Self,' and Carron truly embodies that spirit," club President, Gea Lovell said during the presentation.

She praised Carron's years of service, adding "his dedication to helping others has made a significant impact on our community".

Carron has been a member of Rotary for over 30 years and club members say he has been a driving force behind numerous local projects - from fundraising for community facilities to supporting youth programs - always willing to roll up his  sleeves for those in need.

The Paul Harris Fellow Award was established in honour of Rotary's founder, Paul Harris, and is traditionally accompanied by a pin and certificate.

A sapphire inset on the pin signifies an additional level of distinction: in Carron's case, it denotes that he has been recognised as a Paul Harris Fellow more than once.