This years “Service Above Self Award” was given to Pip & Dennis Lovely & Jack Kestle for their assistance throughout the year 2024-2025.

“Service Above Self – Award Overview

The Rotary Club of Blacktown City’s “Service Above Self Award was initiated by a Past President and now Honorary member of our Club, George Coward.

George and his wife, Ailsa were standing on a railway station in Brisbane during the 2003 Rotary International Convention. As was the custom, George was wearing his rotary accreditation name tag around his neck, thus identifying himself as a Rotarian.

A young lady, rather dishevelled in appearance, approached George and enquired if he was with Rotary. When George responded in the affirmative, the young lady said something to the effect, “Rotary does good, doesn’t it?” With that she gave George all the money she had – fifty cents.

George was so taken with the young lady’s generosity he felt we, our Club, should honour this recognition of Rotary in some significant manner.

The 2003 – 2004 Club Board decided the coins should be mounted in some way on a Perpetual plaque and become the Club’s Service Above Self Award.

Mel Gray then put his creative woodwork talents to good use and the finished product is a beautiful timber plaque with the original coins and a summary of the story forming part of the design.

The “Service Above Self” is presented annually to a Blacktown City member who is judged to:
* Put the Rotary ethic ahead of their own personal considerations
* Always put in that extra effort for Rotary in serving the community
* Go beyond the norm in representing Rotary to the community

The recipient of this Award is chosen by secret ballot of all the members of the Club – not by the President or the Board – which makes this Award even more meritorious because the recipient is recognised and rewarded by his/her peers.

This year we have three members for this award:
Pip Lovely Pip has helped in so many ways to assist the club with note taking, painting, and help with community events. Pip has helped in elocution lessons and coaching for the President, a task started by Past District Governor Dick White and Bob Gardiner.