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Otago Daily Times
30-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Quiet, diligent worker recognised
Rangiora Rotary Club president Helen Richards (left) presents Lorraine Brydon with this year's Rotary International Paul Harris Fellowship award for her involvement in the Rotary Book sale for the past 40 years. PHOTO: SUPPLIED For 40 years Lorraine Brydon has been the quiet force behind the organisation that runs the very popular Rotary Club of Rangiora's Book Sale, held annually in October. Her long hours spent collating the books into genres reflecting their subject or author were rewarded with her being presented this year's Rotary International Paul Harris Fellowship Award. She received the award for the huge amount of work she does each year behind the scenes at the book warehouse in Rangiora, preparing and arranging the books for the sale, says Alan McElroy, the convener of the book sale She has been involved with the club's major fundraiser since 1986, helping assemble and organise the books for sale each year. Her association with the sale started through her employer, Mr Conway, a former president of the club, who had a bookstore in Rangiora. ''She is not a member of the club, but her husband Paul Brydon, a former medal-winning Commonwealth and Olympic Games cyclist in the 1960s and 1970s, is. ''She is a very reluctant lady who is happy to work away in the background, but what she does is so important to the success of the sale,'' Mr McElroy says. Lorraine works a couple of hours a week throughout the year and once the book collection bins go out, her involvement increases to several hours a day in the weeks leading up to the sale. ''She's a real treasure and dynamo, who also helps out at Ashgrove Hospital and Nurse Maude,'' he says. Rotary present one or two Paul Harris Fellowship Medals each year, recognising people's exceptional sense of community either as club members or members of the public The Paul Harris Fellowship Award is one of the highest honours Rotary can bestow upon a person. Recipients are Rotarians and community professionals, recognised for their outstanding contributions, exemplifying the highest ideal in Rotary in placing 'Service above self.' Rotary started with the vision of one man - Paul Harris. The Chicago attorney formed the Rotary Club of Chicago on February 23, 1905, so professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships.
Otago Daily Times
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Bold choice wins speech competition
Cust School pupil Kate Riley, 12, with her mum Anna. PHOTO: SHELLEY TOPP A young contestant in the Rotary Club of Rangiora's annual Primary School Speech competition has won the judges over with a bold choice during finals night. In a group of seven talented young orators, Cust School pupil Kate Riley, 12, gained the winning edge by writing and reading her thought-provoking speech called ''I Know Of A Girl'' as a poem. The event was held at the Rangiora Town Hall Theatre where contestants were thrown an unexpected curve ball on the night with no microphone available. However, they all coped well with that added level of difficulty. The competition was judged by Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon and Hurunui Mayor Marie Black, with former Waimakariri Mayor David Ayers hosting the event for the club. Black said the young speakers had all delivered exceptional speeches. ''It hasn't been an easy job to get the first, second and third placings.'' Gordon congratulated the contestants on taking part in the competition. ''Your speeches were all very topical and well-researched,'' he said. ''It is not easy speaking in front of a public audience.'' He also passed on advice he had been given when he began public speaking. ''I was always told to speak to the end of the room which helps project the voice better.'' Second placing went to last year's winner, Edie Barber, 12, from Leithfield School, who was again in fine form with an impressive delivery of her well-written speech titled: ''The truth about teenagers (from the perspective of someone who isn't quite a teenager, but who has thought a lot about becoming one)''. Third placing went to Milan Hart, 12, of Ashley-Rakahuri School who spoke about the ''Four important reasons why you shouldn't get a dog''. The competition is held annually for cash prizes and the winner is also presented with the Des Moore Memorial Cup to hold for a year. The prizes were presented by Gordon and Black, with Rita Moore, whose late husband, Des, was a prominent Rotarian, also on hand to present the cup to Kate for her win. By Shelley Topp
