Stanford’s most dedicated community servants were celebrated at a special Awards Evening hosted by the Rotary Club of Stanford recently, recognising those who embody the organisation’s motto of “Service Above Self”.
The heartwarming event honoured recipients across three categories: Community Service, Vocational Service and the prestigious Paul Harris Fellow Award. “What a fabulous, fun and rewarding event we had,” said Lana Coates from Stanford Rotary.
“We are very blessed in Stanford to have so many ordinary folk who are always willing to give their time to helping others in the community, at times despite their own personal struggles.”
The Community Service Awards went to six exceptional individuals: Graig Niemand, representatives from Klein River Cheese, Jenny October-Mars, Anchelle Damon, Amanda Phillips and Geraldine Damon. Niemand was recognised as Stanford’s “go-to” person for any emergency.
“Fire, snakes, burst pipes, cats in trees, Graig always has time for a chat and sharing his knowledge,” the citation noted.
Klein River Cheese was honoured for exemplifying “the spirit of Generosity, Sustainability and Empowerment in the Community” while also making “amazing cheese”.
Jenny October-Mars, described as a “mentor extraordinaire”, has managed the Family-in-Focus programme for 15 years with a team of 10 volunteers. She recently took on mentoring 24 young adults in the YearBeyond programme across the Overstrand.
Anchelle Damon was celebrated for her passion for netball and youth development, running anti-bullying campaigns at schools and serving as Stanford’s PeaceJam Ambassador.
Amanda Phillips and Geraldine Damon, former Community-in-Blue team members now active in CPF and neighbourhood watch, were recognised for their caring work with children living in extreme poverty.
Regina Broenner received the Vocational Service Award for her work as an occupational therapist, using arts and crafts to help children struggling with reading and coordination in both Stanford and Masakhane.
The evening’s pinnacle saw Kevin Husk and Ray Tee receive Paul Harris Fellow Awards, Rotary’s highest honour, named after the organisation’s founder.
Kevin Husk, known as head of Stanford CPF and Vice-Chair of the municipality’s safety forum, was nominated by Ray Tee. Ray Tee, who joined Stanford Rotary in October 2023, after 46 years of Rotary service in Johannesburg, was nominated by Lana Coates and has become instrumental in local soup kitchen operations.
Coates explained: “Our Stanford Rotary team wanted to recognise and honour a small group of very deserving people, with whom we work very closely, who offer not only their time but also kindness, compassion, upliftment and enthusiasm for their fellow community members.”
The awards evening highlighted the strong community spirit that continues to thrive in Stanford, celebrating those who work tirelessly to improve life for their neighbours and fellow residents.The Rotary Club of Stanford continues to seek volunteers and supporters for their ongoing community projects.
