The Rotary Club of Benoni Aurora held its annual Paul Harris Fellow Award luncheon on February 25.
Club president Lindy van Moerkerken said the event is held to honour those who serve the public.
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The awards are named after the founder of Rotary International, Paul Harris.
“He is the one who first called all of the businessmen together and said ‘we need to give back to our society’,” she said.
The club awards five people each year and they can be club members or friends of the Rotary Foundation.
Llewellyn Scheepers
Llewellyn Scheepers, a Springs resident, won a Paul Harris award because he works with about 50 companies to help the underprivileged in his community.
Scheepers explained his employer of 20 years, Bob Gillies, wanted to do more for the community.
He said many years ago Gillies’ company started raising funds for a disabled man to afford a wheelchair.
The company then raised enough funds to build the disabled man a wheelchair-friendly home.
He said this spurred the rest of his and the company’s causes.
Scheepers thanked Rotary Aurora for the award and said their contribution to his various causes is “invaluable”.
He also said his wife’s support made his work for society possible.
Debbie De Rouwe
Debbie De Rouwe, a Farrarmere resident received a Paul Harris award for her service to the House of Hadassah.
She said the home is a halfway house for women between the ages of 18 to 24.
“We are a ‘prehabilitation’ home for young women who want to make something of their lives,” she said.
De Rouwe explained she is the house administrator and has a mother role.
“I help them sort out medical appointments, get work interviews and just lend a supporting role in their lives,” she said.
She thanked Rotary Aurora for the award, the work they do for the community and said her husband makes it possible for her to help at the house.
“He is my sponsor, he pays for everything,” she said.
Dubretha Oosthuizen
Dubretha Oosthuizen, a Rotarian and Farrarmere resident, won the award for what she calls doing a bit more than what is expected of her.
She is a lawyer and does many pro bono court cases.
She also helps children in the children’s court.
“A Rotarian winning the award is a bit different and I would like to thank the man who nominated me, Heinz Kutzner,” she said.
She also thanked her husband, Jan, for his support.
“I would also like to thank Rotary for giving me the award,” she said.
Cheryl Gaw
Benoni North Agricultural Holdings resident Cheryl Gaw won her Paul Harris award for initiative Thanda Inja.
Gaw is also president of Pug Rescue South Africa.
Thanda Inja is a vet clinic in Daveyton that supports low-income earners to sterilise and medically treat their animals.
“We do vaccinations, sterilisations and supplement feeding,” said Gaw.
She explained the initiative works in collaboration with the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDART) and a private vet.
“We also offer a soup kitchen for humans as some people walk five kilometres to get help for their animals, they often leave their houses without having breakfast,” she said.
Gaw said the award “was just a phenomenal feeling”.
She thanked Rotary for recognising her work and said it adds credibility to the initiative.
She also thanked Dr Bernie Eales and all of their volunteers and sponsors who make Thanda Inja possible.
Chrissie McMaster
Chrissie McMaster a senior citizen and a member of Basic Ministries Church has cared for the aged at Andries Scribanti and has supported various children’s homes with the Anns of Benoni Aurora since 2008.
She lives in Boksburg.
She makes blankets, scarves, bottle warmers, beanies pencil cases and Teresa vests.
Pam Hull, who nominated McMaster, said, “this lady is making a vast difference in our community”.
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