At the Rotary Club of Stanthorpe Christmas Dinner Meeting, Peter Watters was presented with the Sapphire Paul Harris Fellow Pin. The dinner was to be held in the garden at Peter and Heather Watters place, but the weather was not suitable so Peter and his family decorated the Ballandean Hall for the Christmas Dinner event. Peter was not informed that he was going to be presented with the Sapphire Pin and was touched. It was wonderful that his three girls Wendy, Jennifer and Judy were there for the occasion.President Julia presented a speech as follows for the presentation.
This years Rotary Club of Stanthorpe’s Christmas Celebration was to be in the garden of Peter and Heather Watters along with their family and friends. “Even the best laid plans of mice and men often go a wry” John Steinbeck’s novel (but the idea came from Robert Burns poem).
Rotary started with the vision of one man — Paul Harris. This Chicago attorney formed the Rotary Club of Chicago on 23 February 1905, so professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships.
Over time, Rotary's reach and vision gradually extended to humanitarian service and to advance goodwill and peace around the world. It is a non political and non religious organisation open to all..
Our region of Rotary Down Under is celebrating 100 years of Rotary.
Our Rotary Club chartered in 1953 making our Club 67 years old.
This year Peter Watters celebrates 50 years as a Rotarian member, but his history with Rotary goes back much further.
In 1959 at just 20 years of age, Peter Watters was one of two youths chosen to represent his shire as a Junior Farmer during Rotary Gundoo week in Brisbane. He was hosted by Rotarians Ann and George at Nth Quay. This is a very memorable experience in Peters life. That event developed into what is now known as RYLA the acronym for Rotary Youth Leadership Awards ; RYLA is a premier youth leadership development program designed to promote proactivity, personal and professional development of local young people aged 19 -28.
RYLA recruits only the highest calibre young people and offers this group the chance to access some of Australia’s most influential and motivational speakers; experts in a variety of fields.
Peter says that Rotary opened opportunities for him that he otherwise as a Country person would not have acquired.
Peter has given much Service to our Club and Community not just Rotary. He has MC’d at Rotarys 27 Opera Fundraising Charity Events at Ballandean Estate where over $2million dollars has been raised for worthy causes. Peter has for 35 years selected and presented the Award to Youth of the Year for Stanthorpe Lions Club. Peter has held most Director roles in Rotary and in 2002 Peter was Awarded the Paul Harris Fellow Award for his Service to Rotary and the Community.
Peter acknowledges his biggest help of all has been Heather, a totally supportive Rotary partner and wife of nearly 60 years who has enjoyed and valued Rotary as much as he has. Peter believes Rotary has given him the opportunity to “Keep Alert” to what is needed in the community.
It is that Alertness that Peter demonstrated last year in 2019 as the drought intensified. As Club Service Director, Peter rallied us all into being people of action. A voucher system was put in place to assist with laundry services. Replacement trees for fire victims were supplied at the annual gardenfest. Catering functions were held at Aldi, He lead us in providing a BBQ at the Christmas Farm Fundraising Event, Satellite Club Spooky Walk, Granite Belt Water Relief Free BBQ, Redlands Community Connections at the Showgrounds, Australia Day at Weeroona Park, and the Sunshine Caravaners in Glen Aplin Hall.
Donations came in from other Clubs and Peter assisted President Fran with the many tasks of receiving and thanking many groups, such as the Lotus Club, breakfast event on Chanel 9. In our community we endeavour to support the many that still suffer from the devastation of Fire, Drought and now Covid.
It gives me much pleasure to present Peter Watters with a second Paul Harris Fellow Award which is known as the Sapphire Award. Thank you all for being here to join in the celebration in Peters’ 50th year as a Rotarian member and acknowledging Peter’s valuable community and Rotary service.
Please join me in congratulating Peter and I invite him to respond.