DG Lynne assisted President Sharryn in presentation of PHFs to Rotarians Ian Brooks, David Proposch and Merv Deppeler and Community Member Yvonne Tindle
 
Paul Harris Fellowships
 
Drouin Rotary Club awards a Paul Harris Fellowship as recognition for the work that the recipient has done in the community that epitomises the Rotary moto of Service Above Self.
Every Community member and Club member recognised has displayed a selfless approach to their work in the community either through Rotary, via another service club or as an individual.
Rotarian Ian Brooks has been a member of the Club for 10 years and has held many positions in the Club including President 2007/08; he was sponsored by Pat Gogan. Educated at Ivanhoe Grammar and Melbourne University Ian moved to Drouin and has practised as a lawyer for many years. Apart from working on many Rotary Projects Ian has been a strong supporter and office bearer of the Warragul History Group and SES Search and Rescue Team.
In responding Ian said this was a very humbling experience to be counted amongst so many other recipients who had done amazing work in the Community.
Rotarian David Proposch has been a member of the Club for 10 years and was sponsored by Paul Williams. David has held several Board positions over the years and is catering manager for the biggest Club projects at Motofest and the Swap Meet. A volunteer at Amberlea and Mawarra, he has also been a Board member of Lyrebird from 1986 – 1993.
In his response David said he was stuck for words and was honoured by his award. He said that like so many others, in his early life family and the family business consumed so much of his time. However with his “semi-retirement” ten years ago he was ready and willing to give back to the community to repay them for what he had received throughout life.
Rotarian Merv Deppeler joined the Club in 2005 and was also sponsored by Peter Williams. He began his community service in Apex for 10 years and in that capacity led a team into Papua New Guinea to do some construction work for two weeks. He was President of the West Gippsland Hockey Association, a keen player and committee member of the Badminton Association, President of the Kindergarten Committee, and has supervised many a building Project at the Drouin Secondary College.
In his response Merv said he was thrilled and humbled in receiving the award. He said we don’t do things for reward as everything we do for the community in which we live also has a direct benefit to the family.
Community Member Mrs. Yvonne Tindle
Yvonne was recognised for her outstanding community work over many years in whatever community she happened to be residing in as they have moved with husband Graeme’s work. She has been a member of the Country Women’s Association for 40 years and within that organisation she has held various officer positions including the State Vice Presidency. Yvonne joined Drouin CWA in 2002 and is tireless worker with cookery and craft work to help raise funds. Of significance was her design and manufacture of small carry bags for the equipment of chemo therapy patients, an initiative which has now grown beyond the Drouin Club to be a State wide initiative of the CWA and is now moving into Queensland.
In responding she said she was very grateful, but felt that community work is something you do as a community member to strengthen the community. Yvonne added that she felt she got as much back in satisfaction and working with others as what she gave. So much of the CWA work was a team effort and the support she had received from husband Graeme and her family enabled her to carry on serving her organisation and the community at large.