“Every community needs a Glenda’’ was the fitting introduction provided by long-time Rochester Rotarian Heather Watson at last week’s Community Chat breakfast, as she prepared to honour Rochester Business Network president Glenda Nichol.
Mrs Nichol, who will step down at the RBN’s annual general meeting on Wednesday night at the Criterion Hotel, had a rare honour bestowed on her by the Rochester Rotary Club: she was made a member of the Paul Harris Fellowship.
The award is the highest honour Rotary can bestow on any individual, and is named after the founder of Rotary in Chicago in 1905.
While the award is generally reserved for Rotarians, Mrs Watson only entering the ranks of the fellowship a month or so ago, it is also available to non-Rotarians who demonstrate the high professional and personal standards exemplified by Mr Harris.
The award is given by the Rotary Foundation in recognition of substantial and exemplary community service in support of Rotary ideals.
There are three categories that Rotarians are asked to consider when nominating a non-Rotarian for inclusion in the fellowship.
Mrs Nichol ticks all three: exemplary community service, significant and/or long-term contribution to Rotary or a Rotary project, and outstanding or unique achievement.
Rotary District 9800 assistant district governor Alison Bacon represented the Rotary Foundation and had the honour of making Mrs Nichol the town’s latest Paul Harris Fellow.
Mrs Watson stepped away briefly from the regular format of the breakfast meeting to make the award.
“It has been said that every town needs a Glenda,” she said.
“How fortunate we are to have her. She is always on a mission to find out what people need, she is relatable and accessible, and without her a lot of people and businesses wouldn’t be in the position they are now after the floods.”
Mrs Watson said the award was in recognition of a long-term contribution to the town, but most recently for the work she had done with every business that had asked for help.
“She has helped people with insurance, with grants and she is determined to get the town back on its feet,” Mrs Watson said.
“It is people like Glenda that Rotary loves being involved with.”
Mrs Nichol, in typically unfiltered fashion, said her mother and father moved to Rochester when the couple were a month away from her birth.
“I wasn’t conceived here, but I was born here. Many people say you are not a local unless you are born here,” she said.
This is the citation that was used to nominate Mrs Nichol for her award:
“How fortunate for Rochester that we have Glenda, who is so passionate about our community. Glenda has an amazing amount of contacts in all the right places and is able to source important information and seek out funding and grants, which have enriched this town immeasurably.
“Glenda has an amazing amount of knowledge relevant to the community and its needs and is always on a mission to find out what people need, especially since the flood. She relates to everyone in the community and is easily accessible to all residents at any time.
“Without Glenda’s knowledge, support, time and effort many people and businesses, both pre- and post-flood, wouldn’t be in the space they are in now. Glenda’s exuberant and warm personality help the community to be able to talk to her and trust her.
“Glenda is a wonderful ambassador for Rochester and surrounds, and as president of the Rochester Business Network she has achieved great things for Rochester and has put a huge amount of time and effort into applying for and receiving the Murray-Darling Basin grants that have funded many of the projects around the town, such as the painting of the silos, the wood carvings, the projector that projects pictures on to Murray Goulburn, security cameras around town, Wirima in Rotary Park, Love Rochy campaign, upgrade to the bowling club and helped the Sports Museum, to name a few. Without Glenda, many of these projects may not have happened.
“Glenda has helped many businesses confidentially, providing them with mentors and support. Since the flood she has worked with every business to help them with whatever needs they may have and has spent countless hours helping people apply for grants for flood recovery.
“She has also given a great deal of assistance to people in working through their insurance and trying to help find assistance for people related to their health and well-being.
“Glenda is determined to help people and to see Rochester get back on track. She is a selfless woman who is not just a talented businesswoman and speaker — she is a wonderful and devoted wife, mother and grandmother, as well as being extremely talented in textile art, being on the executive of the Embroiderers Guild of Victoria.
“There are many things that have not been touched upon, but Glenda has certainly shown that she lives out the Rotary motto of Service Above Self, and we applaud, thank and honour her for everything she has contributed to this community.”