Ann Richardson
Presentation of Sapphire PHF from Rotary Club of Stanthorpe
Ann Richardson has been an influential member of our Stanthorpe Rotary Club since she joined the Satellite Flexitime Club in 2017.
Ann has been the chair of our Satellite Club Flexitime for the past two years. She set up the Domino’s project to develop and connect our youth. Ann has been the mentor for the Stanthorpe Interact Club; a very committed member of the Membership Committee and a Spooky Walk organiser since its inception, to name just a few examples of her high level involvement.
Ann’s organisational and culinary skills are legendary and never more so than with the Sunshine Coast Cravenness Dinner at the Glen Aplin Hall.
Ann has ensured that the Satellite group was strongly connected to the Monday night members through her regular attendance and participation at Monday night meetings. She even provided the meals for the club on the alternate Mondays when the International Club staff were not rostered on. How would we have coped at our Board Meetings without Ann providing a supper for us? She was the driving force and inspiration for the Rotary Float at the A&G where we won our section.
Thank you Ann for the amazing energy and enthusiasm, innovative ideas and organisational skills you have provided to our Rotary club. You demonstrate, through your life and service, the ideals of the Rotary Foundation and are an inspiration to us all.
Please congratulate Ann as she is presented with a Sapphire PHF by DG Andy and Regional Rotary Foundation Chair Tony Heading
JEANENE CHAPMAN
Presentation of PHF from Rotary Club of Stanthorpe
Jeanene moved to Stanthorpe from Tugun on the Gold Coast after World War Two when her father was medically discharged from the airforce and they bought a farm at Thulimbah.
As Stanthorpe did not yet have a full high-school, she boarded at St Catherine’s in Warwick during the week to complete her school certificate. In exchange for tuition and boarding fees Jeanene would supervise the younger boarders’ homework and music lessons/music practice – in short, her music teaching career began at St Catherine’s at the age of 16.
Since 1954 she has been a private piano teacher. And since 1972 a private Singing teacher. At one stage there were 70 students/week and a wait list.
1967- She was the Founder of Border District Eisteddfod Committee and
from1967 - 1992 President of the Eisteddfod Committee
1968 -1993 (approx.) Jeanene was Conductor of the Granite Belt District Choir, and various other choral activities in the district. The Granite Belt Choir won numerous competitions and awards, of particular interest - the Queensland State Aggregate Trophy for 10 years consecutively.
She has been actively involved in “Little Theatre”, “Choral Society” and various other community entertainment groups with responsibilities including - Accompanist, Producer, President, Secretary, Musical Director, and lead or chorus roles.
Special programmes were produced for the bi-annual Stanthorpe Apple & Grape Harvest Festival, and numerous fairs, fetes and civic occasions in the community.
Jeanene has been singing Christmas Carols at various community events since the 1970’s and is still organising Seniors music afternoons at the Anglican Church Hall once or twice/year
Jeanene, received the Stanthorpe Shire Australia Day Cultural Award and was twice nominated for the Federal Australia Day Awards for her contribution to the Arts in the community.
Jeanene is currently the patron of Stanthorpe Little Theatre, and became Emeritus Director of the Granite Belt Choir in 2017. She was very proud to see the Queensland State Eisteddfod take place in Stanthorpe in 2019 – for her, a very special, once in a lifetime experience that occurred 52 years after she began the Border District Eisteddfod for this community.
In 2020 at the age of 83 Jeanene has a handful of advanced students currently preparing for exams this year. Some days you will hear them practising on the concert grand piano in the art gallery.
Jeanene truly exemplifies the Rotary spirit of ‘Service above Self’ an amazing woman and I am privileged to present her with a PHF.
Jeanene, please come forward and would you all congratulate and recognise Jeanene on an amazing career spanning very close to 70 years committed to service.
