Different approach meant forthright
narrative and writing winner of the
Ken Scheller Award |
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An article by a Rockhampton, Qld., Rotarian who went on a Fourth Avenue in Motion (FAIM) project in Papua New Guinea has won the 2003-2004 Ken Scheller Award. It was written by Past President Gerald Victor, of the Rotary Club of Rockhampton Capricorn.
The award is made annually by Rotary Down Under magazine for a literary contribution of outstanding merit, which in the opinion of the judging committee best exemplifies the principles of Rotary. |
In his article, PP Gerald used an approach that was a great deal different from most reporting on this form of Rotary service.
His writing was a honest and forthright narrative with touches of drama and humour.
He told of misgivings about undertaking the project when the team arrived in Papua New Guinea, about being wet with either sweat, fear, beer or rain for most of his stay and the fortitude of his wife Kathleen in agreeing to go with him to help a school there.
His article had its drollery when telling about finding a pregnant woman on a bush track, getting her to a makeshift hospital in the back of a utility and then being rewarded by hearing that the baby would be named Gerald.
PP Gerald’s report showed he had a real empathy with the people, that some every-day things did not need to be changed, that he had learnt new skills and that he understood more about himself.
It exemplied the spirit of Rotary in that his team might have had few resources in strange surroundings, but they banded together and got the job done.
As the author said at the end of his article ‘‘I came home a blessed man’’.
The Ken Scheller Award recognises the role that the R.I. past vice-president played in the establishment and development of Rotary Down Under from 1965.
A member of the Rotary Club of Bondi Junction, N.S.W., for 26 years, he died in 1984. He vigorously promoted the idea of regional magazines as a member of the R.I. Board.
Members of the judging panel included Dame Leonie Kramer who was University of Sydney chancellor for 10 years from 1991. She was the first female professor in Australia and the first Professor of Australian Literature.
The founding editor of Rotary Down Under magazine, District 9690 Past Governor Paul Henningham, was another panel member.
The judges found that they enjoyed many articles in the magazine and that there was a depth in the contributions.
The articles would show to readers that Rotary was not about older people meeting for lunch.
They showed Rotarians as people willing to encounter adventures and to have the foresight to see when problems could be tackled effectively.
This was obvious in the two contributions which were highly commended.
Eric Drayton, of the Rotary Club of Keilor East, Qld., was highly commended for his article titled Donydji gets a schoolhouse and keeps its traditions.
The author pointed out that many Aboriginal communities in Australia lived in unsatisfactory conditions and put that Rotary in Australia needed a body to support Aboriginal communities needing help.
The article related how Rotary would not be alone as government, many businesses and community groups are willing to help in this area and how important it is to maintain traditional values in any project. |
KEN SCHELLER AWARD, 2003/2004 WINNER
Past President Gerald Victor, Rotary Club of Rockhampton Capricorn, Qld., for article titled A blessed man after days of sweat and fear, appeared November, 2003.
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Past President Eric Drayton, Rotary Club of Keilor East, Vic., for article titled Donydji gets a schoolhouse and keeps its traditions, appeared February, 2004.
Past President Russ Cooper, Rotary Club of Rutherford/Telarah, N.S.W., for article titled Radio fan headed into Iceberg Alley, appeared June, 2004. HONOURABLE MENTION
Peter Kaye, Rotary Club of Mundinburra, Qld., for article titled Australian Youth Exchange Chairs Conference is a well-oiled machine, appeared September, 2003.
Alan Hart, Rotary Club of Cobden, Vic., for article titled Fun and green, green grass of Cobden refreshing to the drought weary, appeared September, 2003
Past President Geoff Bailey, Rotary Club of Mitcham, S.A. for Mailbox item titled Rotary Australia’s next challenge, appeared October, 2003.
District 9910 Past Governor Stuart Batty, Rotary Club of Christchurch, N.Z., for article titled Happy, hungry Africa needs a friend in Rotary, appeared November, 2003.
R.I. Past Director John Thorne, Rotary Club of North Hobart, Tas., for article title ANZAC bonds, so why not RYLA links, appeared March, 2004.
Belinda Barnes, writing for the Rotary clubs of Belrose and the Peak Hill community, N.S.W., for article titled Nine years of Lending a Hand – a growing relationship, appeared October, 2003. |
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The other article to be highly commended was from Russ Cooper of the Rotary Club of Rutherford/Telarah, N.S.W., and titled Radio fan headed into Iceberg Alley, which appeared in June, 2004.
This showed the spirit of Rotarian Graham Murphy who was a crew member of Solo Globe Challenger on its voyage to the Antarctic.
The article was enhanced by photographs showing the wild seas encountered and the unfurling of a Rotary flag at the site of Mawson’s Hut.
Articles which received honourable mention showed Rotarians realised that a strong Youth Exchange and helping people in Africa were intrinsic to achieving world peace, that tapping into the national psyches of Australia and New Zealand could bring about Rotary links and that Rotarians who showed leadership in their communities made them better places. |
