By Samantha Wantling
The Paul Harris Fellow Award is one of the highest honours Rotary can bestow upon a person. Recipients are Rotarians and community members who are recognised for outstanding contributions, exemplifying the highest ideal in Rotary in placing ’Service above Self’.
It is an award that the Rotary Club of Stanthorpe takes very seriously. So, when President Jim Barnes decided it was time to recognise Kev Armstrong, it was an emphatic ‘yes’ from the entire club.
Kev’s journey as a community champion began in 2011 when he moved to Stanthorpe and took on the role of Treasurer at the Community Development Services (now known as the Granite Belt Neighbourhood Centre). His commitment was evident from the start, as he played a crucial role in establishing the Community Food Bank, providing essential support to those in need during challenging times.
Past president of the Rotary Club of Stanthorpe, Fran Hodgson spoke about Kev’s involvement in other community projects, saying: “When the drought was on, Kev helped out at the water charity, handing out water and visiting needy families to organise bulk water for residents“.
Kev’s dedication extended to many areas, including his active participation in the Stanthorpe Wine Society, where he set up for the Queensland Small Winemakers Show and contributed to the wine pavilion during the annual show.
Food, water, and wine may be staples in life, but Kev also knows how important good mental health is in society and he is an accredited facilitator in Mental Health First Aid. He’s a recognised Dementia Friend in the Dementia Friendly Stanthorpe program and helps organise mental health awareness activities at the Men’s Shed, the Quart Pot Quilters, U3A and Historic Vehicle Group. He was a regular visitor at Villa Carramar until Covid where he chatted to and supported male residents. Kev has also been a member of the Hospital’s Community Consultative Committee.
However, the crowning achievement of Kev’s community service is his work with the Stanthorpe and District Men’s Shed, an initiative that he helped establish in 2012. Kev chaired the meeting that led to its creation and played a pivotal role in every aspect of the Shed’s development, from securing grants to taking on various leadership roles such as president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer. As Fran explained, although there was some good fundraising from various government departments, there were significant contributions from local people and organisations, including the Rotary Club of Stanthorpe, leading Kev to state that the ’Men’s Shed was built by the people of Stanthorpe for the people of Stanthorpe.’
Kev has proved over time that he is not just a great chief, but he is a good Indian as well. Some of these ‘hand-on’ roles for the Men’s Shed include setting up fruit displays at the show, displays at Gardenfest, displays at the Glen Aplin Quilt Show, working at NAIDOC week, watering the showground ovals, renovating the Kids’ Corner cubby house and work at the Severnlea School.
It was a proud day for Stanthorpe and a tribute to Kev when the Men’s Shed was officially opened at the 2013 show by the Governor, Her Excellency Penelope Wensworth. It has grown significantly since then and Kev was involved in the Shed extension in 2015 and in getting toilet facilities in 2016. Those toilets have been named ‘Kev’s Dunny’ to honour him.
Before presenting the award, Fran explained to Kev the importance of the Paul Harris Fellowship. “There is a certificate and a pin you can wear with pride“ she stated. “But most importantly, we are going to make a donation of US$1000 in your name to the Rotary Foundation and it’s going to be used to help eradicate polio from the world.“ She went on to say that sometimes in the future, we hope soon – the world will be declared free of Polio and on that day “I want you to walk a bit taller, knowing that as recognition of your generous life in the Stanthorpe community you contributed to the eradication of Polio.“
Upon receiving the award, Kev expressed his gratitude and humility. “I am surprised and honoured to receive this award,“ he said. “I’ve always said you get back what you put in as a volunteer, and the Neighbourhood Centre and Men’s Shed are where I’ve met most of the people I know in the region. But to receive this from an organization that I am not even a part of is just incredible. Thank you very much.“
