Paul Harris Fellow Recipients 2013

Posted on Feb 07, 2013

Four members of the Sussex area were honoured Feb. 7, 2013, for their work in the community over the years. More than 60 people gathered at the Timberland Motor Inn & Restaurant for the evening ceremony.

Picture here, Dr. Patrick Sullivan, J. Malcolm McElroy, John E. Robinson, and Club Past President Donna M. Gilchrist were presented with Paul Harris Fellow Recognition’s, considered the highest honour Rotary can bestow to an individual. The four received a pin and official certificate from Rotary Past District Governor Rick Rogers and Club President Robert E. Kimball...

The ceremony, held after the dinner, featured speeches highlighting the life of each recipient and slideshows with photos of them throughout their life. The images drew laughs as gigantic glasses and bushy hair flashed on the screen. Stories of a farmer who fought to secure funding for the PotashCorp Civic Centre, a dedicated Post Master and friend, a woman who went into ditches to help clean up litter, and a doctor who has helped generate interest in rural medicine.

President Robert Kimball said, “It was an absolute pleasure for the Sussex Rotary Club to recognize these four fellow citizens who have served their community and region so well. Their Service Above Self is truly what distinguishes their contribution to Sussex, the Sussex Region and the world”.

Dr. Patrick Sullivan

"Dr. Patrick Sullivan, Medical Practitioner and of a proud Irish background. Three generations ago Dr. Sullivan’s descendant left the County of Cork Ireland in 1823 for Saint John. Doctor Pat born in Saint John is now the only Sullivan still living in Sussex. In 1969 he received his degree from St. Francis Xavier University and graduated Dalhousie Medical School in 1974. Doctor Pat has spent his career helping his patients in Sussex. “For his endless efforts to care for his patients, to mentor young doctors and his tirelessly work to recruit future doctors to Sussex, the Sussex Rotary Club recognizes his contributions” said Dr. Robert Bartlett of St. Andrews, and a long-time friend and fellow practitioner."

Mr. J. Malcolm McElroy

"Mr. J. Malcolm McElroy, retired Longest Serving Post Master of Sussex Corner and a lifelong resident of Sussex Corner with his wife Phyllis and their three children. In 1967 his passion began with the establishment of “Mac’s Grocery”. If they didn’t have it you didn’t need it, as the story goes! Mac is a 1988 recipient of the “Canada Celebration Award”. His work in spearheading the moving of Saint John’s United Church in Sussex Corner is recalled by Mac as “the most significant thing he ever did”. “Mac has done so much for so many and the Sussex Rotary Club recognizes his contributions” said Mayor Steven Gillies.

Mr. John Robinson

"Mr. John Robinson, Dairy Farmer and General Campaign Chair for Fundy Civic Centre. John’s family first settling in Sussex in 1916 and he was born, raised and now runs the family farm. John and wife Elizabeth have raised four children. A dedication to his industry has seen John sit on so many Boards over his career. John’s efforts to fundraise $3,000,000 are no easy task but great individuals like John build great communities like Sussex even when John would prefer to be recognized as a good husband, a good father and a great father. “For John’s legacy and his vision for our future to provide not just for his family, his fellow farmer, but to provide for all within our region the Sussex Rotary Club recognizes his contributions” said Rotarian Wendy Osborne.

Mrs. Donna Gilchrist

"Mrs. Donna Gilchrist, Past President of the Sussex Rotary and Club, Bell Aliant Sales Support Team – Contract Management. Born in Saint John of proud parents Joe & Barb Hourihan, Donna grew up in Bloomfield and developed a passion for getting and being involved. Donna has held various positions with the former NBTel and now BellAliant. Donna has served Sussex Rotary since joining in 2001. “Donna has done so much with her dedication to her Club and to make our community a better place to live and the Sussex Rotary Club recognizes her contributions” said long-time friend and former colleague, Robert Lockhart.

Sustaining Paul Harris Fellow - Bob Tremblett

And as the night looked to be winding down, fellow Rotarian and incoming President Bob Tremblett was surprised with the presentation of a sustaining Paul Harris Fellow recognition for his ongoing financial support to the Rotary Foundation. The presentation was made by Club Foundation Chair and evening MC, Lou McNamara, who spoke of Bob’s effort building his electrical business into the operation now known as Tremtech Electrical Systems.

Honorary Rotarian, Mayor Marc Thorne, speaks to Kirk Sabine of Kingswood University while Rotarian Bob Tremblett speaks to Matt Moore of the Civic Centre.

Sussex Corner Mayor Steven Gillies With Wife Janice

Sussex Corner Mayor Steven Gillies and his wife Janice speak to the evening’s MC, Lou McNamara. Steven also did the introduction of recipient Mac McElroy, Janice’s father.

Norton Mayor Julie Booth speaks with Donna Gilchrist’s family.

DG Rick was with us at the last PHF evening in 2008 when Donna was President.

Master of Ceremonies for the evening was our own Club Rotarian, Rotary Foundation Chair, and Past President Lou McNamara, who kept the evening on track and did just a great job. Chairman Lou is pictured here talking to Mayor Gillies and Janice.

Organizing Chair for the evening event was Past President Donna Gilchrist. Working with Donna on her committee were Peter Haines, Murray McGibbon, Robert Lockhart, Bob Black, Bob Tremblett, Scott Hatcher, and Wendy Osborne. Donna was also pleased that Past District Governor Rick Rogers of St. Stephen was able to attend and participate in the presentations. DG Rick was with us at the last PHF evening in 2008 when Donna was President.

Mr. John Robinson, Dairy Farmer and General Campaign Chair for Fundy Civic Centre.

Tammy Scott-Wallace, Telegraph-Journal

The Sussex Rotary Club will recognize four well-known citizens of the community with the Paul Harris Fellowship, the international club’s most prestigious honour, on Thursday night.

Receiving the recognition are John Robinson, a Sussex dairy farmer who led fundraising efforts for the Fundy Civic Centre; J. Malcolm McElroy, who retired as the longest-serving postmaster of Sussex Corner; Dr. Patrick Sullivan, medical practitioner; and Donna Gilchrist, past president of the Sussex Rotary Club and a sales support team member for Bell Aliant.

The presentation will be held among Rotarians, family and friends at the Timberland Motel at 6:30 p.m., said Rotary publicity chairman Scott Hatcher.

Rotary is the world’s first and oldest service club. Each of Rotary’s 33,000 clubs around the world engage in projects that improve health, literacy and education among the globe’s disadvantaged people.

The Paul Harris Fellowship, named after the club’s founder, is the highest honour a Rotary Club can bestow on a person, either inside or outside Rotary, to acknowledge those who contribute to their community, nation or world, fulfilling the club motto”service above self.” The recognition program was created to fund Rotary Foundation programs. Members of the Sussex Rotary Club have collectively contributed $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation for the privilege of recognizing a person in this way, Hatcher said.

“Sussex Rotary Club is honoured to present these four individuals with the Paul Harris Fellow Recognition, pin and certificate,” he said.”The symbolism in this recognition is to say thank you for making a difference to Sussex and the surrounding communities and in the lives of less fortunate people in the world.” Worldwide, there are 950,000 Paul Harris Fellows, including Mother Theresa, Nelson Mandela, Kofi Anann, Prince Charles, Indira Gandhi, Luciano Pavarotti, King Hussein of Jordan and Pope John Paul II.

More than 25 other Paul Harris Fellows have been recognized by the Sussex Rotary Club.

The Rotary Club of Sussex meets every Monday at noon at All Seasons Inn and Restaurant in Sussex.