Over ninety Rotarians and friends gathered at the Sussex Golf & Curling Club on Nov. 21, 2018, to recognize (L-R) Bob Black, Muriel McCullum, and Phil Sherwood as the Club’s newest Paul Harris Fellow recipients. The evening was filled with laughter as the Kings County Interact Club took snapshots during the evening of Rotarians and friends, and interacted with the guests to help make the evening a very memorable occasion. Check out the gallery!
Muriel McCullum
The first recipient of the evening was Muriel McCullum (pictured at right, (l-r), Assistant District Governor Bob Tremblett, District Governor Silvan Bosca, Mrs. McCullum, President Lisa Brown).Muriel was born in Millstream. She and her husband Roy have been married 63 years and have six children, 25 grandchildren, and 32 great-grandchildren.
Rotarian Jason Thorne introduced Muriel to the audience, and his opening remarks:
“It’s been said of this recipient that she has for some time, and continues to, put her whole heart and soul into her community, her pursuits and her family.”
She started her long-time commitment with the St. John Ambulance in 1977 as a volunteer in the Sussex Community.n recent years our local St. John Ambulance instructors, under her leadership, teach an average of 1000 students in more than 100 courses per year.
In 2015, she joined with Nurse Practitioner Kelly Dunfield in educating the public on the value and use of epinephrine auto-injectors. Little did she know that it would be her making headlines first when she used devices made available under the program to save the life of a man in need.
She has been a volunteer with the RCMP Victim Services Program for the past 15 years.
Muriel currently dedicates any spare hours as a volunteer at the Sussex Sharing Club and thoroughly enjoys herself there while unpacking, sorting and pricing donations while, at the same time, socializing with the other volunteers.”
Phil Sherwood
Our second recipient of a PHF recognition was Phil Sherwood. Shelley Vail introduced Phil.Mr. Sherwood has worked for Sobey’s for 34 tears and has been the manager at the Sussex store since its opening at the Gateway Mall in 2007. He is passionate about feeding the youth through school breakfast clubs, Stuff the Bus, and the Danny & Jessica Angel Foundation.
Phil has also been a leading partner in several community projects, including the Sussex Middle School van project and the Salvation Army’s Thanksgiving turkey drive.
In 2017 his store was 1st place winner of the Sobeys Star of Christmas Contest, and he donated the $5,000 prize to the SMS and SRHS Band Program because they were in dire need of instruments.
Phil and his wife Vicki have two sons and love living in Carsonville, NB.
Bob Black
Our third recipient was Rotarian Bob Black, who was introduced by President Lisa Brown. Bob is a 38-year member of our Club, and this evening he was presented with his second Paul Harris Fellowship recognition, making him a PHF +1.In introducing Bob, President Lisa shared the following:
“Bob is a very humble man. He said to me awhile back, “I don’t know why I am getting this award”. Well, Bob, I am going to tell you why. You are appreciated and respected more than you will ever know from me and the rest of the membership and beyond.
A native of Saint John, and now lives in Kiersteadville with his wife, Ginette of 10 years. Between them, they have five boys, Shaun, Barry, Mitchell, Mathieu and Stephane and 3 grandchildren Frankie, Carley and Hedley.
For about 13 years Bob served as the club’s Treasurer. He worked for the Scotia Bank for 35 years and for 17 of those years in the position of Branch Manager right here in Sussex. Bob retired in the summer of 2004 and is busier now than he was working.
Bob played a big part in Rotary projects over the years including the installation of new bookshelves at the Sussex Library, the Ward’s Creek Bridge that joins the Library and the O’Connell Park, the Potash Civic Centre and Jubilee Hall, Camp Rotary and the Rotary Amphitheatre, just to name a few. He also fondly remembers when Rotary used to serve Meals on Wheels to our local seniors and he really enjoyed that.
One of the most rewarding projects that Bob can say touched his heart is the “Coats for Kids” Program. Bob served on this committee for many years working with local teachers to identify children that might be in need of winter clothing including coats, boots and mittens. He appreciated the face to face contacts and hand-written letters of thanks from the teachers and children themselves. Bob says this is where it counts… “the small gestures and the human connection”.
Bob loves to go salmon fishing and hunting. Ginette and Bob spend a lot of time at their camp up in the mighty Miramichi. They also love to travel. Past District Governor, Allan MacLellan and his wife Wanda introduced Bob to Home Exchange Travel and since then Bob and Ginette have travelled to Vancouver, California, France, Spain and Greece. And also to travelled extensively from Alaska to the most northern American highlights and beyond! The most rewarding by far has been their volunteer experiences in Africa, Peru and Honduras! Life-changing for them both! This coming February they are off to New Zealand and Australia for 2 months.”
Honorary MembersThe Club was also very pleased to recognize three of our Honorary members who were in attendance for the evening. Pictured here (L-R) Honorary member, PHF & Past President Robert Fawcett, PHF Mac and Phyllis McElroy, Lorraine Pollock (standing), Peggy Barrett, Hon. Member, PHF & Past President Murray McGibbon, and Hon. Member, PHF, and Past President of the Saint John Club, JC Robert Lockhart, all dressed for the occasion by the Interactors. |  |
 The Sussex Rotary Club was pleased to see the parents of some of the Interact Club members in attendance. Pictured above are Rick and Rotarian Alaina Lockhart with their daughter Lauren. Lauren was recognized during the evening and presented with the Interact Initiative Award by Interact President Shelby Dunfield. |  Rotarian Tina and husband Don Monahan were also in attendance with their son, Interactor Emmerson, to enjoy the evening. Incoming President Tina wrote the following on her Facebook page which we just happened to see: “Couldn’t be more proud of my little man. His first Rotary event! In Sept, he joined our youth service program called “Kings County Interact Club” He looks so handsome! It’s so satisfying as a mom to see your child enjoying and happy to serve his community! But mostly becoming a confident young man!” Rotary is proud to have you both connected with us! |
 Many Sussex Rotarians were in attendance for the evening to make it a success. Pictured above are Rotarians Robert Kimball, Angie Cummings, Judy Freeze, Christine Moffett, Stacey Stairs from SRHS, Jason Thorne, and Mary McNair. |  PHF Attending included (L-R) Murray McGibbon, Mac McElroy, Robert Lockhart, Bob Black, Allan MacLellan, Muriel McCullum, Phil Sherwood, Robert Fawcett, Bob Tremblett, DG Silvana Bosca, Rhoda Wilson. |