At the Rotary Club of Campbelltown's 57th Birthday dinner on 13 February 2023, Past President Elizabeth Gagliardi was awarded a Paul Harris Fellow with one sapphire pin in recognitions of her service to our Rotary Club, the local community and to her support of Rotary International projects.
The Paul Harris Fellow is named for Paul Harris, who founded Rotary with three business associates in Chicago in 1905.
Paul Harris Fellow recognition was established in his honour in 1957 to express appreciation for a contribution US$1,000 to the humanitarian and educational programs of The Rotary Foundation. Those programs include an array of projects that save and invigorate the lives of people around the world and enhance international friendship and understanding.
Foundation programs provide educational opportunities, food, potable water, health care, immunizations, and shelter for millions of persons. These activities are funded, implemented and managed by Rotarians and Rotary clubs around the globe.
Rotarians also designate a Paul Harris Fellow to recognise another person whose life demonstrates a shared purpose with the objectives and mission of The Rotary Foundation to build world understanding and peace.
On 13 February 2023 at the Rotary Club of Campbelltown's 57th Birthday dinner, Past President Elizabeth Gagliardi was recognised with the award of a Paul Harris Fellow plus Sapphire pin.
The Rotary Club of Campbelltown believes that in her life, Elizabeth exemplifies the humanitarian, educational and volunteering objectives of The Rotary Foundation and we thanked her for demonstrating in their life and vocation a commitment to helping persons in need.
Elizabeth joined our Club in 2008 and she has made a huge contribution in service to our Club and Rotary projects in the nearly 15 years of membership including two years as Director Fundraising in 2010 and 2011. Elizabeth chaired the very successful Carnevale Committee in 2013 and was Convenor of the Campbelltown Art Show in 2014 and 2015.
Elizabeth's amazing commitment is further demonsatrated by her continuous service on the Board of the Rotary Club of Campbelltown since 2015. Elizabeth was our President in 2017 – 2018.
Elizabeth was awarded a Paul Harris Fellow in 2013 and since then, in addition to all she does for our Club, Elizabeth served on the District 9520 Rotary Youth Leadership Award and Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment Committee in 2017, 2018 and 2019 and took a leading role in the preparation and running of everything to do with the 2019 RYLA event.
Elizabeth is an amazing host, caterer and organiser and hosted District RYLA/RYPEN meetings in her home for about three years. Elizabeth and husband Eddie were also host parents for overseas exchange student Jenna Saxe from the USA.
As Director Community for the last two years, Elizabeth has been a driving force behind the very successful Community Connections Café. She was also instrumental in helping with the January dinner at the Shed and the Australia Day Breakfast.
On Australia Day this year at the Campbelltown Council, Elizabeth received a Certificate of Nomination for Australia Day Awards, where she was nominated and recognised for the valuable contributions she makes within our community.
In her response to the presentation, Elizabeth humbly credited the award to all Rotarians in the Club for their work as a team and making events with which she has been involved such a success.