The extraordinary effort in running the successful Pink Up Namoi fundraising campaign has seen Karen Kirkby receive Rotary’s highest honour.
Dr Kirkby, a member of the Rotary Club of Narrabri, was the toast of members, partners and guests who had gathered for the club’s changeover dinner at the Narrabri RSL on Saturday night.
The presentation of the Paul Harris Fellowship, the highest honour at Rotarian can receive, was one of the final acts of outgoing president Darrell Tiemens who celebrated the end of a successful year at the organisation’s helm.
Mr Tiemens paid tribute to Dr Kirkby, a breast cancer survivor, for overcoming her own adversity to run the successful fundraiser for the McGrath Foundation’s Pink Up Your Town campaign. The Pink Up Namoi campaign, which saw the entire shire raise money for the breast cancer nurse program, became the highest fundraiser in Australia.
Dr Kirkby made presentations to Rotary and the Narrabri Chamber of Commerce in the initial planning stages of Pink Up before she became a member of Rotary.
“This was a mammoth undertaking spearheaded by Karen Kirkby to secure funding for a McGrath Foundation breast cancer nurse in the Narrabri Shire,” Mr Tiemens said.
“The community contributed with gusto with multiple events run under the auspices of the Rotary Club of Narrabri including a fundraising breakfast, a street dinner party in Narrabri, events in Wee Waa, Boggabri and Baan Baa, dragonboat barbecue and demonstration, Narrabri sale yards fundraiser, and many other smaller events.
“Karen and other members worked tirelessly and our Pink Up Namoi group raised over $106,000 – the largest in Australia.”
Dr Kirkby was overcome with emotion when Mr Tiemens announced her as this year’s Paul Harris Fellow.
She was joined by her son Kirk Harvey and husband Mark Strahle for the special occasion.
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