Jodie Shelley from the Ballina on Richmond Rotary Club has been recognised for her contribution to the community. Her award certificate is signed by the Premier Of NSW, Gladys Berejiklian, and Ballina MP Tamara Smith, who recently presented her with the honour.
While Ms Shelley was too modest to say much when Echonetdaily interviewed her recently, Ballina Rotary’s Col Lee was able to elaborate.
‘Through Tamara Smith, I nominated Jodie for this very prestigious award,’ he said. ‘It’s a regional award, to recognise the outstanding contribution Jodie has put into the community, throughout her life.
‘It’s a beautiful award,’ said Mr Lee.
‘It recognises all the hours Jodie’s put in through doing so many things, mainly through Rotary, but also before she joined us, with Camp Quality and Emmanuel School, all those voluntary hours.
‘This award is a wonderful recognition for Jodie and we’re absolutely thrilled as a Rotary Club that she’s been recognised by the Premier and State of NSW.’
Ms Shelley received the award in a ceremony at Tamara Smith’s office, ‘I was very surprised to receive it!’ she said.
Ballina Rotary’s President Dave Harmon said, ‘Jodie is very humble, and doesn’t want to be in the limelight, but when other people are out the front, Jodie’s behind us, doing the hard yards.
‘Jodie’s also the one with the initiatives and innovation. She’s the lifeblood of our club, and you’ll never find a more loyal friend.’
Mr Lee agreed, saying, ‘Jodie picks up all the pieces, all the bits that we neglect. There’s quite a number of people who were nominated for this award, and Jodie has rightfully been the one to receive it. Not just anybody gets these things.’
New trailer
In other news from the Rotary Club of Ballina on Richmond, the club has been given a valuable new trailer to assist their community work.
‘That came out of us helping after the bushfires in Rappville,’ said Dave Harmon.
‘The first time Col, Jodie and I went over, we met with half a dozen of the locals, all in tears, and there were so many stories.
‘Our club is very proud to have put $20,000 cash into Rappville, plus a lot of in-kind donations from throughout the area.
‘A local employer over there, a business owner, saw what we were up to, and he’s recently moved to Ballina, joined our club.
His name is Ashley Clarke-Smith. He liked what he saw when we were working around Casino.
‘He thought, “what are you guys about?” Now he and his wife Sharla have donated a trailer worth about $10,000, it’s all kitted out ready to go,’ said Mr Harmon.
‘It’s perfect for dealing with emergency situations, like the Lismore floods and Rappville fires, but also to enable us to do our monthly BBQs. We can just tow it to the venue and off we go.’
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