Paul Harris Fellow - Past President Gail Freeman

At our Annual Christmas Dinner on 20 December 1999, the Rotary Club of Canberra South Inc. named its newest Paul Harris Fellow - Past President Gail Freeman.

This is the text of the citation:

Paul Harris Fellow – Past President Gail Freeman

Gail Freeman joined the Rotary Club of Canberra South Inc. in July 1989.

Gail is the first woman member of this Rotary Club, and one of the first women in Rotary in (now) District 9710 and in Australia.

Gail has served the Rotary Club of Canberra South Inc. in nearly every position on the Club Board of Directors. Gail has been Director of each of Club, Community, International and Vocational Service. Gail has also served as Club Secretary and more than once as Bulletin Editor.

In 1997-98 Gail served as Club President – the Club's first woman President.

Gail has represented the Club at District level, serving on District Committees and is currently Chair of the District's Youth Suicide Prevention Committee. Gail has been instrumental in the success of the development and launch of that Committee's Yellow Ribbon Card campaign.

Gail has clearly devoted herself to the ideal of Rotary – Service Above Self. Gail is a very busy woman, but if there is any way she can make time to support a Rotary activity, she does so wholeheartedly.

Gail has always been only too willing to assist with any project or to take a leadership role in seeing a project to a successful completion. Gail deeply involves not only herself but has many, many times made the resources of her business available to assist in the success of our Club's projects and activities. Her family provide her great support and are often there to assist. A very recent example is in the success of our first International Night in April 1999.

Gail has kept us involved in wonderful projects like Young Achievement Australia, with Ben Alford and his family, and youth suicide prevention projects – to name only three. Gail is highly enthusiastic about these activities and her enthusiasm makes it easy for us all to come along as well.

Gail enjoys tremendously the fellowship in the Club and fellowship with her fellow Rotarians.

Gail is active in our community outside the sphere of Rotary. We are equally proud of Gail's involvement as a leader in her professional associations and ACT business support and mentoring programmes. Gail also represents her profession and her community on a number of consultative committees of the Australian Taxation Office.

The Rotary Club of Canberra South Inc. is proud to name Gail Lesley Freeman a Paul Harris Fellow in due and proper recognition of her lengthy, committed and dedicated service to Rotary, to this Club and to our community.

20 December 1999