By Alana Mitchelson
Clover Cottage’s John Chipperfield and Trevor Burr were presented with Paul Harris Fellowship awards by Berwick Rotary on Saturday.
The pair were recognised for their service to the community over the past 40 years at its final function on Saturday 14 January.
The fellowship award is named after Rotary Foundation founder Paul Harris, a Chicago lawyer who started Rotary International with three business associates in 1905.
Rotarians often designate a Paul Harris Fellow as a tribute to a person whose life demonstrates a shared purpose with the objectives of the Rotary Foundation.
“It is because of gifts like one made in Trevor and John’s honour that The Rotary Foundation can carry out an array of programs that achieve beneficial changes in our world such as improved living conditions, increased food production, better education, wider availability of treatment and rehabilitation for sick and disabled, new channels for the flow of international understanding and brighter hopes for peace,” Rotary volunteer Isobel Mark Caulfield said.
“John and Trevor’s contributions to the local community are well known. Community groups such as Rotary, Inner Wheel, hospitals, schools, kindergartens, playgroups, sporting groups and many more have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years at Clover Cottage functions.
“John and Trevor, their families and staff at Clover Cottage have helped to make Berwick and the surrounding areas a better place to be.”
Mr Chipperfield said his association with Rotary dated back more than 50 years when he and his wife, along with their business partner Trevor Burr, owned a restaurant in Leongatha.
In one weekend, he and his staff catered for Rotary’s 50-year celebrations with two cabaret balls for 700 people each night, two lunches and a breakfast.
They purchased Clover Cottage the following year.
Mr Chipperfield and Mr Burr thanked all the service clubs that have supported Clover Cottage, describing them as their “lifeblood”.
For more information visit www.rotaryberwick.org.
