By ALESHA CAPONE
TWO Altona residents have been recognised for their dedication to helping out the community.
Last week the Rotary Club of Altona City gave Margaret Rice the Paul Harris service award, their highest honour.
At the same ceremony Charlie Montebello was presented a Paul Harris Fellow with Sapphire award, after more than two decades in Rotary including as president.
As part of Rotary’s fundraising, the club estimated Mr Montebello has sold more than 27,000 sausages and chopped up around 130 kilos of onions over the past 23 years.
He has also served on the organising committees for the Rotary club’s debutante balls and golf days across 20 years and set up a blood pressure monitoring program.
Mrs Rice has spent decades setting up pre-school musical groups across Hobsons Bay and a children’s musical playgroup at St Eanswythe’s Anglican Church in Altona.
Mrs Rice has also been the church’s organist for 20 years and co-ordinated the Carols by Candlelight at Logans Reserve since 1996.
In addition she helps with the church’s soup and sandwiches outreach team, is an Altona/Laverton Historical Society member and does other charitable works within the community.
The grandmother of eight said she was surprised to receive the Paul Harris award.
“I don’t do it for recognition. You just do it because you can and you’re filling a need in the community,” she said.
“It’s a pleasure seeing other people take pleasure in what you’re doing.
“I think if you’ve got a talent you should share it with the community.”
Mr Montebello said he was “very humbled” to receive the Sapphire award, after getting the Paul Harris service award a decade ago.
“We live in a strange world when you get awards for doing something you enjoy,” he said.
Contact Mr Montebello on 0412 257 723 for information about joining Rotary.
