Dave Briggs, Mary MacDonald and Dave Chatman reminisce about their years with the Port Hawkesbury Rotary Club. Briggs had the oldest membership; MacDonald was the first female President of the Rotary Club in the district; and Chatman had the longest continuous membership.
September 17, 2025
-by Beverley Phillips
Adam Rodgers, President of the Port Hawkesbury Rotary Club, opened the club’s final gathering Sunday afternoon at the Port Hawkesbury Yacht Club with a strike of the gavel on the bell.
“It’s not a funeral,” said former president Patrick Lamey, “but a celebration of what we’ve done and a reflection of how society has changed.”
Rodgers has been president of the service club for the last two and a half years. He talked about one of their highlights, the playground on MacQuarrie Drive Extension. It was a community-wide effort, and everyone came together to build it in a day. While it could be easy to be discouraged at the loss of the club, he said, “It’s not a sign that less good is being done. People will still join projects, like they did with the playground, to get things done.”
MLA Kyle MacQuarrie thanked the Rotary Club for 64 years of service. “The Rotary Club was a place where people could take ideas on how to improve the lives of others, and turn them into action.” “Communities,” MacQuarrie said, “thrive on that kind of volunteerism.”
Kevin Armstrong, from the Sydney Rotary Club and Area Governor, told the group that they took the Rotary Club’s motto, “Service before self,” to heart. “Your legacy is woven into the fabric of Port Hawkesbury,” he said, “and I have no doubt that the spirit of Rotary will continue through those who served.”
Rodgers and Lamey then handed out four final checks. Chloe Fox accepted one on behalf of Re-Nest Furniture Society, an organization that accepts donations of furniture and ensures it reaches someone who needs it. Careen Matheson, of SAERC, and Denise Chaisson, of Richmond Education Centre/Academy, accepted checques on behalf of their schools. Tara Lee Wood accepted a cheque on behalf of Tamarac Education Centre for phase two of their playground project.
The afternoon then turned to memories of their years as Rotarians. Mary MacDonald said it was an honour to be the first female president in the district of the former men’s organization. Others spoke fondly of the Christmas ceilidh, carolling, social gatherings, and Chase the Leprechaun.
And while contributing to big, local projects, such as the playground, or to international projects, was noteworthy, it was the little things they did that mattered most to many. Whether someone needed money for a wheelchair, new steps into their home, or even teeth, the Rotary Club was there to help. Adam Cooke remarked, “I hate to see it winding down, but the Rotary spirit will continue because of the impact it made.”
The impact they have made is drawn from the guidance of the Four-way Test, recited at the end of meetings. And they recited it one last time. They ask of themselves:
“Of the things we think, say, or do...
Is it the truth?
Is it fair for all concerned?
Will be build goodwill and better friendships?
Will it be beneficial to all concerned?”
And with that, Rodgers closed this chapter in the life of the Rotary Club in Port Hawkesbury with a final ring of the bell.
