Sheila DeWitt, Darlene Morton awarded Paul Harris Fellowship, Rotary International’s highest honour
Two longstanding Southern Victoria volunteers who helped improve mental health and promote Scottish music and culture throughout the region were awarded Rotary International’s highest honour, the Paul Harris Fellowship, by the Rotary Club of Perth-Andover on Oct. 24.
Sheila DeWitt, a longstanding volunteer with the New Beginnings Centre and Darlene Morton, a driving force behind the Southern Victoria Pipe Band and the preservation of Scottish culture in Kincardine, were lauded for their efforts and living up to Rotary’s motto ‘Service Above Self.’
“The Perth-Andover Rotary Club donated $1,000 each in Sheila and Darlene’s name to the Rotary Foundation. The Rotary Foundation is one of the world’s largest philanthropic organizations, with contributions exceeding $6.5 billion, money transformed into service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world,” said Rotarian Mark Rickard, vice-president of the Perth-Andover club. “Darlene and Sheila, you might be interested to know the $2,000 donated in your names could help vaccinate 666 children against polio, help 40 households receive clean water, or 10 farming families replace livestock impacted by disasters like the terrible earthquake and flooding in Tibet and Nepal.”
‘Leads with integrity’
Donna Miller Wallace nominated Sheila Dewitt for the fellowship, saying the New Beginnings program offers a safe and respectful place where adults living with mental health challenges can engage in social activities while building life skills, confidence and connections within their community.
“Sheila’s contributions have been both extensive and deeply practical. She has served in every leadership role… Her service reflects a personal commitment to the whole well-being of others,” Wallace said. “Through this work as well as the community garden and make a meal program, she helps support people emotionally, physically and spiritually.”
Wallace said Sheila leads with integrity and works tirelessly, ensuring vulnerable community members have a safe space and an opportunity to thrive.
Kat Pickle, a longtime friend, fellow board member and New Beginnings employee, described Sheila as quiet and unassuming, but she hears “the call for volunteers as personal challenge.”
“Sheila steps up… Somehow her youthful energy never fades. The rest of us are feeling tired watching her volunteer and get things done,” she said. “Because Sheila is a Reiki master with over 20 years of experience, if you are feeling unusually calm and peaceful tonight, it’s her.”
“Sheila does more than walk people thought difficult times. Sometimes she helps carry them,” Pickle said. “That kind of friendship is rare, but it speaks volumes about the heart of the woman we are honouring tonight. Sheila, you are the kind of person every community hopes to have, dependable, compassionate and willing to step forward without ever asking to be in the spotlight.”
Sheila said she was grateful for the support of family, friends, and fellow New Beginnings volunteers.
“This very humbling. I find it hard to accept credit because I am not the only one,” she said. “New Beginnings is a place where people who are lonely can feel safe.”
‘Dedication and leadership skills’
Rotarian Mariane Bell nominated Darlene Morton of Kincardine. The teacher and musician led the Southern Victoria Pipe Band for many years, taught many pipe band members to play the bagpipes, and has organized the annual Burns Night Celebration in Kincardine for decades.
“She’s a local historian, an active leader in the United Church in the Scotch Colony, and a longtime leader-teacher in the education system.”
Garth Farquhar, neighbour and longtime friend, joked his tribute would be a “sneak peek” into Darlene’s eulogy.
“She had an exemplary role in the Southern Victoria Pipe Band and Scotch Colony Burns Celebrations… She took over as director of the pipe band in 1972, a position she held until a few years ago. The reason the pipe band flourished is largely due to Darlene’s dedication and leadership skills,” Farquhar said.
“Darlene has performed at Burns Night celebrations since she was a small child. The Burns Hall was built by Darlene’s grandfather John Ellis and she goes above and beyond to keep the maintenance up in the historic building… Darlene is the glue and motivational force that holds the whole production together and makes the event such an enjoyable experience.”
Darlene is also a member of the Wednesday Evening Fiddlers and community choir. In 2005, she received a New Brunswick merit award for her outstanding contributions to the province. She was also a recent honorary Clan Chieftain at the Gathering of the Scots.
Darlene said pipe band members put the small community on the map, representing Southern Victoria at performances in Montreal, New England, Prince Edward Island, Nashville and Scotland. She said other pipe band members are continuing the tradition, and she hopes Burns Night activities will thrive for generations.
“All these things that we do, that we put our lives into, it’s really important to hand it on to the next group of people to carry on,” Darlene said.
Rotarians and Paul Harris Fellow members Dr. Terry Shaw and Cheryl Reed presented Sheila and Darlene with their fellowship pins and certificates.
