Presenting a Paul Harris Fellow (PHF) is the Rotary Foundation’s way of expressing its further recognition and appreciation for a person who has dedicated their life to the community.
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The recipient must have made a substantial contribution to Rotary’s humanitarian and community programs.
The award is named after Paul Harris, a Chicago lawyer who started Rotary International with three business associates in 1905.
Rotary Nowra, at its recent change over luncheon, caught local resident, June Stevens, by surprise when they awarded her with a PHF.
Past president Rob Russell made the presentation and two of Rotary Nowra’s longest-serving members and past presidents Arthur Moorhouse and Arthur King proudly presented June for her award.
June Stevens, in 2017, was named Shoalhaven’s Citizen of the Year, honoured for her long-standing contribution to community service aiding families in the Shoalhaven and nationally.
June, originally from Tasmania, started her working life as a primary school teacher. Upon arrival in Nowra in 1974, June re-trained as a psychologist and became a qualified marriage and family therapist.
She worked for many years within the Family Law Court of NSW and as a private practitioner in family therapy within the Shoalhaven.
June, in 1976, formed Lifeline in Nowra above James Kibbles Pharmacy.
She was then appointed to the role of CEO for Lifeline South Coast, a position she held for 10 years before taking on the role of CEO for what was then called Australian National Lifeline - now Lifeline Australia.
June played a significant role in bringing together 48 Lifeline Centres nationally to implement a national network for telephone crisis support, a service which now receives almost a million telephone calls per year from people in crisis.
She was instrumental in introducing the 1300 telephone number which linked all Lifeline centres around Australia.
June is a Foundation member of the Nowra Information and Aid Centre which is now the Shoalhaven Neighbourhood Centre.
June was also a Board member of Kemblawarra Child Care Centre and has been Chair and remains a board director of ShoalCare now known as Care South.
June has previously been the Chair of Shoalhaven Family Support and prepared the funding submission that was successful in starting this service and only recently stepped down from the board.
June has been a Board member of Southern Cross Community Housing Ltd since 2002. June has encouraged both women and men to be bold in their endeavours to bring about positive change within the community, and never underestimate the impact one person can have on a community, or in June’s case, a nation.
June is the wife of the late Peter Stevens, who was an energetic member of Rotary Nowra for many years and June supported Peter in that role.
As June was presented with her award Rotarians and guests gave her a standing ovation for her remarkable Shoalhaven community and national humanitarian service.
