Geoff Dainty wins high Rotary award.
March 25, 2010
The plaque Geoff Dainty received may be small, but the work it recognises him for is huge. This month the Mt Albert resident was given Rotary's highest individual honour, the Service Above Self Award.
'You don't win an award like this by yourself, it's a catalyst to thank the people who supported you,' the 64-year-old says.
The annual award recognises up to 150 Rotarians for exceptional humanitarian service, out of 1.2 million members worldwide.
Geoff Dainty has been actively involved for the last 25 years in helping others. 'I guess you can go bowling or golfing but I enjoy helping other people,' he says.
In 2004 Geoff was responsible for setting up a New Zealand branch of ROMAC, the Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children, which treats Asian and Pacific children with life-threatening conditions. ROMAC has brought 10 children to New Zealand for life-saving operations.
'It's dignity-restoring surgery. We have children with brain hernias, there are burns victims, cardiac kids with holes in their hearts and orthopaedic surgeries for club foot. In places like the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, they haven't got the facilities to help these kids.'
As Romac's board chairman for the next three years from July 1, 2010, Geoff says of the 150 kids in need of immediate attention, ROMAC can help 40 this year at a cost of $25,000 per child. 'Surgeons, nurses and anaesthetists charge us nothing, but hospitals charge full rates,' he says.
Geoff is also a Life Education Trust member and Rotary district governor and is just the second New Zealander to receive the international accolade.
Former district governor Neil Reid nominated Geoff for the award and says he was not surprised by the win. 'There are few people in the world that do more for the community than Geoff Dainty. I don't know anyone else in Rotary who is more deserving.'
