1 week Ago By [email protected] (Lewis McBlane)
Hard-working volunteers have been recognised with awards for going “above and beyond” for the community. Rotary Elgin recognised a number of community stalwarts with awards for having “worked tirelessly” to improve the lives of others. The organisation, which raises cash for good causes and hosts events including bonfire night, Motorfun, summer Family Fun Day, said it had been an “immense pleasure” to celebrate the award winners.
Rotary president Marian Evans gave five certificates of recognition to teams and individuals operating across Moray. Elgin Town Hall’s volunteers, the Lhanbryde Community Centre Village Hall and Cuppa Cafe, the Coat Hangar project and Lossiemouth women Gina McNicoll and Gisella Jos were the recipients of this year’s awards..
In their tribute to the team behind Elgin Town Hall, the Rotary praised the hard-working group’s success in making the venue “a vibrant and busy venue” for the community. “Since the charity took over the running of the hall, their dedication and hours and hours of volunteering have given the community a must-go location which offers something for everyone,” the spokesperson added. “And, it’s not only those who attend and use the Hall, but also the Elgin hospitality businesses that have benefitted immensely from all their behind-the-scenes work.
“Their mantra is ‘teamwork makes the dream work’ - and there is no doubt that the dream comes alive at Elgin Town Hall. “We look forward to the refurbished town hall reopening in 2027.” The volunteer-run Lhanbryde Community Centre and Cuppa Cafe was also among those recognised.
Over the past two years, the group have ensured that the facility offers a “warm meeting and social space, wholesome food and a warm welcome,” the tribute said. Due to the efforts of volunteers, the community can enjoy a food pantry, twice-weekly soup and sweet sessions, fish and chips Fridays, Sunday cooked breakfasts, a knit and natter group and a soon-to-be-launched men’s chat group session. Anne Sim and Jackie Andrews received rotary recognition for setting up The Coat Hanger.
Starting in October 2022, with one rack of donated coats at Elgin Town Hall, it handed out nearly 500 items of clothing in just six months. Since then, the project has grown and spread across Moray. Last winter more than 900 coats were distributed to the community, from eight racks in locations across Moray, including Elgin, Lossiemouth, Keith and Buckie.
Gina McNicoll and Gisella Jos were both also awarded certificates from Elgin Rotary. The two Lossiemouth women are both involved in a range of community projects. Gina leads on the planning for the annual children’s Lossiemouth Community Christmas extravaganza along with having researched and coordinated a project to plant old Christmas trees to regenerate the town’s East Beach sand dunes.
She also manages maintenance and the cleaning roster for the community toilets in Station Park and supports the Lossiemouth 2-3 Group Soup and Sweet. While Gisella has been part of St Gerardine’s Parent Council for a decade, and was an energetic member of the fundraising committee. She also she ran the Friday Night Club for children aged between four and ten, and is actively involved with Elgin Youth Cricket Club, the Lossiemouth Heritage Association, volunteers at Covesea Lighthouse and she is a trustee of the Lossiemouth Community Development Trust.
Praising all award recipients, the Elgin Rotary spokesperson added: “The motto of Rotary is ‘Service above Self’. “And it has been a delight for Rotary Elgin to promote the enthusiastic and earnest contribution of others who give of themselves and are so vital to the success of their respective communities. To find out more about the group’s work, visit their Facebook page.
.
