Rotary Clubs honour citizens who have made a significant contribution to the community by donating US$1,000 in their name to the Rotary Foundation, entitling them to be called a "Paul Harris Fellow". (Paul Harris was the founder of Rotary International).Timaru lawyer Tony Shaw was made a Paul Harris Fellow by Timaru Rotary Club President Jess Hewitson at the Club's meeting on Tuesday 4th August 2020 in recognition of the outstanding contribution he has made to IHC both in South Canterbury and nationally over many years.
Tony was first invited to join the IHC South Canterbury Branch committee 40 years ago and served IHC for many years at a governance level both in South Canterbury and at a national level.
He was a National IHC Board member from 1998 to 2005 and was IHC National President for three years from 2002 to 2005. In 2005 Tony was made a Life Member of IHC New Zealand. Tony returned to the IHC National Boardroom last year after a break of 15 years, reappointed to the Board in September last year to ensure the financial stability of IHC in a climate that is seeing other disability providers struggling after Covid-19 and was this year elected IHC National Board Chair.
Tony has broad experience in community and volunteer organisations, including the Rotary Club of Timaru. His first contact with Rotary was as a Group Study Exchange team member, put forward by this club to the selection process in Dunedin. He was successful and was a member of the Group Study Exchange team that went to Rotary District 7150 in Upper New York State in 1989.
Tony has continued to support Rotary activities and was MC for a good number of Rotary Charity Auctions held by the Rotary Club of Timaru in the early 2000’s.