Ashburton housing and health advocate Jackie Girvan said she was overwhelmed to receive one of Rotary Foundation’s highest honours.
The 71-year-old former Presbyterian Support manager has received the Paul Harris Fellowship Award, which recognises commitment to the Rotary ideal of Service Above Self.
‘‘I was overwhelmed, because I thought they normally go to Rotarians. It was an honour they have chosen someone outside their organisation.’’
Jackie was a Rotarian for about five years in the early 2000s. She has continued a commitment to the service club as a key member of its youth institute initiative.
In 2018, she helped found Ashburton Housing and Support Trust, also known as Haven Housing, in response to a lack of affordable rental accommodation for older residents.
Jackie said she felt honoured to have her work in this area among achievements she was acknowledged for in presentation of the award. Of all her voluntary work over the years, she considered what she had done with housing to have had the most impact.
As founding trustee and chair since the trust’s inception, Jackie has been a driving force behind the trust’s vision, development, and fundraising efforts.
Her compassionate leadership has helped the trust acquire and build housing now valued at over $3.5 million, including the purchase of Cameron Courts, the construction of 17 units in Mona Square and the planning of 10 more on Cambridge St.
Her commitment to community service began at the age of 12 when she joined the Junior Red Cross. Later as a nurse, she became actively involved in the Student Nurses Association, serving as president of the Ashburton branch and later the Ashburton Registered Nurses Association.
She served the Ashburton Branch of the Heart Foundation for 20 years, including terms as secretary and president, and supported families in need through work with Birthright.
She also served on the board of ACADS (Ashburton Community Alcohol and Drug Service) and gave two terms of service to the Ashburton Licensing Trust and the Charitable Foundation. Jackie was a member of the DARE programme supporting its two police education officers.
Jackie’s dedication to health advocacy is particularly evident in her work in stroke care. She served on the inaugural Canterbury District Health Board Consumer Panel, National Stroke Network, Stroke Clot Retrieval Panel, and currently serves on Stroke Aotearoa Consumer Panel.
Jackie actively volunteers with St Vincent de Paul, delivering food parcels and serving as secretary for the Ashburton conference. She is also a trustee of the Ashburton Benevolent Trust and volunteer at Citizens Advice Bureau Mid Canterbury.
