Conroys receive top Rotary award

David (left) and Gary Conroy after accepting their Paul Harris Fellowship awards. Photo/Supplied

Two Hawke's Bay brothers well known for their services to transport have been honoured with Paul Harris Fellowships - the Rotary Foundation's highest accolade for service within its clubs, although neither are members.

Gary and David Conroy, who built up Conroy Removals which they started in the early 1970s, were awarded the Paul Harris Fellow medals at a special presentation staged by Taradale Rotary last Thursday.

Outgoing president Mike Wong, who later handed over the chains of office to incoming president Merv Kite, said clubs designated a Paul Harris Fellow as a tribute to Rotarians for outstanding service to the club or community.

"On rare occasions, we bestow this recognition to someone outside Rotary and this was one of those occasions," Mr Wong said.

He described as outstanding the support the brothers had given Rotary, through fundraising, storage and transport at no cost to the club.

"Whenever called upon, they were always willing and eager to assist - their generosity to the club has been immense."

Mr Wong said the Conroys had also supported the Art Deco Trust, the Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter, the Hawke's Bay Rugby Union, the Sacred Heart College annual scholarship and several Hawke's Bay sports clubs.

Mr Wong noted how they assisted in Rotary's transportation of 37 cartons of goods to Port Moresby in the wake of the Papua New Guinea tsunami, and shipped citrus to the Chathams and brought back fish, which was later distributed to rest and elderly care homes without cost.

Conroys also provided transport and storage for community events through the years.

"And they have also been generous sponsors to many of our events."

Gary Conroy described the awards he and his brother received as "very special and quite humbling".

"We have always appreciated the good things service clubs like Rotary do for the community and have always been pleased to help where we could."

He said they were invited along to the meeting after being told the members wanted to thank them for what they had contributed through the years.

"It was a complete surprise when they sprung this on us - we had no idea."

Mr Conroy said they never sought reward and that when people asked for help, they did what they could.

"We just assumed everybody did what they could do to help when asked."