International honour for Rotorua Rotarian

District Governor Leonie Tisch and presents a certificate to Mel Cooper for 60 years' service to Rotary. Photo/supplied

Rotary Rotorua North club member Mel Cooper has been honoured for 60 years of service with Rotary.

He has been admitted to the Rotary Heritage and History International Fellowship Hall of Fame. District Governor Leonie Tisch presented Cooper with his certificate and the club, Rotary Rotorua North, awarded him a glass desk clock.

"In my youth, I was always told that as young people we were always expected to contribute to our community," he said.

"By the time I had reached 21 years of age I was already involved with several community organisations."

Part of the very first Rotary GSE (Group Study Exchange) team out of New Zealand in 1956, Cooper spent 19 weeks touring 15 Rotary districts in Great Britain and joined the Kaitaia Rotary Club in 1958, only three months after marrying his wife and big supporter Colleen.

"I could not have achieved even a fraction of this without the support of Colleen and our family."

In 1982, Mel joined the Onehunga Rotary Club. When he retired to Rotorua in 2000, he joined Rotorua North.

Cooper has held all Rotary executive offices with the exception of secretary, including the position of District Governor, which was the highlight of his Rotary career.

He governed District 992; comprising of 68 clubs in New Zealand and the Pacific, from 1981 to 1982.

He has served 18 years on district committees and chaired the New Zealand Advisory Committee for three years.