Our Inaugural Living the Vision Dinner was a wonderful success - the Pavilion at Rostrevor proved a fantastic venue, the company was brilliant (it is the South Australian Network afterall!) and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.
Most notably, the first ever Living the Vision Awards were distributed.
The Wisdom Group, who oversee the award scheme, wants to express their sincere thanks for the overwhleming number of nominations made to the Inaugural Living the Vision Awards in South Australia. They were delighted by the calibre and quantity of nominations received in this inaugural year!
It was a difficult task for them to select the recipients of this first round because the nominations so passionately detailed praise and admiration for the nominees. Therefore, you can imagine the sterling contribution of the three people awarded with the Inaugural Awards in 2010.
Our special guests for the Presentation Dinner were Azim Khamisa and Ples Felix. They proved inspirational speakers and challenged all of us to make our workplaces, schools, ministries and groups ‘campuses of peace and non-violence’.
Azim and Ples’ story is one founded on tragedy, but graced with such life-giving consequences, and like Edmund himself, they have committed to show to world that ‘every child is a blessing to the planet’.
If you would like to know more about their story, their message and their programmes, please visit www.azimkhamisa.com or www.tkf.org.
The look of utter surprise on the faces of our three award recipients testifies to their selfless and generous contributions to the vulnerable and to the Edmund Rice Network.
The Margaret Rice Award for Presence was awarded to Br John McGee. This announcement met with generous applause and celebration – for those who know ‘Br Jock’ this would have been no great surprise!
The award citation included statements like: For years, Jock has been known as a person of outstanding integrity, deep compassion and a true humility; His genuine concern for others has earned him the trust and confidence of many.
The Nano Nagle Award for Compassion was awarded to Mr Justin Chung. Justin has been involved in the work of the Edmund Rice Network for over 15 years – he has been a dedicated volunteer with Edmund Rice Camps, a generous and exemplary teacher at Rostrevor College, and constant supporter of projects to support the marginalised. The award citation includes: Justin is a wonderful and engaging presence wherever he goes. His ability to be in solidarity with those around him is makes him an excellent role model; Justin is someone who walks the walk and talks the talk.
The Ambrose Treacy Award for Liberation was awarded to Br Reg Whitely. Someone who shuns the limelight, Reg was recognised for his tireless dedication to working with ‘at risk’ young people, particularly in the Southern Suburbs. Reg’s award citation states: Reg Whitely has been the constant moving spirit behind the Edmund Rice presence in the southern suburbs of Adelaide for the past sixteen years; Reg represents the embodiment of Edmund Rice ministry in southern area.
For full award citations, please click here.
