A gem of a Rotarian who has co-ordinated a charity book fair at Dubbo has received a high honour from his peers.
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Peter Bartley was "surprised but thrilled" to be recognised by the Rotary Club of Dubbo Macquarie yesterday.
The honour - a sapphire to add to his Paul Harris Fellow pin - was given by the club for his dedication to what has become one of its major annual fundraisers.
At the same lunch meeting the club recognised fellow member Bev Hawkins as a Paul Harris Fellow, an honour named for the founder of Rotary.
In the five years since its inception the Rotary/Lifeline Michael Egan Memorial Book Fair has collected more than $35,000 for charities.
As book fair co-ordinator Mr Bartley has helped build up the club's tribute to Michael Egan, a fellow member and avid reader who died in 2007 at the age of 49.
Yesterday Mr Bartley said he was grateful to his fellow club members for their support with the book fair.
"It's always a team effort," he said.
"It is a pleasure to be the book fair co-ordinator and I'm thrilled that the public have got behind it."
Club president for 2013-2014 Lorna Breeze said the honour was presented for Mr Bartley's dedication to the book fair, including his efforts promoting it to the wider community.
New Paul Harris Fellow Mrs Hawkins has belonged to the club for nine years, and for five of those she was attendance officer.
Ms Breeze said it was a weekly commitment done so well that the club had pried the Junius Prize for most improved attendance away from the Newcastle area for the first time this year.
Mrs Hawkins was modest about her own efforts.
"If you do something you like doing, it's not a problem," she said.
"I don't expect rewards for it, but it's very pleasing to receive this honour."