It is rare that employers are asked to think about nominating an employee for special recognition for the work they do or the way they do it, but our club recently challenged local business owners to do just that and the resulting process culminated in Pride of Workmanship Awards going to three well deserving local employees.

The aim of the Rotary Pride of Workmanship Awards is to encourage a much-needed pride in personal performance in the workplace and to help create a national attitude for the benefit of our country.

The theme of the program is – ‘Do it once, do it well. Build a better Australia’.

The Pride of Workmanship Award is designed to acknowledge an employee, irrespective of age or vocation, who, in the eyes of his or her employer, displays outstanding qualities in terms of approach, attitude, dedication and commitment to his or her job.

The Award covers all aspects of recipient’s work performance and ethics, inclusive of quality and quantity of output, safety, initiative, sense or responsibility etc.

Nominated for the Award this year were Sharon Kelly of Foodworks Supermarket, Glenn Reynolds of Edcomp Computer Services and Sherryl Smith of the Trafalgar Medical Centre.

Foodworks manager, Adrian Denman described Sharon as “an integral part of our customer service team and with a natural ability to organise, train and care for our staff. She also has a great for understanding our community and what’s happening within it.”

Ed and Heather Hayward of Edcomp summarised Glenn’s attributes as “trustworthy, honest and ‘not a little clever’. He enjoys the challenge of keeping up with the ever evolving technology that keeps our business interesting, if not a little daunting at times.

Glenn never lets a challenge get the better of him, we liken him to a Jack Russell – never letting go until the problem is solved. He has a strong following of clients who always ask for his services. We only have one complaint, Glenn enjoys his work so much he reluctantly takes holidays, which he deserves greatly.”

Dr. James Brown of the Trafalgar Medical Centre spoke highly of Sherryl Smith who began working as a junior receptionist at the Centre 20 years ago. “As her skills have developed and the clinic has grown she has steadily increased her responsibilities and commitments to such that she is now the practice manager of a clinic that employs twelve staff and provides over 2,000 consultations a month. Sheryll exhibits great loyalty, is exceptionally committed and conscientious, she brings a compassion to her work. The welfare of the patients and of Sheryll’s workplace colleagues matters deeply to her. She never hesitates to go the second mile when this will make a difference to a patient, a colleague or to the medical centre. Sheryll sees problems as challenges and she does what is necessary to find

the skills necessary to deal with the tasks that face her. For her work colleagues, Sheryll is a strength and a friend as well as practice manager.

The Awards were presented at a special Rotary Club Meeting in April by club president Christine Makin.