KNYSNA NEWS - On 21 May, Knysna Rotary Anns' president Fern Emanuel presented the Teresa/Diana award to 86-year-old Daphne Hennessey in recognition of her outstanding voluntary service to the community and for her valuable leadership, dedication and selfless contribution to the smooth running of the Knysna Disaster Fund over the past 27 years.
In 1991, Daphne joined the Knysna Women's Association Disaster Fund, as it was known in the early '90s, which then evolved into the Knysna Disaster Fund. Daphne is its longest-serving member, currently holding the office of chairperson, which she has done since 2012.
Assisting fire victims since '90s
The main focus of the fund is to help victims of fire with basic life necessities such as bedding, clothing and kitchenware. In the past 25 years, there have been roughly 1 250 fires in which some 3 750 people have been assisted by the fund.
Daphne calls into the fund's storerooms every week, to make sure everything is in order. Through her network, she organises twice-yearly street collections, usually doing all the contacting of possible collectors herself. She has another network of pensioner ladies who knit and sew clothes for children.
While ensuring the smooth running of the Knysna Disaster Fund, Daphne is known for her drive and initiative to look further afield to find ways to help in other areas of the community.
Helping in other areas, too
Last year, Daphne hosted a meeting of those who assist the victim support unit/comfort room at the provincial hospital, so that finally there could be some cohesion to efforts from all concerned. These included Rotary Anns, CPF, Knysna Disaster Fund and the Baptist Church volunteer Helga Raynor, who is the coordinator for the comfort room.
In June 2017, Daphne was to be found on her knees in Spring Street car park on the Friday after the calamitous fires, sorting shoes, doing whatever she could to help. She leads by example and be assured, sorting shoes was no easy task. Over the ensuing weeks after the fires, Daphne helped out where she could.
Daphne has a sense of community and her commitment is purely voluntary. She puts others before herself, she has worked quietly and diligently over the years to make sure that there is help for those in their time of need.
The Rotary Anns of Knysna salute her as a very worthy recipient of the Teresa/Diana award, named after Mother Teresa and Princess Diana.
Article: Knysna Rotary Anns
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