Life-changing experiences

Blessed: Dot Hennessy OAM says her life is rich and rewarding, and she is grateful to have the capacity to do the community work she does. Picture: Georgia Matts.

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There's an old saying that states, if you want something done, give it to a busy person.

Dot Hennessy OAM is a living example of how that statement can be true.

Retired 20 years ago, Dot admits that she cannot stand to be inactive even for a moment.

As such, her days are as busy as ever with online meetings and other tasks for volunteer work which includes the local Rotary International Club, the PCYC, the local region's Vocational Training Committee and continued involvement with WorldSkills.

When she looks back on the story so far, Dot uses the phrase Rotary moments, partly because her involvement there has presented the opportunity for lots of eye-opening experiences, not just to 10 of the annual international conferences, but also to see charity projects up close.

India was one visit that came to mind, and Dot spoke fondly of a polio immunisation program where children as young as five weeks old were receiving drops.

Another experience was witnessing the ingenuity of earthquake recovery projects in Nepal.

Contemplating the meaning of such experiences, Dot said: "There are things you can do to make such a difference and it can be life-changing, not just for them but also in your thoughts and the way you view the world."

Dot credits her mother with instilling her with a strong community ethic, and a strong work ethic.

Dot says her mother "topped theology in Australia and wasn't allowed to be honoured for that," simply for being a woman, which was hard. Despite this she never saw anything negative in other people. "She'd say to me, 'rise above it and turn the other cheek'."

Dot also credits her family, and especially husband of almost 58 years, Bob, for the support they've given to enable her to do all the great work she does for various aspects of the community.

A running theme with Dot's interests are in projects that encourage, acknowledge or assist the youth, as well as those who have faced some sort of adversity and overcome it. It is fitting then, that there have been three separate scholarships named in Dot's honour.

The first is the Dot Hennessy OAM Emergency Services Youth Scholarship, first presented in 2018, and it's part of the NSW Rotary Emergency Community Services Awards. The announcement of that was kept secret so it would be a surprise. Not an easy feat since Dot has been involved with those awards since she first presented the idea to the committee she was head of at the time of their inception.

The second is part of the Illawarra Vocational Training Committee Awards. Specifically, it is the IVTC Dot Hennessy OAM Scholarships, two of which were awarded this year.

The third is a Hair Raising scholarship in partnership with Rotary and the PCYC. Dot has decided to donate her long hair to the Wig Sisters in Melbourne to make a wig for a young person who needs one, and at the same time raise money via donations to fund scholarships for young achievers through PCYC programs. This is actually a current project that has so far been hampered by an inability to have events this year. A factor affecting fundraisers of many kinds.

You can visit Dot's Memories Timeline at memories.com.au/timeline/dot-hennessy-87815 to see more of her wonderful life.

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