Rotary club honours pair for dedication

KATINA CURTIS

TWO Kiama women are being recognised by Minnamurra Rotary Club for going over and above what is required of them in their jobs.

Council environmental services officer Julie Errey and Kiama Leisure Centre aerobics co-ordinator Simone Cuneo will receive Pride of Workmanship awards at the club’s meeting tonight.

President Juanita Barber said the two recipients were chosen by club members from among the wider community for their dedication to their careers. To make the award even more special, Rotary district governor Patrick Roberts will conduct the presentation.

Ms Errey said she felt honoured to be recognised for her work.

“I know I’m very dedicated to what I do because I am a strong believer in what I do, so I guess it is a way of recognising that dedication,” she said. “I feel really proud because I feel like I put more in than is expected, but you just generally do it. You don’t think about it, you just do it.”

Ms Errey is responsible for several community health and environment projects, including the walking trail map and guide to physical activity, which were launched in December, and projects looking at the cost of food and where to find free and low cost meals locally.

Ms Errey said she often found her work easy because she was interested it.

“It’s not something I just do as a job; it’s like a lifestyle, too,” she said.

Ms Cuneo said that when she found out about the award she was excited and overwhelmed.

“It was very unexpected because I just come in a do my job and I love my job; it’s a lot of fun,” she said.

She has been teaching at Kiama Leisure Centre since 2001, starting out on work experience taking aqua aerobics classes.

She applied for the aerobics co-ordinator position two years later and said she was very proud when she got the job.

Ms Cuneo still takes aqua aerobics classes and teaches pilates, “spinning” and different kinds of aerobics as well as doing personal training.

“My job is very rewarding. I have such a great rapport and friendship with most of my participants,” she said.

“It’s just great, that satisfaction to see their smiles.”