It was the end of an era for the Interact and EarlyAct Clubs at Port Alfred High School recently as Rotarian Mike Millard, who has mentored successive groups of pupils, stepped down after six years.
“This is a sad time for me. In the six years I have only missed three Interact meetings,” Millard said in his speech at the induction ceremonies for Interact and EarlyAct.
“I have gained about 180 children. I have seen most of them walk into the world and make a mark for themselves.”
Millard said a highlight of the years he spent as Interact mentor was being part of Lynn Baatjies’ years in EarlyAct and going from EarlyAct president to Interact president and then becoming head girl at PAHS.
But he said the past year under Sheena Louca’s Interact presidency was his easiest one ever.
“I did not have to do much, I did not have to motivate anyone, I did not have to look for sponsors, I did not have to clean up after a project. All I had to do was make sure I was at the project on time, and maybe provide transport,” Millard said.
“Everything was organised and done for me. All I had to do was take photos and that was also taken care of! This was definitely my easiest and favourite year by far.
“For that I must congratulate Sheena and thank her parents. If there was ever a prize for parents’ support, it will have to go to Sheena’s parents, hands down.”
Millard said whenever he was nervous about a project and he contacted Sheena, she must have heard it in his voice and her famous reassurance was, “Don’t worry Sir, we’ve got this.”
Then he knew he everything was under control and he didn’t have to worry.
He said at the beginning of Sheena’s term as president, she had named 21 projects, but by the end, her team had completed 36 projects, among them a Valentine’s project, striking for rhinos, supporting International Clean-up Day, collecting clothes for children in Bathurst, Mother’s Day, a youth dance, a Women’s Day dinner, a hunger drive, visits to Damant Lodge and several fundraising projects for Retreat to Eden animal sanctuary.
“We discussed them all and I asked her if we could not maybe come up with one with a little more feeling, meaning… something not done before.”
In reponse, Sheena came up with a project for AJ Behr, a young boy with cerebral palsy, to have a custom made brace fitted to a wheelchair donated to his family.
Millard thanked everyone who contributed towards it, including Multi Security, Kenrich Motors, the Rotary Club of Port Alfred, Rotary eClub, the Lions Club and others.
In her speech as outgoing president, Sheena said the club had become her family.
“We have learnt that the more you put into a project, does not compare to the smiles, tears and appreciation of the hearts we’ve touched through our service to the community,” she said.
“When you finish a project, it changes you in ways you cannot describe, it opens your eyes to what is happening around you.”
She thanked her team for their patience and dedication, acknowledging their early mornings, late nights and hard work.
“A massive thank you to Mr Mike Millard for all your advice and contribution to Interact Club. Mr Millard has such a fantastic, giving heart. You were my role model and I will always appreciate what you did for me and the club.”