Isobel Jennings – Awarded by YNZ for Service
by Jodie Bakewell-White on 5 May 2011
Stacey Hall of Yachting New Zealand presents the Service Award to Isobel Jennings Karen Bruce
Forty year member of the Marakura Yacht Club, Isobel Jennings was surprised with the presentation of a Yachting New Zealand Service Award at the Club’s 40th Jubilee Regatta held at Easter.
Nominated and ratified by the Yachting New Zealand Judging Panel for the Service Award in October 2010 the Award was kept a secret until now at the Club’s request who felt Isobel would be dismayed at the thought of travelling to Auckland to attend an official ceremony.
A surprise presentation was made by Yachting New Zealand’s Regional Support Officer, Stacey Hall, at the 2011 Easter Regatta in front of a large crowd of Southland and Otago yachties who were in Te Anau for the event.
The Marakura Yacht Club was formed in 1969 and Murray (Red) and Isobel Jennings joined the Club in 1971. Isobel has served ten years as Publicity Officer (in two separate stints), eleven years as Club Treasurer and a further sixteen years on the Club Committee.
Gordon Ashton, Club Secretary reflects on Isobel’s contribution to the Marakura Yacht Club...
'As any older folk will well remember, in those early days the drinking culture was rather different than it is today and Isobel was an ever reliable sober courtesy taxi driver ferrying the well tanked up menfolk to their homes in the small hours. Throughout her time with the Club she has been a mainstay in the kitchen at all our regattas and through the 1990s was a major organiser of a number of social afternoons in our southern closed-down winter season.'
'Her major contribution in more recent years has been her encyclopaedic knowledge of the Club’s history along with her invaluable work in keeping track of the Club’s trophies and award winners and organising the engraving and distribution of these. She also prepares all our race notices and keeps the Committee on its toes regarding the timing of race notices and advertising.'
'The Marakura Yacht Club values her contribution and commitment to the Club enormously and in 1992 she and Murray were made Life Members. There is no one in Marakura who has put as much time and effort into the Club over so long a period.'
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