Sapphire shine for service

– Bridget Brady
ANDREW Pinxt migrated to Australia from Holland as a 20-year-old with two suitcases of clothes and a few tools.
Forty-one years later, the father of four was awarded Rotary’s highest honour, the sapphire pin, at the Cranbourne Rotary Club changeover dinner.
Mr Pinxt, 61, said he was “lost for words” and surprised at the honour.
In true Rotary ‘service before self’ style, Mr Pinxt said he thought there were many more people worthy of the sapphire pin than him.
“You never put yourself in that league,” he said.
“This I didn’t expect. It just shows you that people think you are worthy … it’s emotional.
“Australia has given me a life. I wanted to work for the community. That’s what life is all about.”
Mr Pinxt said the fellowship of members was the reason he enjoyed his 32 years of Rotary.
“I’ve made a lot of friends in Cranbourne. It has been great.”
Mr Pinxt worked as a boilermaker and lives in Cannons Creek.
His wife, Patsy, kept the award a surprise from her husband and even had to carry out a pretend phone call in front of him to justify why his children were attending the dinner on Friday night.
“We pretended he was getting an award for 25 years of service to Rotary, which is funny because he has actually been involved in Rotary for 32 years.
“I had to pretend to be on the phone to someone saying we need to invite the family to fill a table because someone else’s family could not come.”
Mr Pinxt was described as an example to all Rotarians and a very generous donor of time and material.
He was president of the club in 1989-90 and said one of the highlights of his involvement in Rotary had been his Interplast trip to Vietnam in February this year.
Mr Pinxt sponsored a team of surgeons who operated on burns victims.
“It was awesome. But with 32 years of Rotary you have many highlights.”