Rotary has been in the spotlight recently after winning two different slots on the 22-ft high empty plinth in Trafalgar Square as part of the OneandOther human art exhibition.
Jasmine Morris from the Rotary club of Hertford Shires dressed completely in purple on August 27 to publicise Rotary’s polio eradication project.
The 68-year-old retired teacher hoped the initiative would raise awareness of the Turn Hoddesdon Purple Day taking place next February during Thanks for Life week.
Jasmine’s club are encouraging the whole town to dress in purple; the colour symbolising the dye painted on the fingers of children who have been immunised. Money raised from the initiative will go towards the Thanks for Life campaign which aims to help Rotary stamp out polio from the world for good.
“I was so shocked that I’d been chosen to appear on the plinth, but I’m so glad that I was. It really gave me a chance to raise consciousness of the cause,” she said.
“All I can say was that it was a ‘High point ‘of my life – all 10 feet of it!”
Jasmine was even able to raise the profile of the polio eradication campaign with a live interview on BBC Radio 5. To listen to the interview, click here.
To see Jasmine on the plinth, click here.
To read a full report from Jasmine Jasmine’s report from the plinth
Just weeks before, Rotarian Paul Manning, from the Rotary club of Amwell, was delighted when he learned his son Timothy (pictured above) had acquired a prime slot on the plinth at 10am on the second Saturday of the exhibition. Tim chose to raise awareness of Rotary, paying particular emphasise to the club’s annual duck race which was taking place at Ware in Hertfordshire the following day.
Dressed as a duck wearing the Amwell Club’s tabard with the Rotary Roundel decorating the plinth, Tim certainly caught the eye of passing shoppers and tourists.
Paul said: “The hour passed quickly and after entertaining the crowd and especially the passing open topped buses – those on the top deck were at a level with Tim! – Tim came down to well deserved round of applause.”
“We met Rotarians from as far a field as Australia and Canada – and had also sold a small number of tickets to the duck race, including one to Val Kirk from Australia, who won a prize in one of the Races. Race day passed off successfully and the Club was able to raise £3,000 for local charities. Armed with the photos of the ‘Duck on the Plinth’ we hope to do even better next year.”
To see Tim on the plinth, click here.
Jasmine and Tim join more than 2,000 volunteers to win a one-hour slot on the Fourth Plinth as part of the 100 day long OneandOther art exhibition organised by sculptor Antony Gormley – the creator and sculptor of the Angel of the North and other large-scale art works.
Published: 27th August 2009
