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History of the Hippo Award
THE HIPPO AWARD
The history of Mooloolaba Rotary’s Hippo Award goes back to the Rotary year of 2002-03.
That year the Club hosted Exchange Student Nikki Phillips from South Africa. Nikki’s home
Club was the Rotary Club of Rustenburg Kloof.
As a parting gift she presented then President Roger Wright with a gift to the Club of a large,
impressive hand carved, in South Africa, timber Hippopotamus.
Nikki presenting the Hippo to Roger
What to do with this very impressive gift? The Hippo was mounted on a timber plinth and
annually it is presented to a Rotarian chosen by the outgoing President at Changeover. The
selection of the recipient is entirely up to the President often to acknowledge exceptional
service to the Club and/or commendable service to the President in the respective year.
The first recipient of the award was Past President Noel Bridges which was very fitting as
Noel was a great champion of the Rotary Youth Exchange Program.
Roger presenting the Hippo Award to Noel
