General News
25 April, 2026
Jan Morris honoured by Rotary
Horsham volunteer Jan Morris thought she was turning up to speak about a small craft shop; instead, she walked into one of the biggest surprises of her life.
The Rotary Club of Horsham East stunned the much-loved community figure by awarding her a Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary’s highest honour, in recognition of decades of service across the Wimmera.
Club president Rick Hopper said it was a privilege to present the award to Mrs Morris, whose impact on Horsham has spanned community groups, the arts, fundraising, and mentoring generations of young people.
Mrs Morris said the moment left her completely speechless.
“I was very, uh, tricked really,” she said.
She had been invited to speak about Craft for a Cause, the volunteer-run McLachlan Street shop she helped establish and still manages.
Mrs Morris said she had worked hard on her speech and felt nervous before the event, never suspecting the night would become a tribute to her own achievements.
“So I was just shocked,” she said.
That shock only deepened as Mr Hopper began reading the citation detailing her lifetime of service.
“He started to read this citation out, and it was still not clicking until it got down to where he said she’s trained over 3000 debutantes,” she said.
For 31 years, Mrs Morris has guided more than 3,000 debutantes and their partners, teaching them dance steps as well as confidence, social skills and poise.
For many Horsham and district families, she remains the voice and face of debutante training.
The award also recognised her service through the Lions Club of Horsham, which she joined in 2004.
She made history as the club’s first female president in 2009-10, then served as the club’s zone chairperson the following year.
Lions president Peter Cutjar said Mrs Morris remained one of the club’s most active members, regularly supporting fundraising activities, serving for years as public relations coordinator and helping induct eight new members.
Beyond Lions, Mrs Morris has left her mark on some of Horsham’s best-known organisations.
She has served on committees including Wesley Performing Arts and Culture Inc., the Horsham Arts Council, Horsham Tidy Towns, the former Horsham and Natimuk Uniting Church, and the Wimmera Base Hospital board.
She said she had never sought recognition and believed community service simply meant stepping in when something needed doing.
“You don’t do anything in public life to be big-noted,” she said.
Her commitment to the arts has been especially significant.
After moving to the district in 1979 and later settling in Horsham in 1990, she and her late husband Richard became deeply involved in local theatre.
Together, they helped revive the Horsham Arts Council at a difficult time, including directing Grease in 1990 with a strong focus on giving first-time performers their chance on stage.
“Well, Horsham Arts Council would probably have been the highlight,” she said.
Now aged 84, Mrs Morris still proudly supports the arts as a life member.
“I’m 84, and I’m not going on stage myself,” she said.
“But I still like to attend as much as I can.”
Mrs Morris appreciated the club’s secretary, Robyn Lardner, for all her work.
“Robyn is a real gem, and she does everything with flair,” she said.
The Rotary presentation brought together more than 20 family members and friends, many from the wide range of groups she has supported over the years.
Mrs Morris said seeing them all in one room made the night even more special, and she appreciated the Rotary for organising it.
“It was such a shock but such an honour,” she said.
“I just appreciate what they do and how well they do things.”
Mrs Morris is now among only 10 other community members to have received the award from the club since 1980, placing her in a small and distinguished group of local citizens whose work has shaped Horsham for the better.