New President looks forward to fulfilling her role.

President Heather

The new President of the Rotary Club of Enniskillen, Mrs. Heather Ellis, officially took up office on July 1, 2020. "Due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year will be a very different Rotary year," admits Heather, who succeeded outgoing President Jisbinder Sembhi.

Heather, wife of Canon Ian Ellis, Rector of Rossorry Parish Church, near Enniskillen, has three children, Mark, Timothy, and Naomi, and two grandchildren, Aidan and Justin.

A native of Armagh, she was raised on a farm on the edge of Markethill. She studied Geography at Queen's University Belfast and following her graduation with a PGCE, she taught Geography in Carolan Grammar School, Belfast. "Ian taught physics in Antrim Grammar School and following our marriage we set up home there while I changed career to Human Resources beginning in the Braid Valley Hospital and later as a manager in the Royal Group of Hospitals, Belfast," recalls Heather.

She explains: "In my 37-year career in Health and Social Care I have been employed in Northern, Eastern and Southern HSC Trusts. I am now employed as an Associate Consultant of the HSC Leadership Centre, Belfast."

In 1986, they moved to Lisburn whilst Ian undertook his training in the Church of Ireland Theological College in Dublin. She recalls: "After ordination, Ian was appointed Curate Assistant in St Mark's Armagh, and I was back at home again in County Armagh and working at this time in Craigavon Area Hospital and St Luke's Hospital in Armagh. We moved to Loughgall and Grange parishes in 1991 and settled into parish life for 11 years."

Afterwards, they lived in Portadown when Ian was appointed as NI Education Secretary for the Church of Ireland.

In 2015, they left Portadown to move to Fermanagh when Ian was appointed Rector of Rossorry Parish. A busy figure locally, she is a member of Fermanagh Choral Society and she is currently Branch Leader of Rossorry Mothers' Union.

Rotary International is a keen interest for her and she is looking forward to fulfilling her new role as President of the Rotary Club of Enniskillen.

"I have been involved in Rotary for 10 years now having been introduced as a Rotarian into the Portadown Rotary Club by my good friend Ernest Lawson who was a former District Governor," explained Heather. She pointed out: "I enjoy the fact that Rotary involves me in the service of my community in a different way from church and I remain keen to continue to raise Rotary's profile. We are a community of people who share common values and personal integrity as well as having a desire to bring change and develop our service to others in Co. Fermanagh, Ireland and worldwide."

She noted: "I am very mindful of the tremendous work carried out by the Enniskillen Club in its 65 years of existence." Heather went on to say: "I believe we must listen to the voice of the younger generation. We do this by developing projects for the young people of today who enjoy working in the service of others and want to be active. We hope to ensure that through this they learn more about Rotary projects in Ireland and worldwide."

In September 2019 along with colleagues from Enniskillen Rotary, Heather travelled to Kenya to visit a Rotary project in Rombo, Kajiado province.

Heather pays tribute to the support which has been given by many people across the county to the various Rotary events organised throughout each year.

"Due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year will be a very different Rotary year and already the COVID-19 fund which we set up recently will have been supported by many of you," acknowledged Heather. She concluded: "We look forward to the public's continued support as we roll out the next stage of our outreach."

As outgoing President Jisbinder Sembhi stepped down, he acknowledged all the support he received during his presidential year.

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