Spring 2026
Dungannon Soroptimists recently presented their annual charity cheques. The club held a quiz night at the Dungannon Rugby Club during the year and Colin Bell from the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust and Neville and Myrtle from Evora Hospice Care were presented with the proceeds.
Colin Bell kindly gave a short presentation on how the charity had started and provided an update on where the Trust is today. Some readers may be aware that the Trust was established in 2013 following the tragic hit and run death of Colin and Eithne’s son Kevin in New York. They experienced considerable bureaucracy in bringing Kevin’s body home to Ireland and did not want any other family to face the same difficulties. Today, the Trust has helped 2,500 families bring their loved ones home and last week alone they were managing the return of 15 bodies. The Trust covers all expenses involved in returning loved ones home across Ireland.
Neville and Myrtle Pogue have been volunteering with Evora (formerly Southern Area Hospice) for over 50 years and Soroptimist of Dungannon continues to support this vital and much-needed service. Neville Pogue informed the group that the hospice continues to require financial support to sustain the 14 bed unit in Newry, as well as delivering care in the home and at the Wellbeing Centres in Newry and Dungannon.
Soroptimists International sends a warm thank you to all the people from the Dungannon area who regularly attend and give generously at our fundraising events.
Shirley Edwards (Soroptimist and proud grandmother) Olympian Rebecca Edwards BEM and SI Dungannon President Meta Graham. (above)
President Meta Graham welcomed Rebecca Edwards BEM to a Dungannon Soroptimists speakers’ evening. Rebecca’s talk, My Olympic Journey, was inspiring, insightful and uplifting.
Originally from Aughnacloy, Rebecca was selected for the British rowing team for both the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games. A born optimist from an early age, she always said, “I want to go to the Olympic Games.” While her early sporting passions were football and hockey, she discovered rowing while studying languages at Queen’s University Belfast.
Driven and determined, Rebecca showed a strong “can-do” attitude. When Covid disrupted training, she set up her own training camp on her parents’ farm, saying, “If the Olympics are delayed, I’m going to be ready” – and she was.
She spoke passionately about the countries she has visited and gave a fascinating behind-the-scenes insight into life in the Olympic Village.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening, and Rebecca is keen to continue inspiring young girls from Northern Ireland to pursue and achieve their dreams.
Kate Courtenay receiving Past president badge, from Maureen Maguire: Past International President