Our member Trent Belling is a prominent member of the Queensland LNP. Whilst Rotary is certainly not meant to be political, the recent split (and re-unification) of the Coalition at the federal level and the subsequent "what now?" would be of general interest to everyone, irrespective of whether you are active in politics or not. Yes, you are permitted to ask questions!-
Trent Belling - Reflecting on the Federal Election
Surfers Paradise SLSCJun 18, 2025
7:00 am – 8:30 am -
Surfers Sunrise Sportsman's Lunch
Surfers Paradise Golf ClubJun 20, 2025
11:30 am – 3:00 pm -
Big Bike Sale at the Project Shed
Surfers Sunrise Project ShedJun 28, 2025
8:00 am – 11:00 am -
Club Changeover Luncheon
TRYP by Windham HotelJul 06, 2025
11:30 am – 2:30 pm -
President Paul Seymour - my vision for 2025-26
Surfers Paradise SLSCJul 09, 2025
7:00 am – 8:30 am -
Stephanie Ho, Endurance Athlete and Adventurer
Surfers Paradise SLSCJul 23, 2025
7:00 am – 8:30 am -
Lutzy Award Presentation
Surfers Paradise SLSCAug 06, 2025
7:00 am – 8:30 am
Welcome to Surfers Sunrise Rotary!
A great way to start the day
We meet In Person
Wednesdays at 7:15 am
Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club
Esplanade (Cnr Hanlan Street)
Surfers Paradise, QLD 4217
Australia
Surfers Paradise, QLD 4217
Australia
Our member Trent Belling is a prominent member of the Queensland LNP. Whilst Rotary is certainly not meant to be political, the recent split (and re-unification) of the Coalition at the federal level and the subsequent "what now?" would be of general interest to everyone, irrespective of whether you are active in politics or not. Yes, you are permitted to ask questions!
Our Sportsman's Luncheon is this coming Friday, 20th June 2025.
Here is an opportunity to mix with the greats of Rugby League and Rugby Union, whilst being entertained by the master comedian, Danny McMaster, whilst enjoying a plethora of various finger foods and unlimited drinks (wine, beer or softdrinks) for the entire 3-hour event.
We will have a Minibus there to take people who may have gone above the 0.05 Limit (Max 15 Km). As we are not a licensed Taxi or equivalent service, we'll accept your generous donation rather than a fixed price.
Here is the link to book online: https://www.trybooking.com/DBQWK or scan the QR Code.
Our Wheelchair Trust Chairman Geoff Croad certainly didn't hang around for long after the board approved the purchase of a new Sandblaster for our Wheelchair Project team. It just has arrived last Saturday. This will make the stripping of old paint and rust from bicycle frames so much easier and more efficient!(Photo: Just about finished unpacking it. Curtesy of Al Sirovs)
Our annual Changeover Luncheon is one of our major events of the year, where the previous Rotary year's President, Andy Bell, will hand over the President's collar to incoming President Paul Seymour and awards are handed out. Graeme Isaacson organised the venue for this year's event: it be held at the TRYP by Windham Hotel in Southport. He has wrangled a special deal, which includes a two-course (Main Course and Dessert) and welcome drinks on arrival. And, in a time when prices seem to go through the roof, the price is lower than last year's event!
You need to book: click on this link: https://www.trybooking.com/DCNTT or scan the QR Code.
TRYP by Windham Hotel
59 Meron Street, Southport
Arrive by 11:50 am, Welcome drinks at 12:00 pm.
Arrive by 11:50 am, Welcome drinks at 12:00 pm.
There is good parking right out the front.
Kath Koch, our District's YEP Committee Chair, presented a well-prepared outline of the Rotary International Youth Exchange Program (YEP). Did you know YEP has been going since 1975? Since then, over 8,100 young (and very "switched on") students spent a full year abroad, completing their year 11 or 12 not only away from home, but in a country where the school's language is NOT English, or if they are in-coming, where their mother tongue is NOT English. Now, that might sound rather daunting. Yet, we observed the two guests Kath brought along, Marlene from Germany and Mikkel from Denmark (photo): their brief presentation once again proved the immense value of YEP: the gaining of self-confidence. Every YEP student I've met, upon their return had an air of "there is nothing you can confront me with that I can't handle". That is a skill that cannot be taught in a class room.Our club has not only placed but also hosted numerous YEP students over the years, although COVID seems to have put a sudden stop to that. In recent years, we had Alyssa Lott (2019, to USA), Ayani Sedaka (2019, from Japan), Lucy Thorburn (2018, to USA), Felicity Cooper (2015 to Finland), Gabrielle Burey (2015 to Germany) Martina Missarelli (2016, from Italy), Laura Burtscher (2014, from Austria) are just a few that come to mind.
The statistics are immense - download Kath's PowerPoint from the Download section on the right. The costs to the Rotary clubs are not very high (around $150 per month pocket money, plus School Uniforms and other school costs if applicable), as the major expenses (around $10,500) are covered by the student's parents or sponsors.
Finding hosts is always one of the major obstacles faced by clubs that have "above average age" members. But it needn't be: Generally, only two hosts need to be found internally, and even that can be overcome. Can Surfers Sunrise again become involved?
At today's meeting, President Andy Bell inducted our newest Corporate Member, Kieser Bundall, into our club. One of the principals, Kane Chisholm (Photo right, with President Andy) was there to represent his business. In addition, Paige Lovett is the second full member, with Chelsea Quinn and Sophie Moore the two associate members. The Kieser Clinic, which counts several of our members on their clientele, specialises in fully supervised exercise physiology, physio therapy and strength training. In November last year, our club conducted an on-site vocational meeting - click on this link for details.
OK, so I admit that I realised that Claire does not match the average age profile of our volunteers... 😊 Like a breath of fresh air, Claire joined our team at the Wheelchair Project shed only recently. So what motivates a young woman to work on the conversion of old bicycles to wheelchairs?“I migrated from Canada to Australia in 2017” she said, “and I just wanted to take a break from my work as a physiotherapist.” So she noticed our advertisement and decided that this would be truly different.
So what does she do when not pulling bicycles apart or moulding plastic chairs to fit the wheelchairs? She plays squash, she goes snowboarding (not on the Gold Coast though...), she reads authors such as Terry Pratchett (yes, too high up the food chain for me) and Tolkien (Lord of the Rings), or listens to music such as Jack Johnson or James Taylor. Her short to medium term goal is a change in career, perhaps in Emergency Services, Ambulance Officer or similar.
Her life philosophy: “Si ventus desit reniga” (When the wind does not blow, row!)
Welcome to the Surfers Sunrise Project Team!
Des LaRance, who is the inventor and, since the mid 1990's, the driving force behind our Wheelchair project, is still going strong, working at the project shed every Wednesday and Saturday. "No rest for the wicked", as the common saying goes. Perhaps, a better popular slogan would be "no flies on you, Des!"For those of you who at the time were not (yet) involved with the Surfers Sunrise Rotary Club: Around 1995, Des was on holiday in Fiji when he met Frank Hilton, the Principal of a Special School there. Seeing multiple seriously disabled children without any form of mobility (read: dragging themselves through the dirt on their hands), and certainly no wheelchairs, he decided that there must be a way to help. Several points needed to be considered: It had to be VERY low cost, it had to be VERY solid, and the wheelchair must be suitable for muddy, unpaved areas. Most people would simply walk away from it, return to the comfort of Australian life, and forget about it. Not Des. He built a prototype of his design that still today uses two discarded bicycles, some marine plywood and a heavy-duty castor. OK, we now fit new wheels and tyres with solid rubber tubes instead of the original wheels of the discarded bikes (flat tyres were too much of an issue). Our club supported the idea, and together with Ian Mayberry, he spread the news to other Rotary Clubs. The real breakthrough came when the "Rotary Runner", as it was then named, was exhibited at the District Conference of 1997 and attracted the attention of 'A Current Affair' host Ray Martin. who was one of the Keynote Speakers in his capacity as a Director of the Fred Hollows Foundation. Ray promised to send a TV reporter and a camera crew. And, as they say, "the rest is history". Since then, well over 11,500 'Rough Terrain' wheelchairs have been sent to all corners of the world, predominantly the South Pacific region and Africa, but in the earlier days also by the container load to Vietnam.
Download the story of The first ten Wheelchairs to Fiji'. (Photo by Geoff Croad)
As President Andy mentioned in his closing remarks, we always hear the mostly negative stories about "Today's Youth" and - regrettably - one hears so little about young emerging leaders who quietly beaver in their classrooms, the school library and slave over hot computers to qualify for the rather stringent requirements to be selected to attend the annual National Youth Science Forum in Canberra. Future leaders in their professions who well may make headlines when they publish their discovery some years hence. Considering that it is quite expensive (over $3,000, of which our club sponsors 50%), the event is usually oversubscribed and participants are selected purely on their level of scientific knowledge and in particular on aptitude. Chloe, who currently studies at Queensland Academies Health Sciences, was selected to attend this year's event (back in January). Last Wednesday, she presented with the quiet assurance and poise of a person years beyond her age, outlining her week of mixing it with fellow STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) students, professors and professionals of various disciplines at the ANU in Canberra. Events in laboratories, the Canberra Cyber Hub, Mt Stromolo Observatory, direct links to CERN in Geneva, individual discussions in very small groups with professionals, meeting with alumni of previous NYSFs, developing 'buddy' relationships, just to name a few. "I am really glad I went, knowing now what I wouldn't want to do (now, there is an original thought!) She has now principally settled on Cyber Security, a branch of science that most definitely will be at the forefront still for decades to come.
We wish you every success in your career, Chloe. Thank you for taking time out of your busy life of study to report back to our club members.
(A copy of Chloe's PowerPoint presentation can be downloaded - see Download Files on the right. Photo: Chloe with our meeting chairman of the day, Mario Fairlie)
Breaking News: This year's Surfers Sunrise Golf Day has just concluded. With well over 90 players, a record (and, I dare say, most likely also a record fundraising effort). Photo is of the winning Corporate Team: Astill Cronin Lawyers. Golf Day organiser Charles Thomasson (second from left) introduces Glenn Screech, Ashley Cronin, Glenn O'Kearney and Ethan Ahrens. The same team also won the overall competition. Photo Album is now uploaded - see segment on the right. Full report in next week's bulletin.
This week's meeting was one of our special events of the year, the presentation of the Lutzy Award. The recipient, selected by the Surfers Paradise Life Saving Club, is not necessarily the top surfer, but is an emerging leader of the Life Saving organisation. According to David Orchard, one of the senior people in the Surfers SLSC, Louis' name came up easily. He is also the youngest ever awardee in the 9 year history of this award, presented in honour of our former member Keith Lutz.
Should you wonder "what defines an emerging leader?", check the list of Louis' record:
- 2023/2024 Nipper Club Captain
- 2023/2024 U14 Male Club Champion
- Obtained his Surf Rescue Certificate in November 2023
- Completed First Aid Certificate
- Completed 263.25 patrol hours and 14 water safety hours
- 2023/2024 Point Danger Branch & South Coast Branch Top Patrol Hours Winner at the Youth Gala Ball
- 2023/2024 Top Patrol Hours Runner Up
- 2023/2024 U14 Junior Life Saver of the Year @ Club and Branch Level
So, if ever there was proof that "you've got to be in it to win it", see above. The logical follow-on question then would be "what do you do in your spare time?" Yes, he is also learning to play the violin...
Photo, from left: David 'Orchy' Orchard, Jan Lutz, Louis van Drunen, Past President Doug Lipp (on behalf of President Andy), Louis with his mum, Sophie van Drunen. More photos on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/rcsurferssunrise
At the last meeting, our freshly baked President Andy emphasised that he wanted to put the Four-Way Test back into the forefront of our consciousness. So, I did a bit of digging into old records, and here is what I dug up out of the archives of 1997-98 from one of my (then) President's Messages. Today, 27 years later, it's still as relevant as ever:“Rotary is a miniature model of a world at peace, one which might advantageously be studied by nations. Rotarians believe that the universal application of tolerance and friendliness would bring about the international peace so earnestly desired by everyone. “ Words spoken over 50 years ago, on the 36th anniversary of Rotary, by its founder Paul Harris. Words still as relevant today as they were in 1941: Imagine, just for a moment, the effect of all world leaders truly applying the Four Way Test, at ALL TIMES…
Whilst this may seem to be highly desirable, this might be just as impossible to achieve as Karl Marx’s model of communism or Ayn Rand’s ideal of capitalism, outlined in her work ‘Atlas Shrugged’. Both models (and numerous others in between the two spectrums) work on the concept of everyone wanting to participate in the same ideal. Yet, some people want always to be influencing and leading, some people want just to be left alone, and some will always perceive the world to owe them a living.
When you joined Rotary, your welcome kit should have included a certificate of The Four Way Test, to display above your desk. Just make sure that it faces YOU.
At last Sunday's District Changeover, Surfers Sunrise, together with the two other participating Rotary clubs of Broadbeach and Gold Coast, were jointly declared winners of the most prestigious District Award, the Significant Achievement Award. The three clubs that were instrumental in the implementation of an X-Ray Unit at Mauna Health Centre on Pentecost Island, Vanuatu.
This project started in 2019, but then COVID caused serious disruption, ultimately completed towards the end of last year. More details to follow shortly. Meanwhile, you can download our club's Changeover Report (in the Download Section on the right), where you will find an excellent report of this project, written by Mario Fairlie.
Photo (by Andy Bell): Immediate Past President Doug Lipp (centre), accepting the award on behalf of our club.
Congratulation, Geoff Croad, on winning (yet once again) our club's top award! Well done, and well deserved. (For those of you who are not familiar with our system: This award is voted on via a silent ballot by all members of the club. Geoff won it this year with a clear majority).We had again an excellent Changeover Luncheon at Braeside Estate on Sunday 16th June, well organised by Graeme Isaacson. President Doug Lipp officially handed his collar to President Elect Andy Bell (Doug still has another two weeks to go though...☺). The speeches were short and to the point (as Surfers Sunrise events are well known for). As a very pleasant, unexpected surprise, Angie Bell MP, the local member for Moncrieff, joined us as well and gave a brief address. Angie is a great friend of our club, having been instrumental in helping us numerous times, including to obtain a grant which allowed us to purchase a ute for the project shed. Did you know that she was a Rotary Youth Exchange Student to Denmark?
In addition to Geoff's Rotarian of the Year award, Doug also presented the other awards
- Franz Huber - Quiet Achiever Award
- Charles Thomasson - Doug Waller Trophy
- Rock O'Keefe - Fellowship Cup
- John Groves and Matt Hayward both were bestowed a Paul Harris Fellowship (the second one for Matt), in recognition of the enormous amount both have done with the Pentecost Island X-Ray Unit project. John was the registered builder, Matt not only was active in the building phase but also is instrumental of making the electronics work. He'll go up again, now power has been re-established.
In the Photo Album section on the right you'll find a swag of pictures, mostly taken by our new member Dr Elizabeth Celi. Check it out!
(from left): Matt Hayward, Kristen 'KJ' Jewson, John Groves (the master builder), Mitch Brown, Ava Pearson, Hudson Sirovs, Al Sirovs and (front) Dan Snart.
Not your average meeting last Wednesday: Not only did we welcome a new member (see separate article above), but the team that went to Pentecost Island, Vanuatu to erect the X-Ray Unit at Mauna Health Centre fronted the club.
This wasn’t a simple task by any means: Master Builder John Groves eloquently outlined the enormous task of getting the X-Ray and Pathology Lab Unit built. After a two day trip, by Air to Port Vila, then by ‘Rock Hopper’ plane to Lonorore and a three-hour boat trip to the Mauna Health Centre, the task was to unpack the “flat pack” building which was shipped in two containers from our project shed in Arundel in February this year. There isn't much flat space there! To get it up the hill and re-erect it was a massive task. “Without the huge work of locals, it would never have happened”, John said.
Hard work it might have been, but the team was unanimous in declaring the exercise as a “once in a lifetime experience”. Twelve days of basic accommodation in a guest house, no electrical power (except in the Medical Centre), locally cooked
Last week, the project shed sent off the 11,015th wheelchair. Just on 3 years since we celebrated the 10,000th wheelchair in September 2013. The Photo on the right is our regular project shed worker Al Sirovs pointing out the number on the world map. The photo above shows some of the regulars, taken this morning. The wheelchair displayed is not exactly the 11,000th (that one is already on the way), but nobody needs to know... Third from left is Des La Rance OAM, who invented the concept and delivered the first 10 to Fiji in August 1997, 20 years ago! - See report in the Download Section on the right.As per President Mitch's message above, these photos were sent to to Bryan Tuesley, our wheelchair "foreman", from PNG, where they were deployed by Del Cole ('Someone Who Cares' Gold Coast based charity). Good to see that our work is doing good. Give yourselves a pat on the back!
In view of the Wheelchair Trust Deed's fairly strict limitations (money donated can only be spent on materials for wheelchairs and nothing else, not even for the shipment to their destination), we have registered an alternative account for Containers for Change. If you deposit your empties directly, and wish to donate the proceeds to the Surfers Sunrise Rotary Club - General Account, please use this account code:
C10262571
(The account for the Wheelchair Trust is also still active: use C10199443 instead).
So, keep your soft drink bottles, stubby bottles, aluminium cans, milk cartons etc. As a general rule, most drink containers between 150ml and 3L can be returned for a refund under Queensland's container deposit scheme. Containers should be empty, unbroken, the lid removed and display a 10-cent refund marking on the label. Something like the image (right), but many others are simply marked as suitable for recycling. Note: they must NOT be crushed. See image above what is and what is not accepted. For details of what can / cannot be returned for cash, and where the locations are, click on this link. 
In the olden days, for a new member to join a Rotary club the unofficial rule was, expressed in simple terms, he should be "somebody who is in a position to hire and fire". Yes, 'he'. Thankfully, around 1987, the 'he' was expanded to also include the fairer sex. There were lots of other rules too, for example, weekly attendance at our meetings was considered to be just about essential. These days, the rules are very simple and straightforward. Here is an extract from the Membership section of our Club Consitution of 2019 (1):
Section 1 — General Qualifications.
This club shall be composed of adult persons who demonstrate good character, integrity, and leadership; possess a good reputation within their business, profession, and/or community; and are willing to serve in their community and/or around the world.
That should be simple enough. In other words, the majority of people in your circle of friends, in business, your suppliers, your customers qualify. Rotary is absolutely non-denominational, absolutely gender-neutral. All we ask for is of good character, has integrity, and a good reputation. Start making a list and invite them to come to one of our meetings.
(1) Members can download the Club Constitution from our website: (you need to login to the Member Area, top right of home page), then select Organisation, Documents and search for Constitution.
What a superb morning last Saturday at our Project Shed, where we celebrated the 10,000th Wheelchair manufactured. For any of our readers who are not familiar with the concept: parts from recycled bicycles, marine plywood, solid rubber BMX wheels and... LOTS OF VOLUNTEER HOURS equal a wheelchair which can be manufactured for $100! Give yourself a pat on the back, but particular recognition must go to the principal movers and shakers who started and carried this project through: Des La Rance, Daryl Sanderson and the late Keith Lutz and Bob Harrison. Jan Lutz was there, but regrettably, Gloria Harrison was unable to join us, but for a good reason: her grandson debuted on that same day, playing Grade 1 Cricket in the Queensland Premier League. Howzat! Bob would be proud on both accounts. We had the bulk of our members and volunteers present from an early hour, setting up the various marquees, putting the last touch to the refurbished bikes we had for sale, setting up the stage, the videos... The Rotaractors from Burleigh Heads were there in force, the Rotary Club of Parkwood ran a sausage sizzle and the Rotary Club of Broadbeach ran a raffle, our soon to be inducted new corporate members Adam and Tash from Invincable had a stand and so did the Pimpama State School with their version of the wheelchair design. We were honoured by visits from District Governor Andy Rajapakse, State MPs Rob Molhoek and Sam O'Connor (he has done a nice write up on his Facebook page too) as well as Councillors Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden and Brooke Patterson.
President Charles Thomasson opened the formal part of the celebrations welcoming our dignitaries, which was followed by a brief address by DG Andy Rajapakse, in which he referred to his own efforts of taking well over 500 wheelchairs for distribution in his country of origin, Sri Lanka. Following our DG, the inventor of the wheelchairs from bicycles, Des La Rance, outlined the project from early times in the mid 1990's, the breakthrough when Ray Martin's A Current Affair broadcast the delivery of the first 10 wheelchairs to Fiji in 1997, the building of schools for the tsunami affected regions of Thailand and Samoa, the House of Hope in Apia, leading to the current project of the X-Ray Unit for Vanuatu.
But of course, the culmination of the morning was the presentation of a commemorative collage to Des La Rance (see picture). This was designed and made by Neil Thurlow and his graphic wizards of Accent Print and Copy.
Photo shows (from left) Jan La Rance, Daryl Sanderson, Des La Rance, Jan Lutz. More photos are in the Photo Album, videos coming up shortly.
Our super generous printer, Neil Thurlow and his very talented design artists at Accent Print & Copy have created a new flyer for our wheelchairs project. He has also provided some 2000 printed copies, which will be sent out by Apple Marketing to their mailing list of previous donors. It is uploaded to our Download Section (see right side), where you can download it and send it on to anyone whom you consider could be interested.
Thank you, Neil and your team!
I've uploaded a video which beautifully outlines what Rotary is all about. Go on, have a look at it. It's only a bit over 2 minutes, but very well done. Go to this link to view it:August is Membership Development and Extentions Month. Can you remember when you were inducted into Rotary? Have you considered why you were proposed by your sponsor? What made you to decide to join? Did you feel a sense of pride, of achievement, to be invited to join an organization of the highest international repute? Did you feel that your sponsor did “The right thing” by considering you to be potentially a good Rotarian ? Did you feel a little bit overwhelmed, sort of “am I really up to this?” You did?
“The more hands Rotary has, the better and more effectively the ideal of service will be achieved. Hence the importance of membership.” These words, spoken by one of Japans foremost Rotarians, Kanejiro Matsumoto put the point very straight. I put it even straighter: If we are to spread the workload of running this club, if we are to achieve our aims on the local scene (Youth Service, Vocational Service, Community Service), if we are to pull our weight on the International cart, we have an obligation to not only maintain, but increase membership. Whom have you asked lately to come along to one of our meetings?
President
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Director - Club Administration
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Chair - Wheelchairs Trust
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