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December 2024
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Bulletins
4th December 2024
Dec 04, 2024
27th November 2024
Nov 27, 2024
20th November 2024
Nov 20, 2024
13th November 2024
Nov 13, 2024
6th November 2024
Nov 06, 2024
30th October 2024
Oct 30, 2024
23rd October 2024
Oct 23, 2024
16th October 2024
Oct 16, 2024
9th October 2024
Oct 09, 2024
2nd October 2024
Oct 02, 2024
25th September 2024
Sep 25, 2024
18th September 2024
Sep 18, 2024
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Club Information
  Welcome to Surfers Sunrise Rotary!
Surfers Sunrise

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
Home Page Stories
Last Wednesday, Paul Seymour (Photo right, with President Andy Bell) regaled us with a treasure trove of images and stories of his recent Rotary Friendship Exchange (RFE) to Pennsylvania. Together with the RC of Mermaid Beach, our club hosted a team over there in March this year. And that, in a nutshell, is what RFE is all about.  Each party hugely profits not only by being hosted privately, but gains “insider’s” knowledge that go beyond that of an ordinary tour guide.
 
Paul, quite understandably, was over the moon. Impressed by the hospitality the team enjoyed in what was the second state to ratify the US Constitution in 1787 they enjoyed various tours of local history. But there is also much seriously unusual stuff: Take, for example, the Amish Village. They might be doing everything the old fashioned way (horse & carriage, their own medical aid, and everything is in cash), yet the clan (is that the correct expression?) boasts some of the richest people in the world.
 
But there are also many more modern sites to explore. Take the Marlin Guitar Factory. Every single one is hand crafted, and takes about 2 ½ months to complete. Marlins are and have been used by dozens of the world’s great musicians from its inception in 1833. Say.. Elvis Presley, Hank Williams, Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Neil Young, John Mayer just to throw about some names. Heard of Devon Gillfillian? Neither had I; he is one the new generation R&B, Hip-Hop and Soul artists… Want one? All yours for a mere US$ 3,999.00.
 
Too much to outline in detail in a club bulletin. Paul’s Photo Show is in the Download Section on the right.
 
Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club in Gold CoastThis coming Wednesday 4th December is just social: meet on the ground floor at the Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club bistro, and join us for a chinwag, solving the world's problems, discuss horse racing or cricket or why you disagree with my view that Collingwood is the best Aussie Rules club in the league. Even politics are permitted provided that you respect the other guy's views, but no heavy arguments please! 
 
Then on Thursday late afternoon (from 4:30 pm onwards), some members gather for pre-dinner drinks at the Benowa Tavern. Everyone welcome!
Last Wednesday, we welcomed special visitors from South Korea, Mr Lee Dong Myeong, a former Assistant District Governor from District 3661, Busan. He was accompanied by his Son in Law, YoungJu "Kevin" Lee, his daughter "Jessica" and his grandson. 
Welcome to Surfers Sunrise Rotary!
Kudos to DG Lisa Hunt and her team for organising such an insightful and useful day stimulating our brain cells with The Rotary Foundation (TRF) intel. President Andy, PE Paul, Director of Fundraising Ross and myself as Director for TRF made our way down to Tweed Heads discussing the woes of the world as a warmup! 
 
Seriously, the seminar kicked off with a very informative presentation on the End Polio Now initiative. It renewed my motivation for the grounded leadership of TRF worldwide. They say a picture is worth a thousand words and that couldn’t be truer for the image we were shown of a hall full of our fellow humans in iron lungs dealing with the symptoms of Polio. My automatic gasp was a bit embarrassing in a quiet room but hey, it touched me deeply. 
 
District Foundation Chair Tony Heading and South Pacific Grants Officer, Kym Schwarz suavely led us through a project planning session, from idea to specifics for a Grant application, within a surprisingly short period of time. Respect. It made it simple and made it real for all of our boots on the ground. Manageable, realistic and clear. Ideas emerged for supporting the longstanding efforts of all at the Shed including our volunteers. Also looking to the future, ideas emerged of how we can maximise the use of the Shed while supporting both youth, older citizens, Rotary Foundation Areas of Focus and our community at large. I’m looking forward to discussing it further with our Board and Club Members. It was an inspiring day helping us to think globally with TRF and while we action locally. Very glad we attended and participated in the amazing resources we have in association with TRF.  
 
Paul is one of our newest recruits who joined our wheelchair project team at Arundel only just last month, in October. Originally from the Northern Beaches of Sydney, Paul is a qualified Electrical Fitter and Mechanic by trade. He has worked in a variety of positions, ranging from ‘Housing Work Contractor, to Frequency Testing, Injection Moulding. For several years, specialising in Dialysis equipment, he was on call at Richmond Airbase (Western Sydney), to be flown out to wherever in Australia, including outback regions, a specialist with his skills was urgently required.
 
Paul came to the Gold Coast “before Covid”, bringing with him a “combined” family (both he and his wife had children from a previous marriage) of two boys and 3 girls.
 
“And what do you do to relax?” I asked him. Well, he certainly isn't idle. Fishing, from the beach, from rocks and from boats. Archery – not the highly technical type, but the one using a ‘bare’ bow, that is a bow without any fancy stuff. Rock Crawling 4 WD. And reading non-fiction about Electrical Engineering, science. Watching YouTube videos with Neil DeGrasse Tyson. “Who??” Well, check it out, click here. Tyson is in Astrophysics Science Communication…  So, if you have never met a proverbial technician, a consummate engineer, say hello to Paul Fullagar
As we have done every year for decades, our club will again support the St John's Crisis Centre in their endeavours to produce some 250 Christmas Hampers for families in distress. Our members Mario Fairlie, who is a Director of St John's, and Ian Mayberry will coordinate our club's efforts this year to source presents, food parcels or gift vouchers to be exchanged for food.
 
There are several options: bring along a gift suitable for a child aged i[ to 17 years, unwrappedIt is a massive job, so they request them to be delivered no later than Monday, 9th December. You can either bring it along to one of our meetings, or deliver them personally to the Church of the Holy Spirit, 73 Salerno Drive, Isle of Capri.
 
Check out the PDF in the Download Section on the right, which contains a specific list of goods they require. Alternatively, you can simply drop off a gift voucher, or give it to Mario at one of our upcoming meetings.
 
Many of you may not be aware that for every Christmas Cake we sell,
  • we raise $5.00 for our club, and
  • the manufacturer donates of $4.00 to The Rotary Foundation (TRF) in our club's name?
So, why not set a target to sell 200 cakes in total this year? This would amount to a fundraiser of $1,000 for the club, plus add $800 to our club's kitty with TRF, money we can spend on Paul Harris Fellowships to be awarded to our members. Charity Navigator, the world's most respected assessor of the efficiency of charities, rates The Rotary Foundation with 4 stars, very rare for major charities. It scored 100% across all three major segments of Accountability & Finance, Culture & Community and Leadership & Adaptability. Click on this link if you want more information. 
 
Download the brochure from the Download Section on the right and spread it to your family, clientele, suppliers... 
 
Place your order by 30th November 2024 with Mario directly by email, stating the quantities you wish to purchase. Payment in cash or credit card club on delivery.
 
Yes, only 5 weeks to go! Graeme Isaacson has confirmed arrangements for this year's Christmas Breakfast. Here are the details:
Venue:The Spit Café & Kiosk
 507 Seaworld Dr, Main Beach QLD 4217
Date, Time18th December 2024, from 07:00 am
MenuEggs Benedict or Acai Bowl - to be pre-paid
 Fruit Cocktail on arrival, but coffee etc at own expense
  
Cost per person$30.00 
Book now - Click here or navigate to https://www.trybooking.com/CXAYE or click on QR Code on the right.
 
Our Foundation Chair, Dr Elizabeth Celi, together with her team at today's District 9640 Seminar on The Rotary Foundation, at Twin Towns Services Club. Looks like Surfers Sunrise Rotary turned up in a strength not seen at this type of event for quite some time! Photo: Dr Elizabeth (front, from left Ross Augustine, President Andy Bell, Paul Seymour. Doug Lipp was also on location to attend a District Finance committee meeting, in his capacity as District Finance Chairman. Watch out for a summary of the day (hopefully) to follow shortly.
We haven't had a vocational visit for ages. Don't really know why not - the meeting we had last Wednesday at the Kieser Training Clinic on Bundall Road was certainly worth our while! I love it when, to use the old Australian vernacular, young business people "have a go". Kane Chisholm (picture, with our member Adrian Crowe strapped into one of their modern "torture" devices – anything but!) and his partner David Adamo presented at our club a few months ago, on the invitation of two of our members who are very happy with their results. 
 
Their setup, based on a concept that originated in Switzerland in 1967 and is implemented in numerous countries throughout the world (some 30-odd in Australia alone), is nothing short of impressive. There's an entire floor of various specialist training equipment that is designed to train your body to reduce pain and build strength in specific areas where it is needed. Specialist personnel, from exercise trainers to physiotherapists, will first assess your situation, and then design and help you implement your training under their supervision, requiring just two 30-minute sessions per week.  Without question, the concept is very successful - they are in the process of taking on the first floor of the building as well early in 2025.
 
One of their physios, Chloe, strapped me into one of their many machines. After a few serious grunts, her iPad displayed a clear result: One of my (many) weak spots is that my left arm and leg are not just a little bit, but massively weaker than the right! [No snide remarks about my brain, please! ☺ Ed.] I was aware of this before, but I wasn't aware of the extent. Can I become another Arnold Schwarzenegger? No, that's not the idea. But with the exact right workout, I can improve it and even balance it out again.
 
Click here to access the Kieser website for details, contacts etc.
 
 
 
 
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.
If you ask 100 Rotarians "what is the problem with Club Assemblies?", 99 will reply "half the members won't turn up"... Well, NOT SO at Surfers Sunrise! We had a near record turnout. Of course, it could also be that people wanted to see a (mostly) recovered President Andy Bell back on his feet after his hospital stay, though still nursing a severely bruised ribcage. ☺
 
President Andy opened the meeting, emphasising that the assembly had to be interactive, with individual committee chairs presenting on their portfolio and discussions (and possibly debates) welcome. First cab off the rank was Fundraising Director Ross Augustine, outlining the current status: Did you know that we need around $15,000 per annum to run our club and those Wheelchair project shed overheads that are to be carried by the club? Many may not know that funds that specifically are donated to the Wheelchair Trust must be spent on purchasing goods to manufacture wheelchairs, before we run any projects and programs or support third parties. Luckily, Ross keeps a tight watch on getting income in (and Treasurer Charles on spending it...). Ross outlined various fundraising activities that are currently running. A discussion evolved around a potential 'Hero Luncheon'. Watch this space!
 
Wheelchair Chairman Geoff Croad (Photo, with President Andy "in the chair", informed members about happenings at the shed, including his recent arrangement with RARE (Rotary Australia Repurposing Equipment) to ship our wheelchairs and other goods to various overseas destinations. Currently, we have raw materials stock for about 150 wheelchairs. Geoff also specifically mentioned the great support we get from the Palen Creek Correctional Centre: to date they made some 6000 wheelchairs and also raised funds by stripping aluminium wheels, which they bring to us for recycling and fundraising.  Foremost though is the need for another major project to be decided on and planning to be started.
 
Dr Elizabeth Celi, our club's new Chairman for The Rotary Foundation (TRF) will attend an interactive workshop, organised by District 9640 on Sunday 17th November at Twin Towns Services Club. Any member of our club is welcome to join her.
 
Our new Youth Services Director Thomas Robinson, supported by PDG Darrell Brown, announced that we are sponsoring (50% of the total cost) of a National Youth Science Forum awardee. You'll meet Chloe Chan on 30th October, and she'll be our guest speaker in the new year, after she has completed the event. As is customary for our club, we'll support the traditional programs such as RYTS, RYPEN and RYLA.
 
Membership Director Angus Miller acknowledged that recruiting new members is not easy, Treasurer Charles Thomasson kept us calm: our finances are in good order. With the upcoming Golf Day promising to be a record with some 86 players registered so far, and over $5,000 worth of raffle prizes secured, we'll get some replenishment.
 
And then we ran out of time... It's one of the (slight) disadvantages of a breakfast club: the meeting closes at 08:30 am, irrespective of whether the speakers have finished or not...
Geoff Croad, our Wheelchair Trust chairman, has negotiated an arrangement with RARE (Rotary Australia Repurposing Equipment) to dispose hospital beds, medical equipment etc that occasionally ends up at our project shed. Recently, a load of hospital beds, mattresses and some 500 bedsheets, destined for Timor Leste, was picked up. In the same consignment, there were 18 new or almost new "normal" wheelchairs (going to Bougainville), and three boxed 'Rough Terrain' wheelchairs to be shipped to where RAWCS (Rotary Australia World Community Service) deems there is a need. Amazing, what some effective communication can achieve! Well done, Geoff.
 
Photo: Hospital beds and mattresses, ready to be loaded. From left: Geoff Croad, Bryan Tuesley, Iain Campbell. Check our Facebook pages for heaps more photos: www.facebook.com/rcsurferssunrise and www.facebook.com/wheelchairtrust
Paul Seymour is currently participating in a Rotary Friendship Exchange with District 7430 in Pennsylvania, USA. He sent us some photos. See Photo Album on the right. (More on his Facebook page)
 
Surfers Sunrise Rotary keeps coming up with "firsts": So last Sunday, we enjoyed an outing to Stanley's Barn Restaurant, followed by a visit the Gold Coast Motor Museum right next to it. 16 adults, plus Ashleigh Symes' child Ruby (now a toddler) in attendance. Wholeheartedly recommended; the food is very good, and the motor museum doesn't just feature cars one would associate with "museum" from the early 1900's, but also the type of cars your editor drooled over when a teenager (such as a Lamborghini Espada...). Thank you, Adrian Crowe for organising it. Hugely enjoyable; a Rotary fellowship meeting with a difference.
This week, the board of the Surfers Sunrise Wheelchair Trust decided to proceed with an agreement between RAWCS (Rotary Australia World Community Service), respectively its subsidiary RARE (Rotary Australia Repurposing Equipment). What it is all about? It results in the solution of one of our biggest problems, the cost of overseas shipment of our 'rough terrain' wheelchairs and other donated equipment, such as hospital beds, walkers etc. Frequently, we are faced with a need in a developing country being very much apparent, but funds cannot be raised by the receiving party to ship the goods there. Often, RARE may have considerable spare space in a container, which can be utilised. This is also beneficial where only a relatively small number of wheelchairs are required, and filling an entire container would not be feasible.
 
Great result! Congratulations to Wheelchair Trust Chairman Geoff Croad, who negotiated the agreement with RARE.
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
Wheelchair Shed veteran Terry Donovan brought his grandson Carter (picture right) and two of his mates, Lachlan and George, to the shed, and straight away got them to work, helping in the production of wheelchairs from discarded bikes, sanding down plywood etc, and earn their morning tea (including some cake and biscuits,, but don't tell mum!) Good on ya, Terry, Carter, Lachlan and George!
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
 
Club Executives & Directors
President
Immediate Past President
President Elect
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Executive Secretary
Director - Club Administration
Director - Fundraising
Director - Service Projects
Chair - Wheelchairs Trust
Public Relations
Director - Membership
Director, Youth Services
Director -The Rotary Foundation
Coordinator Golf Day
Fellowship and Social Program
Liaison - Wheelchair Trust
Program Manager-Guest Speakers
Webmaster & Bulletin Ed