Since our Charter in 1987, our club has gradually built a reputation of doing things somewhat differently and unconventionally. It started with our VERY unconventional club banner (sadly, bowing to progressive thinking pressures, now relegated to 'History' – you can still find it on our website), and continued with being rather relaxed about attendance at a time when Attendance was still written with a Capital letter (anyone remember Col Johnson’s ”50 mile rule”? 😊). Another one I remember is a record for the shortest speech by a District Governor ever (at our Changeover 1997, when Paul Gillet (may he rest in peace) broke all records with a 30 seconds speech...)We now have another unconventional event to add to the list: A District Governor’s visit where the DG doesn’t give a speech at all, but engages the troops in a Question and Answer session. Very refreshing indeed!
His concept is “Look outside to see what’s happening outside” (I don’t know whether willingly or accidentally, he borrowed this from a Horror Game “Look Outside”...) After briefly introducing himself (you can read it all on the District 9640 website) he asked questions. And John answered in a clear and uncomplicated manner. Including a question on what is happening with Regionalisation? The answer is too complex to publish in this post. Allow me instead quote the (in)famous Italian politician and diplomat, Niccolo Macchiavelli: “There is nothing more difficult to carry out, nor more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to handle, than to initiate a new order of things. For the reformer has enemies in all those who profit by the old order, and only lukewarm defenders in all those who would profit by the new order.”
Recently got a message from Sherene and Tim who had seen the Channel 9 broadcast, asking if we would have any use for a wheelchair in very good condition? Yes, sure do!
Melanie (
Last Monday's Surfers Sunrise Golf Day, one of our regular fundraising events, again was very successful, raising around $7,000. All proceeds to go towards our 'Rough Terrain Wheelchairs' project and to local charities. Regrettably, your Editor was living it up in Sydney, so wasn't there to take the usual photos. Check our Facebook page for some photos that were sent to me by fellow members - hopefully more to come.
One of my favourite quotes about our organisation is by Sir Clem Renouf, the first Australian Rotary International President: “Rotary takes ordinary men and gives them extraordinary opportunities to do more with their lives than they ever dreamed possible”. Well, allow me to mangle that and say “Rotary allows ordinary men (and women) to meet people who have done more with their lives than you ever dreamed possible.” 
who recently transferred to Surfers Sunrise from another club, presented her ‘Rotarian behind the Badge’ talk. “I am a lighthouse keeper’s daughter!” she proudly declared. The uncommonness of such a childhood only became clear as she outlined, in the clear and concise manner of a former University Professor, some of the difficulties of daily life when one is stuck in a lighthouse, for obvious reasons deliberately built in a location of extreme exposure to the weather. All up, her upbringing occurred in four locations on the eastern coast of Victoria, from Gabo Island, to Wilsons Promontory, to Cape Everard and Cape Otway. Gabo Island? How did you get there? From the Mallacoota bar... the trawler was often in poor condition... going through the bar, we lost a rudder once... had a fire, ran aground... And talking about the need to be self-sufficient: 
The 40-foot container with some 300-plus 'Rough Terrain' wheelchairs is on the way to Durban, South Africa! (Yes, it IS full!) The Rotary clubs in the region will take care of the distribution into the South African Hinterland.
At this morning's meeting, the 10th Annual Lutzy Award was presented to Noah Siladyi. The award is in memory of our late member Keith Lutz, who not only was a leading light in our club but was one of the major leaders and sportsmen of the Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club.
Do you have a current Class C drivers license, and are reasonably fit for your age? At our Wheelchair Project factory, we need people to assist in the collection of discarded bicycles from various places on the Gold Coast. We do have a ute and a large trailer (by the way, a large trailer is much easier to reverse than a small one - training provided if you have never done it) - we just need somebody to drive it and/or help with loading and unloading the bikes. The shed operates every Wednesday and Saturday morning (either or both - no specific commitment required, and you still will have time to come to our meetings. However, alternative days could be arranged. 
On Saturday night, Channel 9's A Current Affair screened an update on our Wheelchair Project, 28 years after the first screening in August 1997. Click on this link to view it on the
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. 
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 
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 
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, 
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. 
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. 
A great way to start the day
Surfers Paradise, QLD 4217
Australia