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With the recent rumbles in the international banking sector (collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, Credit Suisse in trouble, just to mention a couple), protecting your superannuation would be something that may keep people awake at night. Our Youth Service Director Ashleigh Symes is a licensed Financial Advisor and, with Charles Thomasson, makes up the Wilsons Advisory Corporate Membership. With inflation threatening your lifetime savings, taking proper care of it is more important than ever. She'll also show some interesting facts relating to taxation of superannuation when you leave this mortal coil.
Wow! Two ROSE (Recognition Of Significant Effort) awards were presented to our club at the District Conference. This is a new award designed (I assume) by District Governor Karen Thomas, presented this morning. I admit I wasn't even aware of the awards, not to mention their presentation.
This morning, two containers were picked up from our project shed in Arundel, for shipment to to Mauna Health Centre on Pentecost Island, Vanuatu, with the X-Ray unit and equipment all flat packed.
Last week, Mario Fairlie and Dr Graham Sivyer (RC of Broadbeach) visited Port Vila in preparation of the delivery and installation of the X-Ray Unit for Mauna Health Centre on Pentecost Island. There, they met with various officials from the Vanuatu authorities, including Dr Richard Leone, Head of Surgery (who originally instigated the project when on a visit to Australia). This was to ensure a smooth and incident-free transfer of our container from wharf, through Customs and on to a barge and ongoing transport to Pentecost Island.
Remember Dianne Kozik, the GM of the St Johns Crisis Centre, from two weeks ago? She sent me a list of volunteer positions she needs to fill:
At last Wednesday’s meeting, we had the pleasure of the key people of 
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, 
Congratulations to Pieta Jackman who at this morning's meeting was presented with the Lutzy Award - including a flash new paddle board. The award is in memory of our Charter Member Keith Lutz who passed away in 2013. It is presented to a young emerging leader, selected by a committee of the Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club. As David Orchy from the SLSC pointed out: the selection of Pieta was unanimous. 
This is somewhat equivalent to receiving a telegram from the Queen… At yesterday morning’s meeting, PDG Darrell Brown was presented with a framed letter from our current Rotary International President, Jennifer Jones, congratulating him on his 50th year of Service Above Self.
In accordance with our District Governor’s theme of ‘Respecting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion’, Mitch started off with an Acknowledgment of Country, paying due respect to the original inhabitants. (He promised that he’ll work to get the greeting in the Yugambeh language perfect. 
At many Rotary events (actually the majority) the meal consists of an alternative drop of fish/chicken and steak/roast. Not at Surfers Sunrise! We had an excellent start of the new Rotary year with our Changeover Luncheon at Bambino's Italian Ristorante, eating a variety of different pizzas and pasta. As is the rule with Surfers Sunrise Rotary, speeches were very short and fellowship very big. Welcome new President Mitch Brown! Some highlights:
Rotary International’s incoming President for 2022-23, Jennifer E Jones took office on the 1st July, making history as the first female president in Rotary history. She is a member of the Rotary Club of Windsor Roseland, Ontario, Canada, and founder and president of Media Street Productions, an award-winning media company in Windsor. Having previously served Rotary in a variety of roles including vice president, director, and Rotary Foundation trustee, her talents have strengthened Rotary’s reach and impact.
Surfers Sunrise wins the Best Long Term Project Award for 2021-22. At today's District Changeover, District Governor 2021-22 Jeff Egan presented our club with this award in recognition of our long term Wheelchair Trust project. Give yourself a pat on the back! Photo shows District Treasurer Mark Twyford who accepted the award certificate on behalf of our club.
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. 
