Gidday members of Surfers Sunrise, fellow Rotarians and friends of Rotary.
An exceptional week this week. Started with one of our better casual meetings on Wednesday. 13 or 14 turned up including one of our most loved members in Fred Hamblin. Fred always brings an enormous amount of energy to any meeting he attends. Fred is one of most intelligent people I have met and can ‘hold court’ on any subject.
Mr Lee Dong Myeong from Sth Korea also turned up. I wrote about Lee last week. Anyway, he turned up alone without the support of family and he speaks zero English, a problem averted by one of our newer members and our Foundation Director extraordinaire Elizabeth Celi who found a translation app and with the patience of Job she was able to allow Lee to join in the various conversations. Like Fred, Elizabeth brings terrific energy to any meeting. Thanks to Fred, Elizabeth and Lee, I am sure everyone present on Wednesday left the meeting feeling good about themselves and the world.
I was honoured to be invited to a Christmas Lunch organised by our Associate Members who work at the Project Shed. The party was at Arundel Tavern and some 40 people turned up, including a number of wives and partners. It was a wonderful afternoon. The camaraderie, respect and care for each other and Surfers Sunrise Rotary was on show for all to see. For a grumpy old cynic like me it was rather humbling. A big thanks to Brian Tuesley and Geoff Croad for inviting me.
Our Annual General Meeting, when the incoming board for 2025-26 is elected, financials etc are presented. This is also a club assembly, so feel free to bring anything to the board or your fellow member's attention.
The Salvation Army has asked us for help to sell Candles in their fundraising effort this coming Sunday, 15th December. If you can assist, here are the particulars:
Meet at the Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club at 4:00 pm.
There will be in teams of three - one to carry candles one to carry a donation bucket and one to use EFPTOS machine.
The Project Shed volunteers had their annual Christmas Luncheon on Saturday. Photo (by Al Sirovs) shows our President Andy Bell in full swing giving a rousing Christmas oration!
Now, if you check out the Photo Album (on the right), you'll find a few photos from Lelepa Island, Vanuatu. It is as good proof as any I've seen to depict the difference a "Rough Terrain" wheelchair makes to its recipient. Check it out again.
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for all the work you have done over the past year. Looking forward to another year of making "Rough Terrain" wheelchairs. Every one you make will provide the gift of mobility to a disabled child or adult somewhere on one of the South Pacific islands, or PNG, or Africa, or...
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, unwrapped. It 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.
Duty Roster - note: subject to change - please check every week. Note: Fellowship duty also is expected to be at the Project Shed on the Saturday following the meeting
1. He believes in Santa Claus. 2. He doesn’t believe in Santa Claus. 3. He is Santa Claus.
Once again, we come to the Holiday Season, a deeply religious time that each of us observes, in his own way, by going to the shopping mall of his choice.Dave Barry, American columnist and author
Here's a tip in relation to all that festive food and drink that is coming your way shortly:
The more you weigh, the harder it is to kidnap you. Stay safe - eat Christmas Cake!
Our Annual General Meeting, when the incoming board for 2025-26 is elected, financials etc are presented. This is also a club assembly, so feel free to bring anything to the board or your fellow member's attention. 
The Salvation Army has asked us for help to sell Candles in their fundraising effort this coming Sunday, 15th December. If you can assist, here are the particulars:
As we have done every year for decades, our club will again support the 
Yes, only one week to go! Graeme Isaacson has confirmed arrangements for this year's Christmas Breakfast. Bookings close soon. Here are the details:
