Greetings, fellow members, associate members and friends of Surfers Sunrise Rotary,
Due to the renovations taking place at the Surf Club, our meeting on the 23rd July 2025 has been moved to TRYP Hotel (where the changeover took place), thanks to Graeme Isaacson’s making it possible. The Lutzy Awards will remain at the Surf Club on the 6th August 2025.
The shout out this week goes to Ross Augustine who has had confirmation that the grant Ross has made on behalf of Surfers Sunrise has had confirmation from the district 9640 Rotary Foundation Grants Sub Committee advising that the Surfers Sunrise Club's application for a District Grant of $5,000 to support your "Shipping Costs for Container of Wheelchairs" Project has been approved.
Last Thursday Geoff Croad and Franz Huber made a presentation on the Wheelchairs to the Gold Coast Rotary Club and so successful was the presentation that two sizeable donations were made to the Wheelchairs. Geoff Croad also confirmed we have had three new signed Associate Membership Registration forms submitted to the Project Shed. It was great to experience the current good vibe out at the shed and the efforts being made by all to streamline things – Well doneAssociates.
Next weeks meeting will be my last for a few weeks as on the 6 August I will be going under the knife for a knee replacement (seems to be a President thing so watch out Elizabeth).
Remember, don’t put off till tomorrow what can be done today.
Due to renovations at our usual venue (the Surfers Paradise SLSC), this coming Wednesday's breakfast meeting will instead be held at the
TRYP by Wyndham Hotel
59 Meron Street Southport
(where we had our Changeover Luncheon). Usual time: 07:00 for 07:30 sharp start. You can purchase coffee/tea and/or breakfast a la carte.
Our guest speaker will be Stephanie Ho, who describes herself an 'Endurance Athlete and Adventurer'. Over the past few years, she has skied across Greenland, run from Canberra to Sydney to fundraise for a Nepalese school and skied across Europe's largest mountain plateau solo. Her current project is to become the first Australian woman to ski solo to the South Pole while also partnering with university scientists to conduct research into physiological adaptations in such a harsh environment.
In her presentation, she will talk about her adventures, her project and what drives her. She will also touch on discipline and goal setting. Looking forward to it!
Last Thursday evening, Geoff Croad and Franz Huber received a warm welcome at the very vibrant Rotary Club of Gold Coast to present an update on our Wheelchair Trust project. And was it ever worthwhile! Giving just a brief PowerPoint presentation (trying hard not to make it "Death by PPT" ☺), we struck a response not only in a general way from all present, but two of their members made us a very generous offer: one to donate the purchase of up to $6,000 worth of plywood for our wheelchairs, the other, who has close contacts in the non-tourist regions of Bali (Indonesia), is confident that he can arrange shipment of a container into the not so glamorous regions of that region of our neighbouring country. How good is that! Watch this spot for further updates.
Adrian Crowe recently posted a new sign above the collection point for empties at the 'Shores', his Apartment Building in Southport: Over just the last 12 months, they have collected 62,452 bottles, enough to finance the purchase of materials for 50 wheelchairs! And that is not the first year they have done this. Wow! Give yourself a pat on the back!
Thank you, everyone. Your contribution will put a smile on the face of 50 disabled children in developing countries who now have some mobility where they didn't have any before.
Dropping off your bottles directly and want to credit our Rotary Account for your empty containers? Put it against Account No C10262571
... So you would detect a slight accent... But it’s not Italian, not Greek, not Spanish. It’s Maltese! Clem (his full name is Clement, but then who uses full names in Australia? ☺) emigrated from this Island State in the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, at a young age of 19 years, arriving in Sydney in 1963 and shortly afterwards bought a plane ticket (£17, about a week’s wages!) to Melbourne.
Over the years, he held various long-term positions with major Motor Manufacturers, such as Honda and Ford, at Tullamarine as a storeman - yes, you know the man who is a walking encyclopedia of every part number of every model in the range! In 1988, he moved to the Gold Coast and worked with the Gold Coast City Council until his retirement. Clem is married with two children. He lives in Worongary on acreage. “So, what do you do when you are not making wheelchairs?” I asked. “Looking after my acreage property and Fishing” he replied.
Make sure you'll be there: One of our biggest events of the year: the presentation of the Lutzy Award on the the 6th August. Yes, it will be at the Surf Club. Yes, a Trybooking site will be set up shortly. Just mark it your diary.
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.
Interested? Contact our Wheelchair Trust Chair Geoff Croad directly (click here to email, or call him on his mobile).
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
I phoned my wife and asked her whether she wanted me to pick up fish and chips on the way home from work.
She just grunted at me. I think she still regrets letting me name the kids.
“You have freedom of speech. But freedom after speech, that I can not guarantee.”Idi Amin 1928 – 2003, Former Dictator of Uganda, aka ‘The Butcher of Uganda”,
I think the worst time to have a heart attack is during a game of charades.
Due to renovations at our usual venue (the Surfers Paradise SLSC), this coming Wednesday's breakfast meeting will instead be held at the 
Adrian Crowe recently posted a new sign above the collection point for empties at the 'Shores', his Apartment Building in Southport: Over just the last 12 months, they have collected 62,452 bottles, enough to finance the purchase of materials for 50 wheelchairs! And that is not the first year they have done this. Wow! Give yourself a pat on the back! 
... So you would detect a slight accent... But it’s not Italian, not Greek, not Spanish. It’s Maltese! Clem (his full name is Clement, but then who uses full names in Australia? ☺) emigrated from this Island State in the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, at a young age of 19 years, arriving in Sydney in 1963 and shortly afterwards bought a plane ticket (£17, about a week’s wages!) to Melbourne.
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. 
