Gidday Surfers Sunrise members, fellow Rotarians and friends of Rotary.
Well, I finally was able to get out of hospital on Wednesday. It seemed that every day a new issue with my heart (yes contrary to what some people think I do actually have one) was uncovered and subsequently fixed. I am extremely grateful to the wonderful doctors and nursing staff at Gold Coast Private Hospital. I also want to thank the many Rotarians who called or messaged me with good wishes and offers of help, very humbling.
What a great weekend , the Mighty Storm cruised into the the NRL Grand Final and the Lions humbled the Swans with an epic win in the AFL Grand Final against all the odds. Just goes to show that you should never underestimate any team from Queensland. Brilliant.
I am fairly certain i will be fit and well enough to attend our Rotary meeting this coming Wednesday. I am looking forward to hearing our Guest Speaker Jesse Dixon. He last visited and spoke at our club a few years ago when he was racing Utes, so i am keen to hear what he is up to now.
A big thankyou to PP Doug Lipp for stepping into the breach and looking after matters in my absence. I’m sure it will cost me a beer or two.
Jesse Dixon attended a Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) camp in 2013. This is is own description: "My transformative experience at RYLA in 2013 left an indelible mark on my life. From leadership lessons to resilience-building challenges, RYLA helped shape my future." These days, Jesse is all about education, helping others, and living an enriched and balanced life. What does he do? He teaches racing drivers...
He might not be the longest-serving Associate Member at our project shed (he joined our team in 2021), but certainly Rick is one of our most active ones. But what a distinguished “pre-wheelchairs” career! “I joined the Navy Reserve in 1967 as a Radar Plotter (yes, the same guys they use in recruiting advertisements), and retired 51 years later, in 2018”, he said. Why the Navy Reserve? Well, his father was a Navy officer, his brother was a Navy diver… “By joining the Reserve, I could do anything the full-time guys can, but I can also do the civilian thing” he replied. His varied deployments included a total of 5 years full-time service. He was tested as a Navy Diver (where he busted his ear drums) so had to change to a Gunnery Sailor up to the rank of Petty Officer. Then he was commissioned as an officer, retiring as a Lieutenant-Commander (equivalent to Major in the Army). Rick served in various deployments including the United Nations, the Australian Navy, The US Navy, and other coalition forces.
In “civilian” life he worked with the Department of the Navy for 5 years, then moved to the Commonwealth Employment Service (CES) and ultimately… the Australian Taxation Office, helping businesses to get on top of the newly introduced GST at the turn of the Century. He was then snatched up by the Commonwealth of the Bahamas to do the same thing over there.
Personal life? Believe it: yes, he does have one! He married Sharon in 1996, and together they travel, both locally (caravanning) and internationally. For some extra excitement: hunting and fishing when time allows, and perhaps reading the occasional Lee Childs novel, spy books, or watch a Wolverine movie.
I keep being astounded when I see the wide range of professional backgrounds of our volunteers!
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)
OK, get your golf clubs polished! One of our major annual fundraisers, the Surfers Sunrise Golf Day, will be on the last Monday of October. Usual place, the beautiful Surfers Paradise Golf Club.
What? You don't play Golf (like me...)? You may have friends, business colleagues who do. It's open to all comers. Click on this link to book: https://www.trybooking.com/CVFRP or scan the QR Code. Want to forward a flyer to a friend? Download it (see Downloads section on the right)
We'll need plenty of helpers on the day, so if you can, please ask the organisers, Doug Lipp or Charles Thomasson, to put you on the roster. And we need Raffle Prizes! (Yes, you have had that bottle of Grange Hermitage in your cellar for thirty years. You might as well donate it! ☺)
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
Jesse Dixon attended a 
He might not be the longest-serving Associate Member at our project shed (he joined our team in 2021), but certainly Rick is one of our most active ones. But what a distinguished “pre-wheelchairs” career! “I joined the Navy Reserve in 1967 as a Radar Plotter (yes, the same guys they use in recruiting advertisements), and retired 51 years later, in 2018”, he said. Why the Navy Reserve? Well, his father was a Navy officer, his brother was a Navy diver… “By joining the Reserve, I could do
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)
OK, get your golf clubs polished! One of our major annual fundraisers, the Surfers Sunrise Golf Day, will be on the last Monday of October. Usual place, the beautiful Surfers Paradise Golf Club.
