What a wonderful morning! Organized by Graeme Isaacson in his usual professional manner, our ladies, Youth Exchange Students and several guests joined us at the Marriott Hotel in Surfers Paradise. What a feast!
There were no formalities, just good ol' Rotary fellowship. Good to see that John Ellemor, who had been unable to attend in recent weeks due to a medical condition, obviously is on the way back to the top. His charming daughter Lynne gave him a lift into Surfers. John assured me that he is planning to be back at the Yacht Club in the new year.
Our Exchange Students Laura Burtscher (incoming, from Austria) and Felicity Cooper (shortly leaving for Finland) together with her mum Sarah (see below with Sergeant Andy Bell), were joined by Gaelle Ameye (n picture with Laura) who hails from Belgium and is currently on Exchange at Yamba. And, in addition to our partners, it was great to meet again with Debbie Cohen and Jan Lutz.
Thank you, Graeme, for organizing and seeing this event through with your usual impressive precision.
“43 bikies, each charged with 7 counts of murder" Mick (picture on left as he looks today, with President Conrad Martens who, in a previous life, also was a Police Officer) continued from the previous week. We had run out of time the previous Wednesday, so it was good to have Mick back for a follow-on session. At the time, it was the largest number of charges laid in a single trial ever. So how come that there were 43 individuals charged if there were just 7 people dead? "Common purpose". In essence, if the question "were you aware that grievous bodily harm would occur?" was proven to be in the positive, the murder charge would stick. Eventually, 31 of them faced trial. Anthony 'Snodgrass' Spencer (photo on right), the Bandido's National President, hung himself in prison before the trial.
In 2012, Channel Ten commissioned a TV Mini Series on the Milperra Massacre. The aim obviously was to compete against Channel 9's successful Underbelly series. "It was a total stuff-up...", Mick informed us.
During the Q&A session, your Editor asked Mick for an opinion on the current substantial increase of fatal Police shootings in Queensland. Mick skillfully deflected the question. However, a comment which may indeed be valid was that there is a strong suspicion of deliberate "suicide by cop". Another interesting item to come up: today's "modern" Policemen and Policewomen carry more gear on their belt than the SAS carried in Vietnam when operating behind the enemy lines. And did you receive counseling after the event? Yes, we did, by our fellow officers, having a Bundy and Coke and a good chat. A day later, we were again at our station...
"I don't wish to enter into a debate this morning" Adrian opened up, "I just want to pass on some observations."
Adrian is the husband of Beverley Crowe, current National Inner Wheel President. Thus, he has extensively travelled the nation, visiting Inner Wheel Clubs and Districts. He would have every right to sing "I've been everywhere man!" [ok, coming to think of this and visualizing the experience, perhaps not... ☺]: Darwin, Sydney, Orange, Narrandera, Melbourne, Launceston, Adelaide, Perth... A natural by-product is the visit of other Rotary Clubs and/or being billeted by members of the local Rotary Club. Some were from 'Men Only' clubs, some from mixed clubs, but all had the same complaints:
Our membership is getting older
Our attendance at meetings is falling
We can't get younger people to join.
All but one, that is: Townsville Sunrise. They were "on their knees", Adrian was told, but now they have 78 members. No, not a misprint: 78 members. So, what did they do differently?
Townsville Sunrise is a Men Only club and they went out and aggressively marketed themselves as Townsville's Men Only Rotary Club.
"So, next time we have an assembly on membership, will we discuss what Townsville Sunrise has done?"
Mario Fairlie got in ahead of the Sergeant, fining him for walking into his car... Andy in turn returned the compliment by charging Mario with coming the wrong way into the car park and attempting to run him over... Adrian Crowe: Never heard such a good thing! Did you write the story yourself? Geoff Croad, are you the latest David Jones fashion model? Looking like Brad Pitt! On the other end of the scale: Peter Morgan... Conrad Martens, how much did you get paid to wear all that advertising? Simon Brook: Darrell Brown is not here, and that is because Simon told him the meeting would be on Tuesday... Gerald East, you would have to be the meanest of the lot: counting the beans on your plate? then re-counting the money... Treasurer Mitch Brown, you sent in Alex Batcu to collect the money without even the slightest training, so he had to bring his daughter along to give him a hand... And we have a complete Top Table again: Doug Lipp, Bob Harrison, Daryl Sanderson and Des La Rance. And Bruce Rigg, weren't you supposed to be in Melbourne by now?
Drinks, super juicy King Prawns by the tray load, freshly sizzled sausages & onions, Wheelchair Chairman Daryl even served Christmas Pudding with half a gallon of Custard and/or full cream. And since it was a Christmas treat, it was all totally calorie free... ☺
Last Saturday, The Shed put up a Christmas treat in style for the helpers and volunteers. Speeches were kept to a minimum, a good time was had by all. President Conrad (mid table on right) came wearing a bright red shirt to put in some colour. (By the way, it should be noted that a few years ago one of Conrad's companies, Shelving D
irect, provided the pallet rack shelving to the Wheelchair Trust at no charge!).
And a special celebration: one of the regular volunteers, Arnold (see picture on right) is 87! Congratulations Arnold!
Ah... to be 18 again! Another very interesting report from Isabelle. Any idea what a Futuroscope is? Well, you will just have to download it and see for yourself, won't you!
were joined by Gaelle Ameye (n picture with Laura) who hails from Belgium and is currently on Exchange at Yamba. 
And, in addition to our partners, it was great to meet again with Debbie Cohen and Jan Lutz.
“43 bikies, each charged with 7 counts of murder" Mick (picture on left as he looks today, with President Conrad Martens who, in a previous life, also was a Police Officer) continued from the previous week. We had run out of time the previous Wednesday, so it was good to have Mick back for a follow-on session. At the time, it was the largest number of charges laid in a single trial ever. So how come that there were 43 individuals charged if there were just 7 people
"I don't wish to enter into a debate this morning" Adrian opened up, "I just want to pass on some observations."
Mario Fairlie got in ahead of the Sergeant, fining him for walking into his car... Andy in turn returned the compliment by charging Mario with coming the wrong way into the car park and attempting to run him over... Adrian Crowe: Never heard such a good thing! Did you write the story yourself? Geoff Croad, are you the latest David Jones fashion model? Looking like Brad Pitt! On the other end of the scale: Peter Morgan... Conrad Martens, how much did you get paid to wear all that advertising? Simon Brook: Darrell Brown is not here, and that is because Simon told him the meeting would be on Tuesday... Gerald East, you would have to be the meanest of the lot: counting the beans on your plate? then re-counting the money... Treasurer Mitch Brown, you sent in Alex Batcu to collect the money without even the slightest training, so he had to bring his daughter along to give him a hand... And we have a complete Top Table again: Doug Lipp, Bob Harrison, Daryl Sanderson and Des La Rance. And Bruce Rigg, weren't you supposed to be in Melbourne by now?
Drinks, super juicy King Prawns by the tray load, freshly sizzled sausages & onions, Wheelchair Chairman Daryl even served Christmas Pudding with half a gallon of Custard and/or full cream. And since it was a Christmas treat, it was all totally calorie free... ☺
And a special celebration: one of the regular volunteers, Arnold (see picture on right) is 87! Congratulations Arnold! 
