It was obvious that your Editor's way out grasp of the definition of 'Occupational Therapy' was not an isolated case: Katherine at the very beginning set us straight: "It is NOT Workplace Health & Safety, it is NOT Physiotherapy, it is NOT basket weaving..." So, what is it then? "Who knows how to make a cup of tea?" Huh? Yes. This very simple every day activity can be a major task for a person who has suffered even a light stroke.
Katherine is Occupational Therapy Assistant Director at the Gold Coast University Hospital. She and her team applied for a grant of $20,000 to further develop a device which helps stroke victims to regain their everyday ability to do stuff like... loading a dishwasher. She didn't get the $20,000. She got $50,000, so very obvious was the value of her project. We were presented with a brief video, demonstrating an amazing device: one of her patients, fitted with the 'Saebo Mechanical Arm', loading a dishwasher. From far away, it looks like a part that may have been used on the set of the 'Six Million Dollar Man' [OK, I know, long before your age... Ed.] Loading glasses into a dishwasher? "The difficulty is not grasping it, it is releasing it again" Katherine explained.
Katherine's profession is to get her patients to "re-learn" those simple every day tasks. "Through engagement in occupation, people find meaning, health and well-being" is the overarching philosophy. The profession, first pioneered by French Physician Philipe Pinel in 1793 (picture on right), has been well known since the days of the Boer War, aiming to give victims of the horrible injuries of war a chance of a normal life.
Interestingly, Katherine made a special mention of our club's Wheelchair project, and the Mens Shed organization. "Shed membership is linked to better health", she pointed out, members enjoy significantly higher physical functioning, vitality, mental wellbeing and are much more likely to seek help if experiencing illness, depression and anxiety". Yup, sure are. And in addition to all this, the boys at the Wheelchair Shed have lots of fun and are doing something worthwhile for disadvantaged and disabled children in developing countries!
Having been in business for some 40 years (yes, I'm getting old old...),gaining a new customer is always an exciting event. But an even more satisfactory feeling is to have a previous customer returning. In a similar way, your Editor thinks it is absolutely marvelous to have a former 'true blue' Rotarian return to our organization. Welcome to Surfers Sunrise, Mark Twyford! We are looking forward to a 'Man behind the Badge' presentation before too long! [And an answer to the '33 Questions'... Ed.]
Above: Vice President Ian Mayberry welcomes Mark to Surfers Sunrise.
Peter Morgan was at the door (for Tony Bird), Geoff Croad was Chairman (for Darrell Brown) and Andy Bell was Sergeant.
We had apologies from Gerald East, Larry Murray, Chris Thurtell, Tania Laird, DGN Darrell Brown, Tony Bird, Bob Harrison, Des La Rance, Paul Seymour and Mario Fairlie.
Vice President Ian Mayberry welcomed all members and guests Brian Pearson (RC of Broadbeach), Jo Gorman (guest of Andy Bell) and Katherine O'Shea, our Guest Speaker (see separate article).
Brian Pearson outlined details of a Movie Night he is organizing as a fundraiser for ROMAC (Rotary Overseas Medical Aid for Children): 'Trumbo' will be screened on 21st February at the Gold Coast Arts Centre. See separate article.
Vice President Ian proceeded to the induction of our newest member Mark Twyford. (See separate article further on). Welcome Mark!
Program Chief Terry O'Shea briefly outlined what's on the program for next week: Another top notch speaker is lined up: Paul Hopgood (of Hopgood & Ganim Solicitors) on 'Divorce'.
SecretaryPeter Morgan advised that our club is participating in the District 9640 Cinema Advertising program, at a cost of $300. The District Assembly will be early this year, on 6th March. A 'must attend' for all incoming Board Members and Directors. And we received a Grant from District of $1,456, in favour of our Wheelchair Trust. Good stuff! Finally, Peter gave an advance apology for the next 4 weeks to get a knee reconstruction. All those Rugby games finally are coming home to roost..?
Wheelchair Trust Chairman Daryl Sanderson had contact from Iluka Rotary Club who have a load of bikes, an e-Club wants involvement in the School for Samoa project, Gosford Rotary Club wants participation in a container they are sending over to Madagascar, Gladstone Rotary Club wants to take on Wheelchairs - most likely we'll send them kits for them to assemble. The Shed is currently overflowing with completed wheelchairs awaiting shipping. Daryl needs a container to be situated at the back to be used for temporary storage. And last, but not least: donations are still coming in, with cheques for $200 and $300 received last week.
Katherine O'Shea, your mum must be a very attractive woman [she is indeed! Ed.]... aren't you glad you didn't inherit the looks of your dad? (Dad Terry gladly paid the fine on his daughter's behalf...) Franz Huber, those pictures of me you keep publishing... John Franich, you need a haircut (because it'sgone over 4 mm in length now?) Jo Gorman is a Globetrotter: all over the place, latest to Melbourne to the races etc... Doug Lipp is a race horse owner as well, and he never tells anyone anything... Simon Brook, what's that: no skateboard today, just because it is raining? Just a fairweather skateboarder, huh? Peter Morgan is getting his knees fixed up. Does that mean that, for 4 glorious weeks, we won't receive any of your flood of Rotary emails? Geoff Croad - not fining you, just complimenting you on the choice of your shirt colour - good Kiwi!
Last Wednesday, in celebration of Australia Day, Terry O'Shea recited a superb poem:
Green and Gold Malaria by Rupert McCall
The day would soon arrive when I could not ignore the rash.
I was obviously ill and so I called on Doctor Nash.
This standard consultation would adjudicate my fate.
I walked into his surgery and gave it to him straight:
`Doc, I wonder if you might explain this allergy of mine,
I get these pins and needles running up and down my spine.
From there, across my body, I will suddenly extend -
My neck will feel a shiver and the hairs will stand on end.
And then there is the symptom that only a man can fear -
A choking in the throat, and the crying of a tear.'
Well, the Doctor scratched his melon with a rather worried look.
His furrowed brow suggested that the news to come was crook.
`What is it Doc?' I motioned. `Have I got a rare disease?
I'm man enough to cop it sweet, so give it to me, please.'
`I'm not too sure,' he answered, in a puzzled kind of way.
`You've got some kind of fever, but it's hard for me to say.
When is it that you feel this most peculiar condition?'
I thought for just a moment, then I gave him my position:
`I get it when I'm standing in an Anzac Day parade,
And I get it when the anthem of our native land is played,
And I get it when Meninga makes a Kiwi-crunching run,
And when Border grits his teeth to score a really gutsy ton.
I got it back in '91 when Farr-Jones held the Cup,
And I got it when Japan was stormed by Better Loosen Up.
I get it when Banjo takes me down the Snowy River,
And Matilda sends me waltzing with a billy-boiling shiver.
It hit me hard when Sydney was awarded the Games,
And I get it when I see our farmers fighting for their names.
It flattened me when Bertrand raised the boxing kangaroo,
And when Perkins smashed the record, well, the rashes were true blue.
So tell me, Doc,' I questioned. `Am I really gonna die?'
He broke into a smile before he looked me in the eye.
As he fumbled with his stethoscope and pushed it out of reach,
He wiped away a tear and then he gave me this stirring speech:
`From the beaches here in Queensland to the sweeping shores of Broome,
On the Harbour banks of Sydney where the waratah's in bloom.
From Uluru at sunset to the Mighty Tasman Sea,
In the Adelaide cathedrals, at the roaring MCG.
From the Great Australian Bight up to the Gulf of Carpentaria,
The medical profession call it "green and gold malaria".
But forget about the text books, son, the truth I shouldn't hide.
The rash that you've contracted here is "good old Aussie pride".
I'm afraid that you were born with it and one thing is for sure -
You'll die with it, young man, because there isn't any cure.'
Brian Pearson (Rotary Club of Broadbeach) is organizing another of his Rotary Movie Nights: 'Trumbo'. This is a fundraiser for ROMAC (Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children), which provides corrective surgery for children born with severe deformities.
In 1947, Dalton Trumbo, one of Hollywood's top screen writers, was jailed for his political beliefs. The movie recounts how Dalton won two Academy Awards whilst exposing the absurdity in injustice of the 'communist blacklist'. Brian Cranston is in the lead role.[but one of my most favorite actresses, Helen Mirren would have to be irresistible! Ed.]
See details below. Tickets $20.00 in advance. Surfers Sunrise members and guests: Contact Gerald East geraldgeast1@bigpond.com - prepayment only, no later than Wednesday 17th February.General enquiries to Brian Pearson on epearson8@tpg.com.au
Make a new bequest, gift or pledge of at least $10,000 and you will get a free ticket to attend this dinner at the Hilton Hotel in Brisbane on 27th February 2016. The goal is to raise $10,000,000 for The Rotary Foundation. See flyer in the Download section on the right for full details.
Distinguished Rotary Foundation Alumni: Some of the world’s most distinguished leaders are alumni of Rotary’s programs (current and past), including: Ambassador Otto Borch of Denmark, the late Carlos Alberto da Monta Pinto, Prime Minister of Portugal; Sadako Ogata, the former UN High Commissioner for Refugees; Bill Moyers, prominent television journalist and former deputy director of the U.S. Peace Corps; Paul Volcker, professor, economist and former chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank; Sir William Dean, former governor of the Commonwealth of Australia; Philip Lader, former U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain; and renowned pianist Van Cliburn, winner of the first Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in Moscow. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS AS WELL. WHO CAN YOU RECOMMEND THAT WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT ROTARY SCHOLAR?
It was obvious that your Editor's way out grasp of the definition of 'Occupational Therapy' was not an isolated case: Katherine at the very beginning set us straight: "It is NOT Workplace Health & Safety, it is NOT Physiotherapy, it is NOT basket weaving..." So, what is it then? "Who knows how to make a cup of tea?" Huh? Yes. This very simple every day activity can be a major task for a person who has suffered even a light stroke. 
Katherine's profession is to get her patients to "re-learn" those simple every day tasks. "Through engagement in occupation, people find meaning, health and well-being" is the overarching philosophy. The profession, first pioneered by French Physician 
Having been in business for some 40 years (yes, I'm getting old old...),gaining a new customer is always an exciting event. But an even more satisfactory feeling is to have a previous customer returning. In a similar way, your Editor thinks it is absolutely marvelous to have a former 'true blue' Rotarian return to our organization. Welcome to Surfers Sunrise, .JPG)
Katherine O'Shea, your mum must be a very attractive woman [she is indeed! Ed.]... aren't you glad you didn't inherit the looks of your dad? (Dad Terry gladly paid the fine on his daughter's behalf...) Franz Huber, those pictures of me you keep publishing... John Franich, you need a haircut (because it'sgone over 4 mm in length now?) Jo Gorman is a Globetrotter: all over the place, latest to Melbourne to the races etc... Doug Lipp is a race horse owner as well, and he never tells anyone anything... Simon Brook, what's that: no skateboard today, just because it is raining? Just a fairweather skateboarder, huh? Peter Morgan is getting his knees fixed up. Does that mean that, for 4 glorious weeks, we won't receive any of your flood of Rotary emails? Geoff Croad - not fining you, just complimenting you on the choice of your shirt colour - good Kiwi!.JPG)
Make a new bequest, gift or pledge of at least $10,000 and you will get a free ticket to attend this dinner at the Hilton Hotel in Brisbane on 27th February 2016. The goal is to raise $10,000,000 for The Rotary Foundation. See flyer in the Download section on the right for full details.
