Great to induct Rock and Ralph last week. Both are very experienced Rotarians and their knowledge will be of enormous benefit to our club.
The next formal meeting on the 13th December is the Annual General Meeting. Hopefully I will contact all before then so that we can organise a team for next year, especially a President. We don’t have one as yet but hopefully someone will put their hand up.
Last week, Crime Stoppers emphasised that everyone needs to be aware of scams and security especially when it comes to mobile phones. The hackers are usually one step ahead so vigilance is important.
Our Christmas breakfast is fast approaching. Numbers are limited to a maximum of 40 reserved seats, so first in best dressed.
Looking forward to a social meeting this Wednesday and some drinks on Thursday.
Quote for the Week is a Christmas theme: More time, less hurries, More fun less worries, More smiles less mess, More merry less stress
Last Wednesday we received a professional presentation on how to AVOID crime, by three representatives of Crime Stoppers: Keith Knight, Tracey Chase and Julie Echin. I assume you already know what Crime Stoppers is all about (if you don’t: click here). In short: if you suspect a crime has been, or is about to be committed, or you have information which may lead to a prosecution, you can call 1800 333 000 anonymously. No names, no phone numbers, no personal details of any sort are collected. You are assigned an identity code, which you may refer to if, at a future date, you may be able to collect a reward. Yes, also anonymously! And, contrary to popular belief: Crime Stoppers is a charity, NOT a government agency! [There. You learned something new today! Yes, I shook my head too. Ed.]
“Put your mobile phone away for two days” Keith Knight from Crime Stoppers challenged us. Yes, I agree, we ARE addicted. We do everything with it: Call, text, google, play music and videos, make payments. Yet…
The recent major hacks at Medibank and Optus have resulted in the theft of personal details, including mobile phone numbers, of millions of individuals (Medibank’s database alone contained almost 10 Million records). So, these days it’s not unusual to receive a text from - purportedly - a courier firm, the ATO, or from Linkt (pay your road toll or we’ll sue you). It’s not limited to text scams, it can be advertisements that often are “too good to be true”. The message always prompts you to tap a link… Click on this link, and in a second a "worm" is downloaded to your phone, which enables the crims to take control of your phone! In consequence, it's not just your bank account that is threatened, but your ID details can be used for identity theft, leading to fraudulently taking out loans, car leases, just to name a few.
But what if you tap that link and only just realise a few seconds later what you’ve done? Switch your phone off instantly! SWITCH OFF, DO NOT USE the phone. Then advise your bank, credit card company and seek professional advice.
You also should check out the Federal Government’s National Anti Scam Centrewebsite, which outlines the various traps and procedures in fair detail.
(Well, almost new - both have decades of Rotary experience and now have joined our great organisation again… ) President Doug Lipp this morning inducted Ralph Pownall (picture left) and Rock O’Keefe (picture below right) as “returning” Rotarians. Both photos also include Lisa Else, who is a personal friend of Rock (and we hope we can convince her to become a member as well!).
But wait, there’s more! Ralph is not only a Charter Member of our club (chartered in January 1987), but in 1989/90 was our third President!
Graeme Isaacson has again roamed the restaurant venues in Surfers Paradise and Main Beach for the perfect Christmas Breakfast for our club. Associate Members, family and friends are welcome!
This year, we'll have it at the SkyPoint restaurant, on the 77th floor of Q1. The deal includes the lift (unless, of course, you want to climb the stairs to the 77th floor...) and access to the observation deck. The menu: it's a buffet! So, whatever tickles your appetite. Parking for ticket holders in the building.
When:Wednesday, 20th December, 07:00 am. We'll have a reserved area of the restaurant, with exclusive access until 07:30, when it will also open to the public.
Price per person: $42.00
Seniors and Children: $28.00 per person.
Note: If you book for a Senior's ticket, you will be asked to show your Senior's card on entry.
You MUST BOOK (no walk-ins) as we have a strictly limited number of seats. First come, first served. Click on this link:
As we do every year, Surfers Sunrise will deliver a load of Christmas presents to St John's Crisis Centre in Surfers Paradise. the present should be suitable for children (any age, any gender), valued around $10 - $30, unwrapped.
Mario Fairlie, as a director of this organisation, has a close connection. But... Upon returning from his holiday to Vietnam, he was diagnosed with Covid. He asked to spread the word: helpers are needed to put the hampers together on Wednesday 13th December, starting at 08:30 am to approx 12:30 pm. And there is still time to bring a present if you haven't yet done so. Please bring them to either next or the following Wednesday's meeting.
A few months ago, Angie Bell MP (our local member for the federal electorate of Moncrief) was instrumental in getting a government grant approved for the purchase of a ute for our wheelchair project. The ute had been purchased a while ago, but the signage took a bit longer... Here it is, our trailer (which we already had) hooked up, full of bikes collected from Bond University.
Thank you, Angie, for helping us to get the grant approved. Much appreciated.
Anonymous, unsigned letters, be they personal or addressed to the club, usually go straight to the big round filing cabinet under the desk. But with this one I'll make an exception:
Dear Franz,
I wanted to take a minute to thank you.
We met about 18 months ago at a Rotary Open Day.
At that time we were just chatting and I mentioned that my husband was newly retired and slowly driving me crazy being home all the time. I suspect he was missing male company and having some interesting conversation with people. He needed a purpose.
You suggested the Wheelchair Project.
After some strong persuasion, my husband agreed to go to just for one morning "just to see what it was like".
What a difference it has made. He loves it!
He comes home every Wednesday and Saturday tired and dirty. He has stories about the type of bike they received and where they picked up the bikes and who is selling their caravan and where the wheelchairs are going and lots more.
There is a smile on his face and a spring in his step.
Thank you Franz
From a grateful anonymous wife.
Dear "grateful anonymous wife",
Your kind words are much appreciated. Rest assured that the other men at the shed much appreciate the camaraderie and work ethics of your husband as much as he values theirs.
Now, a woman with your powers of persuasion would have many female friends whose husbands are equally in need "of a purpose"? Why not mention the Wheelchair Project to them and help them convince their partners to join? Currently, we are indeed a bit short of personnel! Ed.
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
[<--- we certainly didn't need heated seats around here in the last few days!]
By a certain age, you can pretty much do whatever takes your fancy. No one tells you off, except for your doctors and your children.Richard Osman - Thursday Murder Club
I adore spontaneity.
Provided it is carefully planned.
I rang my wife and asked her if she wanted me to pick up fish and chips on the way home. She just grunted at me. I think she still regrets letting me name the twins.
Last Wednesday we received a professional presentation on how to AVOID crime, by three representatives of Crime Stoppers: Keith Knight, Tracey Chase and Julie Echin. I assume you already know what Crime Stoppers is all about (if you don’t: 
)
Graeme Isaacson has again roamed the restaurant venues in Surfers Paradise and Main Beach for the perfect Christmas Breakfast for our club. Associate Members, family and friends are welcome!
