Gidday to Rotary Club of Surfers Sunrise members, associates and friends of Rotary.
As most of you will know President Paul Seymour has been in hospital for the past few weeks having a knee replacement. Unfortunately he also caught a very dangerous virus whilst there and was in a pretty bad way for a few days. Thankfully the Medical staff at Pindara were able to successfully treat Paul's illness and he was able to be discharged last Friday and is currently convalescing at home. Hopefully he will be well enough to get back in the saddle in the next wee while,
until then you will have to put up with me and my ramblings.
It continues to surprise me how, in today's world, age is for the most part an irrelevance. A truly great example of this is the beloved editor of this Bulletin, Franz Huber. Franz turned 80 last week. He is unbelievable. [Hmmm... my most favourite Sales Trainer once said that, if somebody asks "How are sales?" you answer "Unbelievable!" That covers it both ways... ☺ Ed.] Apart from editing, writing the majority and publishing this bulletin, Franz is still an active bushwalker, gardener and handyman. He invited yours truly to accompany him on a bushwalk a few weeks ago. Luckily after some investigation I discovered that I would be exhausted driving the route let alone walking it. An absolute legend and to a great degree the backbone of Surfers Sunrise. Happy Birthday Franz. [Thank you, Andy et al.]
On Saturday we had a sausage sizzle fundraiser at Bunnings Nerang. A great day that came close to breaking our record for funds raised. I have to give a huge thanks to "Big Al" Sirvos. Due to a family crisis, one of our regulars needed to pull out of his shift at the last moment. Al, who is a regular attendee at both teh wheelchair shed as well as at our sausage sizzles, had indicated that he was not available for this event. In desperation I called on him to see if there was any chance he could help. "If you need me I will be there" was his response. What a legend and typical of a recipient of multiple Paul Harris Fellowship awards, who puts 'Service above Self'.
Our meeting this week is at TRYP in Southport. Thank you to Sue Lipp and Graham Isaacson, along with the management of TRYP for making it possible for us to hold our meeting there whilst the Surf Club undergoes extensive renovations.
This Wednesday, we will induct some new members to our outstanding club. In the absence of President Paul Seymour, I am honoured to step in and conduct the inductions.
Remember (in case you have forgotten) 'Do as you fear most' and 'nothing changes if nothing changes'.
Anna Morgan is a multi-award winning Solicitor, including 2024 Solicitor of the Year. But she won't present on legal matters. As the Immediate Past President of the Gold Coast Corporate Rotary Club, her presentation will be all about attracting corporate members to Rotary. Oh, and it should be mentioned, that Anna is the daughter of our member Rock (and Joan) O'Keefe!
Note: The meeting will be held at the TRYP Hotel, 59 Meron Street, Southport, NOT at the Surf CLub
This morning, we welcomed guests from the Sunshine Coast: President Kerry & Lyn Naumann, Lorraine Buhk and Tim Fraser from the Mooloolabah Lions Club, a major donor to our 'Rough Terrain' wheelchairs project, visited the wheelchair project shed this morning. Welcome to the Gold Coast!
“Ran S”, I asked, “so, what is your full name?” Ran would have answered this question thousands of times. Yes, ‘S’ is his official surname, and he has a passport to prove it!
Both he as well as his wife Linda were born and raised in Singapore, so were their children. In 2007, they were granted a Skilled Immigration Visa to bring the entire family to Australia and consequently moved directly to the Gold Coast.
Here is a multi-talented person: he was a professional Financial Futures Floor Trader on the Singapore Exchange, but he also holds a formal qualification in Landscaping and Horticulture (Howzat for a combination!). Linda works at one of the local Ozcare Centres as a person-to-person care assistant.
Being of Indian extraction, Ran is a practicing Hindu and visits his Temple regularly. Other hobbies include listening to 60 and 70’s music, and – guess what – gardening, where he practices his formally acquired skills.
And how did he find out about us? He saw the Australian of the Year Award ceremony on TV, where Brother Oliver Pickett, the co-founder of our “sister project” 'Wheelchairs for Kids' in Western Australia, was awarded the Senior Australian of the Year Award. Apply some googling skills and – here he is, helping us build ‘Rough Terrain’ wheelchairs. Welcome to the Surfers Sunrise Wheelchair project, Ran!
Visualise: Surfers Paradise beach front. Perfect weather, perfect temperature (not too hot, not too cold). You are with a bunch of positive thinking, switched on people, lots of good banter, lots of laughs. And occasionally, even some club business is discussed as well.
So, why not join us? We do this every second week.
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 had a dream that I was at work. So I called in sick. I’m not working two shifts in a row.
We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual, and those interests it is our duty to follow.Donald Trump? No! Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston, British statesman 1784 - 1865
Imagine just for a moment: An atheist, at a green light, stuck behind a car with a bumper sticker "Honk if you like Jesus"
Anna Morgan is a multi-award winning Solicitor, including 2024 Solicitor of the Year. But she won't present on legal matters. As the Immediate Past President of the Gold Coast Corporate Rotary Club, her presentation will be all about attracting corporate members to Rotary. Oh, and it should be mentioned, that Anna is the daughter of our member Rock (and Joan) O'Keefe!
“Ran S”, I asked, “so, what is your full name?” Ran would have answered this question thousands of times. Yes, ‘S’ is his official surname, and he has a passport to prove it!
