Greetings, fellow members, associate members and friends of Surfers Sunrise Rotary,
The Rotary Paul Harris Award stands as a beacon of recognition within the global Rotary community, celebrating outstanding individuals who exemplify the organization’s ideals of service, leadership, and humanitarianism. Named after Rotary International’s founder, Paul Harris, this prestigious award is a testament to the commitment and dedication of individuals who have made significant contributions to their communities and beyond.
The award not only honours individual achievement but also serves as an inspiration for others to strive towards similar goals of making a positive difference in the world. It underscores Rotary’s commitment to fostering goodwill and understanding across cultures and borders, promoting a global network of leaders dedicated to service.
Whether through local community projects or global initiatives, recipients of the Paul Harris Award inspire others to join in Rotary’s mission of creating positive, lasting change. Their stories serve as reminders of the power of individuals to transform communities and uplift humanity, embodying the spirit of Rotary’s enduring legacy of service and compassion.
Key dates to remember this month
An interim board meeting has been called after this Wednesday’s meeting (20 May) to resolve/approved two current proposals
A joint board meeting of the existing and new board members for 2026/27 has been called for 2 June 2026 at the TRYP by Wyndham Hotel at 8:00 am
Our District changeover will be held on 28 June 2026 at 11.30 am at Currumbin RSL and we encourage members to celebrate the day
We have another Bunnings BBQ on 27 June 2026. Ross will circulate a roster list
Changeover luncheon this year will be at TRYP on Sunday, 5 July 2026, details plus booking through Trybooking to follow
Surfers’ Sunrise golf day will be held this year on 26 October 2026 at Surfers Paradise Golf Club. Brochures are now available for any member looking to play on the day or supply sponsorship
As has now become a tradition, Federal MP and Shadow Minister for the Environment, Shadow Minister for Youth and Shadown Minister for the Arts, Angie Bell, will present at our club. One week after the Budget session, this is going to be interesting!
Angie usually speaks "off the cuff", and questions are welcome. Usual place and time: 07:00 for 07:30 am start, Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club.
"MUNA? What's that?" I hear you ask. It stands for Model United Nations Assembly, an annual event that is held in various Rotary Districts throughout Australia. It will be held at the Tweed Heads Civic Centre on Saturday, 30th May 2026.
As the name suggests, it is meant to simulate a United Nations Assembly, but with one big difference: Three year 11-12 students that make up each nation's team do come up with solutions that make sense and (wish it were real) could well produce results were they deployed in "real time". The teams debate selected resolutions from each country’s perspective in a simulated United Nations Assembly. The debates reproduce genuine UN debates, often with a fine flow of rhetoric, points of order, motions of dissent and bloc walkouts! The debates are way better than anything you hear from the real even in New York!
Our club will sponsor Trinity Lutheran College to put up three teams, and I understand that Elizabeth Celi will serve in the capacity of one of the judges. All are welcome to attend - click here for full details.
If you were present at the meeting of 22. April with Councillor Darren Taylor, you will recall that the questions kept coming and we simply ran out of time. So we asked Darren to come back, and he has agreed to attend our meeting of 3rd June. To allow him to prepare and do advance research to ensure the questions actually get answered, he has invited us to send him questions on notice!
So, now is the time to submit your question(s). Of course, questions should relate to the policies and the governance of the Gold Coast City Council only, not State or Federal Government. Please be concise. We are looking for questions, NOT your personal opinions or statements. The convenor (that's me, your trusty bulletin editor) reserves the right to parse any unnecessary comments. You may pose a follow-up question, as in "if yes (or no), then XXXX".
Simply reply to the email of this bulletin, or if you got it off our website, send it to enquiries.surfers.sunrise@gmail.com before COB 27th May 2026. I'll compile them and forward them to Darren. Naturally, you'll be able to ask questions on the day, however, submitted questions will get preference.
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
Did you ever think what life would be like if you didn’t overthink everything? I think about it all the time.
Distrust is like a vicious fire that keeps going and going, even put out, it will reignite itself, devouring the good with the bad, and still feeding on empty. Anthony Liccione, American Author
My wife is leaving me because she thinks I’m too obsessed with Astronomy.
As has now become a tradition, Federal MP and Shadow Minister for the Environment, Shadow Minister for Youth and Shadown Minister for the Arts, Angie Bell, will present at our club. One week after the Budget session, this is going to be interesting!
"MUNA? What's that?" I hear you ask. It stands for Model United Nations Assembly, an annual event that is held in various Rotary Districts throughout Australia. It will be held at the Tweed Heads Civic Centre on Saturday, 30th May 2026. 
