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Posted by Franz Huber
on Sep 15, 2014
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Note: We are NOT meeting at the Yacht Club. This Wednesday, 24th September, we meet at Olli and Luca, 15-21 Via Roma, Isle of Capri
PP Darrell Brown arranged a sumptuous menu with 3 options to choose from:
- Bircher Muesli, served with fruit compote, poached fruits & Sugar roasted nuts
- Bacon & Eggs, with oven roasted tomato on sourdough toast
- Grilled balsamic field mushrooms, confit tomato, haloumi, poached egg and toasted foccacia
And another top notch Guest Speaker, organized by Chris Thurtell: former City Councillor Grant Pforr, p;resenting on the upcoming Festival of Elegance
Don't miss it!
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Posted by Franz Huber
on Sep 17, 2014
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Snippets from last week's meeting:
Last Wednesday, we again met for a trial at the Southport Life Saving Club.
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Club Administration Director Graeme Isaacson organized a second "trial" for a different venue at the Southport Life Saving Club.
Angus Miller and Gerald East were at the door, Fred Hamblen was Chairman, Ian Mayberry stood in for President Conrad Martens and Andy Bell was Sergeant.
Apologies were noted from President Conrad Martens, Tony Bird, Des La Rance and Mario Fairlie.
Vice President Ian Mayberry welcomed visitors, Honorary Queenslander Ann O'Connor, Errol Roulstone, our Youth Exchange Student from Austria Laura Burtscher, Alex Batcu (father of our Youth Science Forum candidate Maria) and our guest speaker Scotty Gregory of Donate for a Mate Foundation. Ian informed us that, whilst President Conrad had indeed returned from his sojourn to the Queensland Countryside, he had fallen ill. Get well soon, Conrad!
Ray Higgs reminded all that Money Boxes for The Rotary Foundation were still in plentiful supply, Paul Seymour expressed his sincere thanks to all who participated at the previous Sunday's Bar-be-que at Bunnings, and Gerald East wistfully recounted his Rotary experiences on the island of Bali: $16.00 for the meal and the Raffle Prize was a full body massage...
Wheelchair Trust Chairman Daryl Sanderson outlined the latest happenings at The Shed. As has been the case many times before, the boys not just make wheelchairs, they also helped out a lady with her walking cart. We understand she intends to walk around Australia in support of Mental Health. A special thank you to Bruce Rigg who helped at the Shed the previous Saturday.
Youth Services Director Chris Thurtell advised of an upcoming major event where we may be involved in: The Festival of Elegance, to be held over 3 - 4 days in October. (Note: former City Councillor Grant Pforr will give a presentation on this this Wednesday 24/09/14!). Manpower is required in various areas, including Food, Traffic Management, and working behind the bar. Chris formed a mini-committee to make further arrangements.
Chris then introduced Laura Burtscher for a brief outline of her recent experiences at a camp to orient the incoming Youth Exchange Students at Lennox Head. Laura will shortly head off to the Great Barrier Reef for her school holidays, staying with Chris' brother at Airlie Beach (it's a tough life, but somebody's gotta do it... ☺)
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Posted by Franz Huber
on Sep 10, 2014
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To give top guest speaker Joy sufficient time, Andy Bell was mercifully short, but not any less effective ...
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 There is clear discrimination in this club! Have a look at the Rotary badges of Ray Higgs, Darrell Brown and Franz Huber: They have all those little bits and pieces of writing and symbols on theirs, whilst ordinary blokes like me have nothing but a plain name and job description... [just put your name down for President, Andy, and we'll buy you one of those in no time at all! Ed.] Franz Huber, just because I send you some educational emails about Socrates and Diogenes does not mean that you need to send me your contra opinion... Alex Batcu: you have been here now three times. This means that you are now officially able to be fined... Paul Seymour sold his house for a reported outrageous amount of money... But The South Effrikens still lost at Rugby last Saturday... And all those who did not watch the game and applaud the Wallabies: pay up! |
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Posted by Franz Huber
on Sep 15, 2014
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Water , water everywhere... What might, on first looks, be quite idyllic, in reality can become a death trap. One of the legacies of the Khmer Rouge disastrous regime of the 70's, there are ponds everywhere, and due to the very frequent rain, they are mostly full. But they are not just full of water, they are full of deadly algae, rubbish and possibly chemicals.
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 Water , water everywhere... What might, on first looks, be quite idyllic, in reality can become a death trap. One of the legacies of the Khmer Rouge disastrous regime of the 70's, there are ponds everywhere, and due to the very frequent rain, they are mostly full. But they are not just full of water, they are full of deadly algae, rubbish and possibly chemicals.
The statistics are horrific: Drowning is in epidemic proportions in Asian countries, including Cambodia where it is estimated that 6 children a day die from drowning. In just one year, Cambodia had 2,094 fatal drownings of children. Add to that 2,877 non-fatal drownings. Not including the adults.
Considering that there is water everywhere, one would expect that children would naturally be taught how to swim. But, economic circumstances simply do not allow for such "luxuries". Joy Ord (see picture, centre left with a fellow teacher and a happy class), is a highly experienced senior member of the Queensland Girl Guide Movement. Joy organized swimming classes in conjunction with the Girl Guide Association of Cambodia. The emphasis is not just on swimming, but
on teaching resuscitation skills in leader training. They also support a day care centre in Srey Pressau village which supervises young children while their mothers weave silk. "All we want to do is to drown-proof the kids" Joy explained.
The job did not just encompass teaching how to swim: When she arrived over there, she faced the local swimming pool: under water
, you couldn't see the other end of the pool... Skin rashes seen on some of the children told their own story. (Yes, it was advisable to wear goggles!).
Whilst teaching how to swim and resuscitation is the primary aim, the program also includes teaching awareness and the dangers of the many ponds, artificial and natural. It includes the fostering of local teachers. The cost of roughly $500 to finance two teachers for 12 months may seem to be miniscule from our point of view, but viewed from their side, it represents roughly half of the Gross Domestic Product per capita! (Compare: Australia's is over $44,000 per capita).
One of their big challenges will be to re-finance and to re-invigorate the survival swimming lessons tentatively planned for June 2015. Will Joy succeed? Can we raise $500 for this very worthwhile project? In his explanation of this year's Rotary International Theme 'Light up Rotary', RI President Gary CK Huang channelled Confucius: "It is better to light a single candle, than to sit and curse the darkness." Joy Ord's project embodies this very philosophy.
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Posted by Franz Huber
on Sep 14, 2014
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Despite late notice (Bunnings Southport invited us to take up the Sunday Bar-be-que spot following a late cancellation), Surfers Sunrise Rotary rolled up in force to make this a truly worthwhile fundraiser....
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  It started early last week when Paul Seymour received advice from Bunnings Southport (or should that really be Ashmore? Parkwood?) that the Bar-be-que spot for the coming Sunday would be available due to a late cancelation. And in true form, our Rotarians, including Honorary Queenslander Ann O'Connor, our Youth Science Forum candidate Maria Ciubuc-Batcu and her dad Alex rolled up in style. (Regrettably, there wasn't enough space inside the kitchen for everyone though... ;-) )
In the early morning shift, Paul Seymour was there even though his family had just returned from Europe that weekend. Geoff Croad and Fred Hamblen, who were instrumental in getting this show on the rails, were joined by Darrell Brown, Mitch Brown, Simon Brooks and - absolutely crucial in any such endeavour - "Onion King" Angus Miller. Angus still had red eyes after shedding tears all night from chopping up onions and thus chose to wear dark glasses despite it being overcast... [Rumors that his red eyes had any connection with Scotland's referendum to remain part of Great Britain are totally unfounded].
The working party was joined by Bruce Rigg, Franz Huber, Adrian Crowe and Ian Mayberry [If I left anyone out, my sincere apology! Ed.] Shortly after midday, the Sausage stock was projected to last for another 20 minutes, and Fred Hamblen and Anne O'Connor were hurriedly despatched to fetch some more. Fred must have taken a detour via Innamincka, for after 30 minutes he still hadn't turned up. Thus, our resident Racing Driver Ian Mayberry was asked to break all records, which he duly managed, to turn up with new ammunition about the same time as Fred and Anne came back. However, Fred enhanced the event by expanding the menu to include strawberries and grapes...
Geoff Croad, who just about sacrificed the entire Sunday to this project, reports total takings in excess of $1,360, with net profits of over $850. Takings are earmarked for "Youth Projects" with Homeless Youth specially mentioned. This will "light a few candles" indeed!
Well done everyone! A great success, and a big thank you to Bunnings for providing the venue.
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Posted by Isabelle Franich
on Sep 08, 2014
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Click on the link on the right to download Isabelle's latest report from France! In case you have missed it: it is still there (for the moment...)
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Posted by Franz Huber
on Sep 15, 2014
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In case you missed it last week: Our Youth Exchange Student from Austria answers 33 Questions. It is still there - just click on the link top right
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Posted by Franz Huber
on Sep 15, 2014
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| Duty Roster - note: subject to change - please check every week |
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| Date |
Chairman |
Door |
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| 26th November 2014 |
Ashley Harris |
Fred Hamblen |
| 3rd December 2014 |
Ray Higgs |
Graeme Isaacson |
| 10th December 2013 |
Barry Lea |
Alex Batcu |
| 17th December 2013 |
Des La Rance |
Doug Lipp |
| 24th and 31st Dec '13 |
No Meeting |
No Meeting |
| 07th January 2015 |
Angus Miller |
Ian Mayberry |
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Posted
on Sep 07, 2014
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So Surfers Sunrise, through their Wheelchair Trust and with the help of dozens of volunteers, have sent out close to 7,000 wheelchairs. But never one like this. This is top grade Aboriginal Art! It ought to go into the National Gallery of Art.
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o   OK, thousands of wheelchairs sent out by the Surfers Sunrise Wheelchair Trust to needy disabled children throughout the five continents have been lovingly painted by volunteers from all walks of life. But this one would have to take the cake. Actually, it ought to be in the National Gallery of Art. Just have a close look at it!
It was painted by an inmate at the Palen Creek Correctional Centre who, in view of privacy rules, needs to remain unnamed. Palen Creek have been involved with our wheelchairs program for years and years. Can a wheelchair be framed? Perhaps with bicycle frames? [Ok, don't be so serious! Only kidding! Ed.].
In another major development, Surfers Sunrise features prominently in a report prepared by the Department of Justice and Attorney General in relation to Palen Creek's 80th Anniversary since foundation. Wheelchair Trust Chairman Daryl Sanderson was instrumental in communicating with the report's author to ensure that the story is being told correctly.
[Postscript: Palen Creek Correctional Centre advised that, due to a formal agreement between the Federal Government and the artist, this wheelchair indeed needs to be returned... Ed.]
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Posted by Franz Huber
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What opinions the masses hold, or do not hold, is looked on as a matter of indifference. They can be granted intellectual liberty because they have no intellect. In a Party member, on the other hand, not even the smallest deviation of opinion on the most unimportant subject can
be tolerated. George Orwell - Nineteen Eighty-Four
The reason women don't play football is because 11 of them would never wear the same outfit in public.
-Phyllis Diller
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Posted by Franz Huber
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Wheelchair Trust Chairman Daryl Sanderson is looking for more volunteers
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OK, so you have gone through your list of potential future Rotarians... but not everyone may want to commit to be an active Rotarian, for various reasons, be that time commitments, financial etc.
Daryl Sanderson needs more volunteers at The Shed! They meet every Saturday morning. Perhaps you could bring it to the attention of a couple of your friends? Communicate with Daryl directly on 0408 729 118 or by email to daryl.sanderson@gmail.com.
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