Happiness is writing a task on your 'to do' list a second before you do it, just for the pleasure of crossing it off! Admit it, you've done that before! Speaking of todo lists, there might only be 8 weeks left of the year but we still have a so much to do.
To those who attended the district conference over the weekend thank you for representing the club & supporting the district... Now the spot light is on Surfers Sunrise as we prepare to host next years district conference on the Gold Coast.... and the bar has been set high! [You are not wrong! See brief comment below. Ed.]
Do you remember Simon Schmidthe from SubStation 33? The guys who turn electronic trash into 3D printers? Well on the 24th of this Month we are heading to their factory for a tour and a BBQ lunch.. yay an outing! Be sure to jot that in your diary, more details to come!
Speaking of outings, Surfers Sunrise are doing a working Bee at the wheelchair shed on June the 3rd. Wanna get down and dirty? we got a job for you! Scared of getting your hands dirty? we got a job for you too! Be sure to come along as we have plenty of stuff to be done and as a way of showing our appreciation to all the volunteers who donate their time to this great project, we are putting on a spread as well. So if you cook, craft, create or clean or anything else in between, make yourself be heard or seen! (My little bit of poetry Franz... how did I go?) Still quite green, needs some sheen, remove the brilliantine, reading level pre-teen, need more caffeine, now reaching for my codeine...☺☺ Ed.
All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast... see you on Wednesday!
Australian Bush Poetry has for a long time been one of my most favorite pastimes. Some 40 years ago or so, I heard famous Australian actor Jack Thompson recite part of the last stanza of Banjo Paterson's 'The Man from Snowy River'. Of all things, it was for a TV commercial to promote the (then) early beginnings of the Clean up Australia campaign.
I did a similar presentation in late 2015, but this time I'll aim to also illustrate some different works. And there will be a bit of a humorous ditty I have written myself, targeting our Sergeant Andy Bell... ☺
We had a grand time! Surfers Sunrise celebrated the 30th Anniversary of its charter, so instead of the usual breakfast, we met for dinner. Lots of guests were there too, and quite a number of our members also brought their partners along. (See photo album in the download section on the right).
Still, there was some "normal" club business, so here are some snippets:
Daryl Sanderson drew the short straw and was at the door, Paul Seymour was Chairman and MC and Andy Bell was Sergeant.
There was no call for apologies. President Simon Brook welcomed all members and their partners, our Honorary Members, Charter President Bill Moir, John Ellemor, who was accompanied by his daughter Lynne Wright and her partner James, George and Natasha Keily, and in particular Jan Lutz, Carole Waller and her friend Lenie Johansen.Clive Edwards (RC of Young, NSW) was accompanied by his charming wife Margaret, and Ray & Valeria Higgs' guests were John & Rosemary Rowe. To save time, members' partners were not individually introduced. He asked all past Presidents of the club to be recognized. Simon briefly summarized (have you noticed? in Surfers Sunrise, speeches are kept short!) a world of 30 years ago: There were no women in Rotary yet (that came in 1988), no internet, Bob Hawke was Prime Minister and Joh Bielke-Petersen was Premier, and Nicky Webster was born, the very first mobile phone was released ("the brick"), fuel was 52 cents a litre, [it is actually about the same today: according to Australian Government's CPI Index, we have had an inflation factor of 2.43 times since 1987, which would make 57 cents equivalent to $1.38 in today's value. Ed.(also known as 'Smart A...')]
Mario Fairlie and Larry Murray reported on the Schools Program: Helensvale High School have a bit of a hold up of $14,000 which will come in shortly. We are looking for volunteers to join the construction team: cost will be approximately $3,000 per person (including air fares and 2 weeks accommodation in Samoa). Helensvale High will also have some of their teachers and students going over to help. Larry emphasized that the pre-assembly of the school will be carried out at The Shed, help is needed.
Later on, the Sergeant let loose on just about every one (see separate article in the bulletin). After dinner, the four remaining Charter Members Bill Moir, Bob Harrison, Peter Morgan and Franz Huber were on a panel, answering some questions. Bill Moir briefly outlined the events leading to the formation of the club, Peter Morgan, Bob Harrison and Franz Huber commented on major goals achieved: naturally the Wheelchair Trust, the various houses and schools we built in Vanuatu, Thailand after the 1986 Tsunami, Samoa and the crowning achievement of the House of Hope in Samoa. But Franz also emphasised that the Bus for the Disabled, which was donated in 1992 would have been one of the greatest achievements. It cost some $32,000, most of which was raised by our (then) Fundraising Director Reg Haines. "What are the major differences between 1987 and 2017? Bill Moir suggested that his hair colour was blacker... Graeme Isaacson, who was our first member to be inducted after charter, outlined the substantial difference in selecting potential members: it was all very formal in those days! The biggest challenge? "Understanding Franz" was Peter Morgan's suggestion. But really, Franz pointed out, the introduction of women into our club took a very long time. Seeing how much work our female members do: what were we waiting for?? The question of where we see Surfers Sunrise to be in another 30 years? This produced some long faces... Franz Huber asked all members below the age of 60 to stand - we had a total of just six! As Franz put it: "In 30 years I expect to be on an extended bushwalk - up the River Styx... ☺ Thus, membership development is ever a hugely important task. The event was concluded by the cutting of two cakes, the candles were blown out by Charter President Bill Moir and current President Simon Brook. As it happened, Bill's candles were more persistent than Simons... ☺
You can view the entire panel discussion on our Facebook page, compliments of Rosie McIntyre who, unbeknownst to us, filmed it all... And on our website, on the Photo Album section on the right, there is a good selection of photos of the evening.
The inaugural Gold Coast Ramble will be on in a month's time, on Sunday 26th March.
We need your help!
We need about 120 volunteers. We have 40 checkpoints with 2 volunteers on each checkpoint so about 80 volunteers on checkpoints from 10am to 4pm. At each checkpoint, the entrants use the Gold Coast Ramble App to download a challenge about the immediate area – this could relate to the heritage, the natural environment, street art or local infrastructure.
Other volunteers are needed between 7am and 10 am for site and checkpoint set up, and between 3.30 and 5pm for site and checkpoint pack up. Three shifts are available - see registration. There is no cost involved.
Another team will manage registrations, marshalling at event start and other administration.
On Sunday 26 March 2017, Gold Coast Rotary in partnership with Surfers Sunrise Rotary and Griffith University Satellite Rotary Club will stage the inaugural Gold Coast Ramble - a major community event. This goes way beyond a Fun Run. It is great fun, since you need observation skills, the ability to solve some trivia questions. And last, but not least: you will help us support various very worthwhile local charities, including PCYC, the Salvos, Beyond Blue, Gold Coast Homeless Youth, just to name one. See more details on the Facebook page.
Whilst it is the inaugural event for the Gold Coast, the concept has been well and truly proven successful by the Rotary organizers in Perth. We are licensing their IP, the application software (apps) etc, so there is absolutely no doubt that it not only will work as planned, but it will be our club's major fundraiser for the year. It is a must participate event for all members and friends of Surfers Sunrise! Registration can be for individuals or for teams between 4 and 6 people. It can and should be promoted as a major corporate team building event. Spread the word! Organize a team! Register!
The detailed program has now been released: click here.
Starting on Friday, but you can attend any of the sessions (except the College of Governor's Lunch, unless you have PDG, DG or DGE in front of your name...). Hey, how about Professor Lyn Griffiths, the Biomedical Director at QUT (Saturday at 09:25 am). Or famous TV journalist Kerry O'Brien (yes, of the 7:30 Report and 4 Corners) at 11:25 am. Then, in the evening we have a bush dance: It will be held at the Alstonville Community Centre, just a 20 minute drive from Ballina, or if you prefer not to drive, a bus is organized. The band is Tallowwood Bush Band (yes, "No 96 to the snack bar please"...). The line-up includes a swag of incredibly talented multi-instrumentalists who present folk music from around the world with a strong Celtic influence and an emphasis on preserving the Australian family bush dance that transports the audience through time and emotion leaving no doubt why this band has been the winner of so many music awards and been so popular at festivals and events throughout Australia. And for food? Master Chef Tony Koelner will have an open spit bar-be-que.
Conference attendance itself is free, but, fair enough, some fees apply if you want to get lunch, participate in the bush dance on Saturday night etc.
Sergeant Andy had a field day night: since there were some visitors there, at least 3 people would not have been aware why President Simon is getting fined for the same thing every week.... Darrell Brown: very upmarket socks indeed! Mario Fairlie was introduced as our resident hypochondriac... but on Wednesday night he was in good shape. Bob Harrison, the nicest person in the club. Mrs Harrison, just how do you put up with him?? Catherine Huber, don't you have any mirrors in your house? Do you know what your husband looks like when he comes to Rotary, wearing shorts, long woolen socks, or no socks at all...? Sue Lipp has been married to Doug, an accountant. Do you know the song "Diamonds on your shirt"..?Ian Mayberry, you look more and more like Julius Sumner Miller - that's him on the right [Why is it so? He never had a beard as far as I recall... Ed. ☺] Tanya Twyford, how can you put up with a husband who wears shoes with individual toes in it? Peter Morgan, two knee operations! (yes, they are 100%...) Chris and Marie Thurtell, welcome back! Daryl Sanderson, it's now been quite some time since you promised that the Wheelchair Trust will feature in the Helsinki Mirror. When?? Paul Seymour, tough to be a South Effrikan: can't play Cricket, can't play Rugby... Jo Gorman and Tony: when Jo comes in on Wednesday morning, she mutters "the b*&(&^@# is still in bed!"; (to which Tony replied "where is she coming from??)
“Real genuine friendship and the laws governing friendships provide the truest basis for all forms of enterprise. If Rotary can materially contribute to the development of friendship between individuals, businesses, professions, and nations, and if the individual is willing to make friendship the basis of his job or vocation, then we have an ideal of service being applied in ways that should make all of us happy.”
— What Constitutes Vocational Service?, THE ROTARIAN, November 1927
30 years from now? How about this one: On our 68th anniversary, my wife gave me a brass lamp for our anniversary present. As I unwrapped it, I rubbed it and a genie appeared. "I grant you just one wish" he said [by the way: why are genies always male?]. Anyway, I told him I wish my wife was 30 years younger than me. Swish!! I instantly turned 131 years old and thus became the oldest living person on earth!
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Sergeant Andy had a field 
Harrison, just how do you put up with him?? Catherine Huber, don't you have any mirrors in your house? Do you know what your husband looks like when he comes to Rotary, wearing shorts, long woolen socks, or no socks at all...? Sue Lipp has been married to Doug, an accountant. Do you know the song "Diamonds on your shirt"..?Ian Mayberry, you look more and more like Julius Sumner Miller - that's him on the right 