An optimist is someone who figures that taking a step backwards after taking a step forwards is not a big problem or a disaster, rather it’s more like a Cha-Cha!!!… or should I say ‘Haka’? Due to unforeseen circumstances abroad, our incoming president will be handing the reigns over for 2017-18 to our very own Sergeant, Andy Bell… or should I now say ‘President Elect-A-Bell’… congratulations Andy!
With this in mind and the several following presidency positions committed to, it is great to see the future of Surfers Sunrise is looking bright… after all, great leadership is the catalyst for great things!
Speaking of great things, don’t forget Wednesday’s a vocational lunch at Substation 33 (details below). We also got the working bee at the shed, the Samoan School Project, organising the Muster for Mental Health bbq… and that’s all within the next 6 weeks before our very own DG Brown takes the reigns in 2017-18…
…time to put on your busy face, see ya’ll Wednesday!
As Simon Brook writes in his President's message, what a magic day! After the heavy rains of the previous days, a day of sunshine, pleasant temperatures and... lots and lots of enthusiastic participants, volunteers, helpers, and yes, even the family dogs participated! Considering that this is our first go at staging this major event, I have no doubt that it will become an annual major event. Close to 60 teams registered, almost all dressed up in one way or another, some with very imaginative names such as 'Poodles and Oodles', 'Niopotamus', 'The Peach Fuzz', 'Coast Busters', 'Run like the Winded', just to name a few.
The 4 Hour section was deservedly won by 'Blues Clues', a team supporting the 'Beyond Blue' foundation. Our very own Rosie McIntyre, competing under the banner of 'The Annihilators' (!!) won the 2 Hour event, capably supported by her husband Andrew and daughter Trinity, (Picture right, courtesy of Harry Ellis).And President Simon rolled up with his 'The Elites' and took out the 'Best Costume' category. (Picture left).
Our club was also well represented in the volunteer section (however, there is still massive room for improvement...). Special recognition must go to Mark Twyford, who had the Financials portfolio (including budget preparation), Ray Higgs, DGE Darrell Brown and Geoff Croad who each took on a Team Leader job, joined by Chris Thurtell, Graeme Isaacson, Angus Miller, Paul Seymour, Richard and Sue Smith. Your Editor's finger nails are starting to re-grow, after being chewed off worrying about the IT side of Registrations and checking them all in with the capable help and calming influence of Tania Laird (no major hick-ups though). The Wheelchair boys - Daryl Sanderson, Des La Rance, Bob Harrison and Al Sirovs, had a display of our wheelchairs. (If I missed anyone: sorry, I didn't see you!) But the laurels must go to the principal organizers:Assistant Governor David Baguley and his Broadbeach Rotary Club team and the Satellite Club of Griffith University.
We'll have a Photo Album shortly, once the photos from all the various snappers have been gathered together.
Gary Thorpe OAM has been the General Manager of Brisbane’s classical music FM station, 4MBS Classic FM, for 28 years and for the last 24 years has produced the annual 4MBS Festival of Classics as well as the annual 4MBS Brisbane Shakespeare Festival. Ten years ago he also started a nostalgia radio station for aged care homes called Silver Memories which is now broadcast to 70 sites across Australia by satellite. Gary was awarded an OAM in the Order of Australia in 2009 for outstanding service to music and broadcasting and 2010 he was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to research the use of music in the management of dementia through the Silver Memories radio service. At this breakfast, Gary is going to talk with us about his amazing project, Silver Memories, on victims of the terribly debilitating dementia.
Apologies: Franz Huber. Guests: Nathan, Tyler, Stella and their teacher Ashley from Helensvale High School, Precious from the Samoan Victims Support Group, Lucy, Jessica (RYPEN students), Belinda (mother), Tony (Father) Jacob (brother).
President Simon Brook welcomed all members and visitors. He provided some feedback from the Board Meeting which had been held the previous night:
Approved applicant for the Youth Science Forum.
Have received notice of application to renew Shed lease. Small project group assemble to prepare the response.
Dates to note
1st April morning at the Shed- volunteers called for
19th April- Sunset Dinner
26th April- joint meeting with HI at Sanctuary Cove. Numbers required week prior.
25th June- District Changeover lunch at Kingscliffe Bowling Club- Club to man registration desk and raffle ticket sales
2nd July – Club Changeover (Seaworld?)
Directors reports
Mario Fairlie – School Project: Raffle tickets for Samoan School on sale and more books available.
Des La Rance has designed the school to be built The 5 schools (Pimpama, Upper Coomera, Coombabah, Helensvale and Pacific Pines have completed their fundraising and we have the remaining $12,000 to raise though benefits in kind and raffle ticket sales. The club met with the school and parents last week – there are a fair number of representatives from the school going over. Plan to commence in April and the building in Samoa will take place on September.
Students are going to come to the Shed and help with the building at this end as well as some with teachers and parents going to Samoa.
Daryl Sanderson – wheelchair has been received in India. Burleigh Heads Mens Shed visited wheelchair shed and will now be making wheelchairs for us. Daryl fixed up the bathroom for a severely disabled couple during the week. Wheelchair article published in Glenn Innes newspaper. One of the shed volunteers in hospital- DS visited during the week. Time in a hospital bed has allowed for some thinking and the volunteer has a cracking fundraising idea- to be shared at a later date.
Ramble – Simon/David Baguley.
Numbers slow
Volunteers needed
Meet at the Great Lawn at 9.30am – instructions given on the day as need for secrecy.
Everyone wore bandanas for a photo shoot (see photo on right)
Youth- Chris Thurtell: Confirmed Astute Projects will sponsor the Keith Lutz Award again. YEP update – 9 students are now on the 2nd half of their exchange and all doing really well. Its like herding cats says Chris. Some of them will help with the Ramble. Kaho is at Goondiwindi and really thriving- she is am accomplished competitive swimmer and cleaned up the swimming carnival on her first day so she won lots of kudos and has now made lots of friends – her English has really improved. Kieran, our student in Germany is struggling with the language – and the skiing (I think that was sarcastic!). Next intake of in bounders are almost underway – from Belgium, Germany, Spain (first time) Holland, Italy and Austria. Almost all are placed -right across the district.
C'mon! You can to better than that! Replies so far: One. Useable? Definitely not.
"Our" Darrell Brown will be at the helm of our District, commencing 1st July. As you know, a monthly District Governor's Newsletter is published, which will be edited by me. But we need a catchy title! If geographical, it needs to encompass the entire District from the Gold Coast to Grafton and west to Glenn Innes and Goondiwindi, but it doesn't have to be geographical. Your Editor (as a gag) suggested "Brownie's Points", which predictably went down like a stone... Your editor is looking for suggestions. Do you have any suggestions? A bottle of 2011 vintage Peter Jorgensen Cabernet Sauvignon for the successful submission. Just reply to this email or click on 'Bulletin Editor' on the right side.
Darrell Brown for matching collar, socks and cuffs. Simon Brook – this time because he didn’t tell a joke. Mitch Brown was fined for being a hobbit ( again!). Mario Fairlie was spotted in The Mercedes Benz dealership in Robina and was fined- he needs a new car as his current one only has ¾ tank of petrol.. Des La Rance got fined for kneeling the wrong way round as the Pope. Angus Miller for holding the Gold Award from the Surf Life Saving Club of Lock Lomond, Larry Murray for being a ray of sunshine after 2 weeks in Aspen, Chris Thurtell has had no crashes or incidents and jet ski repair shops are going broke, Mark Twyford for being dressed as Jamie Wincup. Toast to the 3 ladies of the Club. Tania Laird got fined for no shoe laces, Rosie McIntyre for being dressed in jeans and looking more like one of the high school students that a Rotarian and Jo Gorman for not being dressed in her Toll outfit but dressed by Tony instead.
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.
This one contributed by the indefatigable Gerald East:
Once upon a time there was a very handsome male camel named Alfred with two huge camel humps. He fell in love and married a beautiful female camel named Marie, who had one perfect camel hump and beautiful lips.[Interesting. In other species, the number of humps is usually the other way round, Gerald! But let's not get bogged down in the scientific details of Camelus Dromedarius -v- Camelus Bactrianus...]
As time progressed, they became the proud parents of a wonderful baby boy camel, born with no humps. They contemplated long and hard on what to call their beautiful little boy They finally decided on......
Are you ready for this ?
Humpfree.
[Please don't shoot the piano player! ☺]
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
Gary Thorpe OAM has been the General Manager of Brisbane’s classical music FM station, 4MBS Classic FM, for 28 years and for the last 24 years has produced the annual 4MBS Festival of Classics as well as the annual 4MBS Brisbane Shakespeare Festival. Ten years ago he also started a nostalgia radio station for aged care homes called Silver Memories which is now broadcast to 70 sites across Australia by satellite. Gary was awarded an OAM in the Order of Australia in 2009 for outstanding service to music and broadcasting and 2010 he was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to research the use of music in the management of dementia through the Silver Memories radio service. At this breakfast, Gary is going to talk with us about his amazing project, Silver Memories, on victims of the terribly debilitating dementia. 
.JPG)
(Notes edited by Jo Gorman)
