Greetings, fellow members, associate members and friends of Surfers Sunrise Rotary,
A big shout out this week goes to the organising committee of Districts 9560, 9620 and 9640 for a very successful Tri-district Conference held at RACV Royal Pines Resort this past weekend. It emphasised RI President Francesco Arezzo’s message “Unite for Good”, as well as the Theme “Reaching Across Boundaries”, with a wide variety of guest speakers, culminating in the Conference Gala Dinner and continuing on Sunday morning.
Key dates to remember this month and beyond:
Our District changeover will be held on 28th June 2026 at 11.30am at Currumbin RSL. I encourage members to celebrate the day
We have another Bunnings BBQ on 27th June 2026. Ross will forward a roster list
Our changeover date to be announced shortly, either 5th or 12th July
Surfers Sunrise Golf Day will be held this year on 26th October 2026, at the Surfers Paradise Golf Club. Brochures are now available for any member looking to play on the day, supply sponsorship or help on the day.
Our former member Barry Lea was right in the thick of getting our Wheelchairs Project rolling. And it wasn't easy going! Hear Barry reminisce about the trials and tribulations of the mid-nineties to the "big bang" when the first 10 'Rough Terrain' wheelchairs were delivered to Fiji, which ultimately led to the manufacture and delivery of almost 12,000 of them, giving the gift of mobility to countless disabled children and adults in developing countries.
Usual place and time: 07:00 am for 07:30 sharp start, Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club.
Yes, I admit that I'm not the most objective person to judge a Rotary District Conference; I just might be slightly biased... This would have been the umpteenth conference I attended over the past four decades. To answer a question posed by Greg Forster, the Conference Chair: "Don't you just feel a little bit prouder that you are a member of Rotary?" the answer is a resounding "YES!". If you ever have organised a chook raffle, you'd appreciate just how much work goes into running such a massive event as smoothly and consistently on time as this one was. Congratulations, Greg and all your team. Take a bow.
The number and variety of speakers and exhibits are way to wide to review in this space. For those of you who were unable, unwilling or simply too (insert your choice of words) to attend, the Conference Booklet is still available on the District Website, so you can read up on some of what you missed. Allow me to pick just one of the keynote speakers: Do you know anyone who suffers, or is at risk of getting Dementia (or whatever the specific name of each sub-type is called)? Perhaps you are at an age you are concerned about your own potential to go "ga-ga"? [Stop talking about yourself, Franz!]Yes, not a nice term, but I meant to shake you a little. Dr Daniel Blackmore, a senior post-doctoral research fellow at the Queensland Brain Institute, outlined in a clear, consise and easily understood way his research team's work. Initially they researched with old mice. Now they are at the stage where they have humans. No, don't visualise caged human guinea pigs, with little tubes and wires hanging off them. Just brief, physical exercises. No drugs. They can't reverse the condition (yet), but they can keep it from getting worse. And here is the killer statement: "85% of brain diseases are preventable" he said. "How?" I hear you ask. Now, isn't that exactly what you wanted to know? Watch this space: Dr Blackmore agreed to speak on the Gold Coast if we organise an event.
There were some great speakers, some good and some perhaps could do with a bit of training by a Toastmasters club. But it certainly was worth my time.
Oh, almost forgot: the Boogie Wonderland dinner / dance on Saturday night: I must be getting old. I simply was unable to handle the constant, eardrum-destroying, deafening thump-thump-thump of the massive speakers. And unvaryingly the same beat, non-stop. Don't people want to have a break and have a soft smooth melody where one can cling to one's partner (provided permission is given, or even encouraged)? Never mind about having an intelligent conversation?
Lots more pictures on https://www.facebook.com/RotaryDistrict9640/ Warning! Some are depicting quite unexpected dress and behaviour of people you thought to be the proverbial conservative, stuffy old Rotarians!
A few weeks ago, we had a very productive on-site Vocational Service meeting at Youth Outreach (click here for the report). In direct consequence of the efforts by Services Director Ross Augustine and Evan Mita, a contingent of teenagers has rolled up at our Wheelchair Shed to learn skills associated with the dismantling and/or restoration of bicycles. It is expected that this will become a regular occurrence. Great work, fellows!
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
Using AI to help me be more productive is the most human thing I’ve ever done because I immediately used the extra time to scroll my phone.
“The pace of progress in artificial intelligence (I’m not referring to narrow AI) is incredibly fast. Unless you have direct exposure to groups like Deepmind, you have no idea how fast—it is growing at a pace close to exponential. The risk of something seriously dangerous happening is in the five-year time frame. 10 years at most.”Elon Musk
Men are sensitive in strange ways. If a man has built a fire and the last log does not burn, he will take it personally.
Our former member Barry Lea was right in the thick of getting our Wheelchairs Project rolling. And it wasn't easy going! Hear Barry reminisce about the trials and tribulations of the mid-nineties to the "big bang" when the first 10 'Rough Terrain' wheelchairs were delivered to Fiji, which ultimately led to the manufacture and delivery of almost 12,000 of them, giving the gift of mobility to countless disabled children and adults in developing countries.
Yes, I admit that I'm not the most objective person to judge a Rotary District Conference; I just might be slightly biased... This would have been the umpteenth conference I attended over the past four decades. To answer a question posed by Greg Forster, the Conference Chair: "Don't you just feel a little bit prouder that you are a member of Rotary?" the answer is a resounding "YES!". If you ever have organised a chook raffle, you'd appreciate just how much work goes into running such a massive event as smoothly and consistently on time as this one was. Congratulations, Greg and all your team. Take a bow.
A few weeks ago, we had a very productive on-site Vocational Service meeting at Youth Outreach (
