June is fellowship in Rotary and there is no better way to celebrate fellowship than attending the change over luncheon. See booking details below. District Governor Elect Lisa Hunt and her husband Gareth have accepted an invitation to attend.
The forklift was finally delivered to the shed. Ross, Brian and I attended whist Mick from Crown gave us an extensive induction in the proper operation of the machine. It is amazing; all the safety measures that have been inbuilt into the operation of the machine. I am sure that all the workers at the project shed will benefit greatly from this machine.
The club has made a $AUS 100.00 donation to The Rotary Foundation on behalf of every member and you should be receiving a receipt in due course.
At he next formal meeting, I will be inducting a new member for our club, Iain Campbell. Iain was nominated by Geoff Croad is a past member of Rotary.
Thought for the Week: Tree things you should not lose this week: your faith, courage and smile.
A few of our members may have known Ralph for close to 40 years - after all, he is a Charter Member of Surfers Sunrise (January 1987) and was our club’s third President. (He also is a foundation member of the Surfers Paradise Golf Club). Then he decided to seek greener pastures… Greener? Well, if you think Lightning Ridge as a “greener” place, yes!
For decades, Ralph has been a registered valuer of gemstones, specialising in opals. He also has, for decades, taught opal gem cutting at TAFE. Did you know that, on a per carat basis, opals are more valuable than diamonds? “But diamonds are forever” I hear you say. Too true! Ralph recounted a story where he was called to value a Bank Deposit box full of opals, expected to fetch several 100,000 dollars. As they were kept for years in a rarified, dry environment, they all had… crumbled. There are specific ways to store them - best engage Ralph to give you advice. Want to buy an opal? Again, beware of the traps: whilst a true black opal might fetch $40,000 dollars per carat, a ‘Doublet’ (example, photo right) is only worth about $3,000. As to a ‘Triplet’… well, don’t bother!
Ralph had several humorous as well as instructional stories to share from his time in the opal fields out west. Sorry, you should have been there! Good to have you back at Surfers Sunrise, Ralph!
President Doug Lipp and President Elect Andy Bell cordially invite you to attend our Changeover Luncheon. It will be held at the same venue as last year's (and wasn't that hugely successful!):
Braeside Estate
275 Gooding Drive
Merrimac 4226
Convenor Grahame Isaacson has negotiated not only a great luncheon, but we also secured a bar tab... free beer, wine or soft drinks (ok, within reason!).
Our new forklift has arrived at the project shed! Wow, that certainly makes a difference to the way our pallets are handled. It's safety features are up to the latest technology.
Last week, President Doug Lipp, Ross Augustine and Bryan Tuesley attended a training session with Mick from Crown Equipment Corporation. A big thank you goes to our Fundraising Director, Ross Augustine (pictured) who organised the grant application which made this purchase possible.
One of our volunteers, Rick Parry, became aware that Biggera Waters High School wanted to donate almost 300 moulded plastic chairs. All in good condition, except that the legs showed signs of rust and corrosion. Well, we don't need the legs, but the seats are ideal to be deployed with our Rough Terrain Wheelchairs. Rick organised with Leanne Allison (picture), the school's Business Manager, and in multiple loads picked them up. This will save us a considerable amount of money. Thank you, Allison and Biggera Waters High School! And well spotted, Rick!
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
I signed up for exercise class. They asked me to wear loose fitting clothes.
If I had any loose fitting clothing, I wouldn't have signed up to begin with!
It’s important to remember that scientific knowledge in itself is neither good nor evil - it’s the way we use it that matters. Jim Al-Khalil - ‘What’s next?’
I read somewhere that the ‘Flat Earth Society’ started as a joke, then morphed into a believer synonym.
Apparently, a large percentage of the population believe that the other planets are round.
A few of our members may have known Ralph for close to 40 years - after all, he is a Charter Member of Surfers Sunrise (January 1987) and was our club’s third President. (He also is a foundation member of the Surfers Paradise Golf Club). Then he decided to seek greener pastures… Greener? Well, if you think Lightning Ridge as a “greener” place, yes!
I hear you say. Too true! Ralph recounted a story where he was called to value a Bank Deposit box full of opals, expected to fetch several 100,000 dollars. As they were kept for years in a rarified, dry environment, they all had… crumbled. There are specific ways to store them - best engage Ralph to give you advice. Want to buy an opal? Again, beware of the traps: whilst a true black opal might fetch $40,000 dollars per carat, a ‘Doublet’ (example, photo right) is only worth about $3,000. As to a ‘Triplet’… well, don’t bother!
One of our volunteers, Rick Parry, became aware that Biggera Waters High School wanted to donate almost 300 moulded plastic chairs. All in good condition, except that the legs showed signs of rust and corrosion. Well, we don't need the legs, but the seats are ideal to be deployed with our Rough Terrain Wheelchairs. Rick organised with Leanne Allison (picture), the school's Business Manager, and in multiple loads picked them up. This will save us a considerable amount of money. Thank you, Allison and Biggera Waters High School! And well spotted, Rick!
