Opportunity doesn't knock, it presents itself when you beat down the door!.. and that's exactly what we're doing. Don't pack away your tongs and aprons (i said tongs, not thongs 😂) because as we roll into the festive season we got more snags to cook! [What's wrong with wearing thongs? Last time I looked, President Simon himself was wearing them. On the weekend. On his feet, I mean... ☺ Ed.] You know, once upon a time I thought BBQ's at Bunnings were for old Rotarian's to run, but I'm coming to realize a sausage sizzle is so much more. It's fun, it's fellowship, it's fundraising and most importantly, it's becoming a large part of our weekend culture. Ask anyone what is synonymous with Bunnings they'll tell you it's a good sausage sizzle! So clear your diary for the 18th of December, dig our your Santa apron and be quick to 'snag' a spot on the roster!
Speaking of rosters, there are still a few spots spare on the polio collection in November... Wowsa, It's November already! So much to do, so little time left in the year!
At last Wednesday's meeting, President Simon Brook presented District Governor Elect Darrell Brown with his 5-Sapphire Paul Harris (PHF) Fellow pin.
Darrell, like many other Rotarians throughout the world, is a member of the Paul Harris Society, whose members annually contribute US$ 1,000 (AUS$ 1,310) to The Rotary Foundation, the principal charitable organization of Rotary International. A pin with 5 sapphires represents a total of $US 6,000 to date, which may have been made as a combination of a PHF being awarded to the recipient by the club or District, or by a donation having been made.
The Rotary Foundation is one of the most efficient major charities in the world, with annual contributions in the vicinity of US$ 269 Million, of which amere 1.8% go into Administration overheads. You can download a summary what is a Paul Harris Fellowship from here:
An old German saying comes to mind: 'Stille Wasser gründen tief' (Still waters run deep) comes to mind when one meets Al Sirovs, one of our newest members. Quietly spoken, yet eloquent nor taciturn, Al exudes a sort of quiet competence which comes from a lifetime of meeting challenges, and succeeding at it.
Al presented an outline of his life story, and it certainly wasn't all beer and skittles, as they say: Born in Latvia in 1942, with a younger brother and an older sister, he claimed he always was "the one who got into trouble as my brother was the baby and my sister, being a girl, never got the blame..." His family left Latvia in 1944 in the middle of the night, as the Germans were retreating and Russia came back to re-occupy the country. Spending several years in various refugee camps, eventually the choice was made for Australia in favour of Canada, as "we would survive with nothing because of the warm climate"!
They arrived in Australia with several hundred other refugees, being quarantined with measles without his parents and no knowledge of English. Ultimately, he was able to join his family at the Bathurst Migrant Camp.
First to Toowoomba, then to Salisbury where he attended the local State School and joined the Scouts, but had to drop out because the family couldn't afford the uniform. Later on Al was enrolled at the new Kedron Heights High School, but "decided that school was not for me" and he joined the workforce. In 1958, he started selling records (yes, the 78's), and radio grams, which sold for 299 guineas. Consider: 1 guinea = 1 pound + 1 shilling. Considering that, according to the ABS, average wages then were (converted) $37.10, this makes it over 7 week's wages!
Fast forward to 1964 in Toowoomba, wher Al met the woman of his dreams, married her in Nambour and started a family. 10 years later, with their two boys they moved to Clayfield, and in 1976 borrowed $1,000 from the ANZ and started their own business 'Alsound Discount Electronics'. Stock was promised to be supplied on consignment, but the rep's boss didn't agree - back to the ANZ for another $1,000... The business grew, they took on next door, knocked out a couple of walls and sold just about everything from CB radios to rear projection TVs. Other businesses were added, including wholesale, a Tax & Duty Free and even Limousines.
They sold out in 2000 and retired, travelling Portugal and Spain in a campervan for 6 months, and for the next 7 years continued to do that at least 3 months of the year, camping in some 25 countries.
And why did he join Rotary? "I was told that Lions can have sex up to 50 times a day, and I didn't think I could keep up with that..." ☺
Download Al's answers to 33 Questions in the download section on the right!
It looks like our School for Vanuatu project has been hit with a snag (and we don't mean a Sensitive New Age Guy!) we understand that Tursa employment has pulled the pin on their sponsorship of the project to the tune of $23,000 in materials and labour.
"This does not mean the project will be discontinued" said Mario Fairlie, our chief organizers of grants. Mario advises that a school in Sydney has expressed interest to come to the party with some $10,000, and a major effort will be started to seek donations of both materials and dollars from corporate and individuals.
Can you help, or do you know anyone who can be involved? Please email Mario (via the link on the right side under Committee - Public Relations).
The RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award) team is putting on a beach day on Saturday 10th September at Burleigh Heads. Download the flyer from the download section on the right. This is a tremendous opportunity for prospective RYLA awardees to meet with the team, and have some fun at the same time! All welcome.
RYLA is the premier Youth Leadership program in the district. for young people 19 - 28 years olds. It will be held from Saturday 21st to Friday 27th January 2017. More information on the website: http://www.ryla9640.org/
Interested in RYLA? Contact our Youth Services Director Tania Laird - see Committee list on the right side
Darrell Brown - welcome back! About time somebody brought some sartorial elegance back to the club! Mitch Brown threatened the Sergeant with death if he was again describing him as a Hobbit... The Sergeant however considers this to be a very complimentary description, after all, Hobbits are very friendly people. He assigned Frodo as Mitch's alter ego in JRR Tolkien's saga... [see right - I'm sure there is a similarity somewhere, but being rather right-brained, I can't spot it... Ed.] Adrian Crowe - something about tomatoes in the car park (???) Gerald East: promoted to be the greatest complainer... Mario Fairlie: no need for a health report apparently - extraordiarily healthy... And now he is hot-footing it off to Las Vegas and in September to Amsterdam - just when he was put on the Duty Roster. OK, simply pay up then! Our (about to be newest member) Rosie MdIntyre: really, is anyone else eating Muesli? Yes, Graeme Isaacson... Peter Morgan would be the most honest lawyer around: he even returned Andy's pen! Larry Murray, you are not feeling well? No, he said: just under employed... Chris Thurtell, welcome back. I understand you had to sell about 4 of your cars and 3 houses to pay for the repair of your boat? Paul Seymour, interesting reading of the medal tally so far at the Rio Olympics: Australia 9th, New Zealand 14th, South Effrika 32nd... And in case you have so far not been caught in the net: Is there anyone who would not support the All Blacks at next Saturday's Rugby game? [He referred to the All Blacks, not the Warriors. Ed.]
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At last Wednesday's meeting, President Simon Brook presented District Governor Elect Darrell Brown with his 5-Sapphire Paul Harris (PHF) Fellow pin.
An old German saying comes to mind: 'Stille Wasser gründen tief' (Still waters run deep) comes to mind when one meets Al Sirovs, one of our newest members. Quietly spoken, yet eloquent nor taciturn, Al exudes a sort of quiet competence which comes from a lifetime of meeting challenges, and succeeding at it. 
First to Toowoomba, then to Salisbury where he attended the local State School and joined the Scouts, but had to drop out because the family couldn't afford the uniform. Later on Al was enrolled at the new Kedron Heights High School, but "decided that school was not for me" and he joined the workforce. In 1958, he started selling records (yes, the 78's), and radio grams, which sold for 299 guineas. Consider: 1 gui
nea = 1 pound + 1 shilling. Considering that, according to the ABS, average wages then were (converted) $37.10, this makes it over 7 week's wages!
It looks like our School for Vanuatu project has been hit with a snag (and we don't mean a Sensitive New Age Guy!) we understand that Tursa employment has pulled the pin on their sponsorship of the project to the tune of $23,000 in materials and labour.
The RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award) team is putting on a beach day on Saturday 10th September at Burleigh Heads. Download the flyer from the download section on the right. This is a tremendous opportunity for prospective RYLA awardees to meet with the team, and have some fun at the same time! All welcome.
.JPG)
Darrell Brown - welcome back! About time somebody brought some sartorial elegance back to the club! Mitch Brown threatened the Sergeant with death if he was again describing him as a Hobbit... 
The Sergeant however considers this to be a very complimentary description, after all, Hobbits are very friendly people. He assigned Frodo as Mitch's alter ego in JRR Tolkien's saga... 
