Gidday Surfers Sunrise members, Associates and Friends of Rotary.
We have some amazing people in the wonderful world of Rotary and our Club has more than average. I have said before that I believe all of our members are exceptional and without doubt each and every one is a legend.
Our Guest Speaker at our last meeting was a young guy who is an integral part of our club. He holds the important portfolio of Secretary and let me tell you he makes the position of President a whole lot easier than it could be. I am sure Franz will convey the brilliance of Trent's address in his summary. [He did - see below... Ed.] I have no doubt Trent will one day be Premier of our great state, perhaps even Prime Minister. Rotary is blessed to have have him as a member. A contender for Rotaryâs top job? You betcha.
PP Doug Lipp spoke to the club a few weeks ago about putting together a âSportsmanâ Luncheonâ. A number of members, me included, who are sports mad, agreed with the idea and so preparations were put in place. After a number of hiccups, with speakers and attendance numbers the Lunch went ahead on Friday at the Surfers Paradise Golf Club. Doug was disappointed in the ticket sales and at one point contemplated cancelling the event. Together with some other members, I convinced Doug to go ahead and even though he may have aged a few years with worry, the lunch went ahead.
The 60 or so attendees, without exception absolutely loved it and I have already had calls from people wanting book for next year. Seriously I cant tell just how good it was. The guest speakers were exceptional, the food was exceptional, the room was exceptional and the service was exceptional. The only down side: I was a bit seedy on Saturday morning.
I am looking forward to our Changeover. President Elect Paul Seymour has secured a venue that I am sure will please everyone - See details below - don't forget to book!
Remember, nothing changes if nothing changes and do as you fear most.
Every second Wednesday, when we don't have a "formal" meeting (as was last week), we simply gather for a cuppa and/or breakfast at the Surfers Paradise Surf Club - Bistro area downstairs. Usual time, 07:00 am onwards. All welcome! No speeches, yet sometimes there are more problems solved than on a formal meeting (not necessarily all relating to our Rotary club though... âş). Then, on Thursday afternoon, from about 4:30 pm, some of our members converge at the Benowa Tavern to have a beer or a glass of wine and a good ol' yarn. Note: Next Wednesday 2nd July will also be a social meeting - first formal meeting on 9th July.
OK, so Rotary is strictly non-political, and therefore, at our club meeting this morning, Trent had to be careful to stay within the boundaries. He modestly introduced himself as a âsenior member of the LNPâ. Trent is the Chairman for the Gold Coast Region of the LNP, equivalent to a board position of the party. Of course, he is also our clubâs Secretary, but what you may not know, he also is a Director of St Johnâs Crisis Centre.
You couldnât be blamed if you expected a âPoliticianâs waffleâ. To the contrary: we were all suitably impressed by his clear, concise and âno bullâ analysis of the 2025 Election. Thoroughly prepared, Trent informed us in an honest and calm way on what happened, and what went wrong for the conservatives (not much went right). Yes, we knew most of that already, but some of the facts he outlined may have been new to many of us. For example, are the âTealsâ as they call themselves, really Independents? In reality they are a political party. Simply expressed, if a candidate doesn't toe the line of their financier (Climate 200), he/she wonât be endorsed. A clear example Trent outlined was the battle for Karen Andrewâs replacement in the McPherson electorate. âThe Teal Party candidate spent over $2 Million on advertising", Trent claimed. That candidate (who was defeated by the LNP candidate) is officially an Independent (with $2 Million to spare?) Before she ran as an Independent, she was a member of the Greens Party.
Trent allowed good time for Question Time â and they came thick and fast, and they were answered competently. Looking forward to you getting interviewed in the foreseeable future on the 7:30 Report, Trent!
(Photo: Trent (left) with President Elect Paul Seymour. A copy of Trentâs slides (in PDF format) is available in the Download Section on the right.)
Sometimes we receive bikes at the shed that are simply too good to be stripped down for wheelchair components, including some bikes we received from the Police (unclaimed stolen goods). So our volunteers lovingly restore them so they can be sold. All proceeds go to purchasing materials and consumables necessary for wheelchair production.
Over 80 bikes will go on sale with kidâs bikes from $2, Road bikes from $10, menâs bikes from $30, plus a large number of project bikes all with minor problems for the fixer upper.
The sale is on this Saturday from 8 to 11 am at the Rotary shed opposite the Parkwood Arundel Community Centre, 175 Napper Rd. Arundel. We need some helpers. Are you able to come along?
You have to admire the former greats: Here was Mick Veivers (picture left), at the ripe old age of 85 (and soon to be 86), as he was "interviewed" by the famous comedian and impersonator Danny McMaster, fluently recounting "the good ol' days" of his career as a Rugby Union, then Rugby League player, then State politician. Mick was followed by 'Spida' Everitt, (picture right) who played very close to 300 Senior AFL games (St Kilda, Hawthorn and Sydney), and now, for the past 11 years, has hosted a breakfast show on MMM Radio. Oh, how I wish I could print some of the jokes and barbs that flew!
And to round it off, Danny created on-going, rolling laughter with some of his classic impersonations, from Joh Bielke Petersen all the way to the current Donald Trump... Yes, it was supposed to conclude at 3 pm. Yeah, right...
Yesterday's Sportsman's Lunch at the Surfers Paradise Golf Club was a wonderful way to fundraise for our club. Results will become known soon. A huge Thank You! goes to the organisers Doug Lipp, Charles Thomasson and Ross Augustine.
Our annual Changeover Luncheon is one of our major events of the year, where the previous Rotary year's President, Andy Bell, will hand over the President's collar to incoming President Paul Seymour and awards are handed out. Graeme Isaacson organised the venue for this year's event: it be held at the TRYP by Windham Hotel in Southport. He has wrangled a special deal, which includes a two-course (Main Course and Dessert) and welcome drinks on arrival. And, in a time when prices seem to go through the roof, the price is lower than last year's event!
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
If alcohol can damage short term memory, imagine the damage alcohol can do.
Religious wars are not caused by the fact that there is more than one religion, but by the spirit of intolerance... the spread of which can only be regarded as the total eclipse of human reason.Baron de Montesquieu, French philosopher 1689 - 1755
We were in psychology class yesterday, and we couldn't stop laughing how stupid Pavlov's dogs were. Then the bell rang and we all went to lunch.
Every second Wednesday, when we don't have a "formal" meeting (as was last week), we simply gather for a cuppa and/or breakfast at the Surfers Paradise Surf Club - Bistro area downstairs. Usual time, 07:00 am onwards. All welcome! No speeches, yet sometimes there are more problems solved than on a formal meeting (not necessarily all relating to our Rotary club though... âş). Then, on Thursday afternoon, from about 4:30 pm, some of our members converge at the Benowa Tavern to have a beer or a glass of wine and a good ol
You have to admire the former greats: Here was Mick Veivers (picture left), at the ripe old age of 85 (and soon to be 86), as he was "interviewed" by the famous comedian and impersonator Danny McMaster, fluently recounting "the good ol' days" of his career as a Rugby Union, then Rugby League player, then State politician. Mick was 
followed by 'Spida' Everitt, (picture right) who played very close to 300 Senior AFL games (St Kilda, Hawthorn and Sydney), and now, for the past 11 years, has hosted a breakfast show on MMM Radio. Oh, how I wish I could print some of the jokes and barbs that flew!
Our annual Changeover Luncheon is one of our major events of the year, where the previous Rotary year's President, Andy Bell, will hand over the President's collar to incoming President Paul Seymour and awards are handed out. Graeme Isaacson organised the venue for this year's event: it be held at the TRYP by Windham Hotel in Southport. He has wrangled a special deal, which includes a two-course (Main Course and Dessert) and welcome drinks on arrival. And, in a time when prices seem to go through the roof, the price is lower than last year's event! 
