Don't forget this week's"get together" meeting is held at our Arundel Project Shed, NOT at the Surf Club. John Paul Langbroek MP and Sam O'Connor MP will join us, and so will the new Leasing Manager from the Gold Coast City Council. There will also be a Wheelchair Trust board meeting at 07:30 am - members are welcome to attend as observers.
Peter Morgan advised that his daughter had been diagnosed with an autoimmune condition which required her to undergo a liver transplant operation. Peter and Helen have taken up temporary residence in Brisbane to look after her, as she needs to get to the hospital daily for blood analysis. On behalf of the club, I'd like to extend our hearty wishes to her for a complete recovery.
The Christmas breakfast has been booked at SkyPoint and a Trybooking site has been set up. Note: we have only been able to reserve a limited number of seats, so please book online to ensure you don't miss out (see article further on).
We need to try and source some attendees for the RYLA and RYPEN youth camps. These are superbly well done events. See the story for details and age groups.
Thought for the week: Don't leet yesterday take up too much of today.
there being a Wheelchair Trust Board Meeting called for this Wednesday, and
two VIPs, John Paul Langbroed MP and Sam O'Connor MP visiting the shed at around 09:00
schoolies possibly causing quite a bit of traffic issues in Surfers Paradise
we have decided to run this week's social meeting at the Project Shed.in Arundel.
If you can, please stay on and help to make our VIPs welcome. Did you know that they financed the LED downlights we installed a few months ago at the shed? Note: no breakfast will be offered, but coffee / tea will be served at 09:00, the usual time when our Associate Members take a break.
What does a young man do when he is not sure what career path he should follow? “You can do what you want” was the advice Damian got. “But that was not necessarily helpful” our guest speaker last week drily remarked… Well, the Army was recruiting, and, provided one signed up for 6 years, one could learn a trade into the bargain. He ended up becoming an Avionics Technician, specialising in Helicopters, and was posted to Afghanistan. But the work in the Army didn’t provide the job satisfaction he was after.
Today, Damian runs a Video Production company, Iron Forge Pictures, based on the Gold Coast. The path to success was not exactly a bed of roses: After the Army, he travelled Europe with his own camera. “I have always enjoyed shooting silly videos,” he said, which he edited himself and then published on streaming sites such as YouTube.
At age 28, Damian embarked on a career in Video editing. He enrolled at the local International Film College, hunkering down to serious study of the art, earning an Advanced Diploma. But it’s not as easy as… In 2012, when the Australian Dollar was on par with the US, it was cheaper to make movies in the US, so work was scarce. So he started making his own short films. But, 3 days before shooting was to start, his Director pulled out… No other option but to learn how to direct himself.
And the rest is history, so they say. His feature film ‘The Lost One’ debuted in 2020. During the COVID period in 2021, he wrote four feature length scripts and directed his second feature, ‘Girls Night Out’ in 2022. Today, Damian writes, directs, edits and even distributes his own work. ‘Gunpowder’ is destined to be published as a graphic novel. In addition, he regularly lectures at TAFE college. “No flies on you”, I think, is the correct colloquial Australian expression…
(Photo: Damian Hussey (right) with meeting Chairman Gerald East)
Graeme Isaacson has again roamed the restaurant venues in Surfers Paradise and Main Beach for the perfect Christmas Breakfast for our club. Associate Members, family and friends are welcome!
This year, we'll have it at the SkyPoint restaurant, on the 77th floor of Q1. The deal includes the lift (unless, of course, you want to climb the stairs to the 77th floor...) and access to the observation deck. The menu: it's a buffet! So, whatever tickles your appetite. Parking for ticket holders in the building.
When:Wednesday, 20th December, 07:00 am. We'll have a reserved area of the restaurant, with exclusive access until 07:30, when it will also open to the public.
Price per person: $42.00
Seniors and Children: $28.00 per person.
Note: If you book for a Senior's ticket, you will be asked to show your Senior's card on entry.
You MUST BOOK (no walk-ins) as we have a strictly limited number of seats. First come, first served. Click on this link:
As in previous years, Mario Fairlie is again organising the bulk order for the deliciously moist, plump Rotary Christmas Cakes (see image). Yes, take it from me: they are YUMMY! See the image below - order either in a tin to keep it moist for longer, or in a box (it's the same cake). Note, a corresponding donation to The Rotary Foundation is made on behalf of our club for every cake purchased.
Deadline: Thursday 23rd November 2023. Reply to this email, or advise Mario directly by email, stating the quantities you wish to purchase. Payment in cash directly to Mario on receipt.
Last week, I extolled the strength of "our" charity, The Rotary Foundation (TRF), being recognised as one of the most efficient major philanthropic organisations in the world. TRF is highly recommended by Charity Navigator: not only was it awarded the maximum of 4 stars but also considered to be run with 100% efficiency (meaning an absolute minimum of overheads). Our club donates $100 (Australian) per member to TRF every year.
But are you aware that you can also make a private contribution? There are a variety of options, the most prominent are to become a
'Centurion', donating $100 per annum (they call this a 'Sustaining Member' if you donate $US 100 annually)
'Benefactor', by adding a codicil to your will to donate $US 1,000 upon your demise
'Paul Harris Fellow' donating US$ 1,000
'Member of the Paul Harris Society', by committing to donate US$ 1,000 annually
'Major Donor'. This is achieved once your donations have accumulated to US$10,000
Donations are fully tax deductible, but you MUST follow the procedures to donate via the Australian branch of TRF. Best contact our Foundation Chair Gerald Eastwho will guide you through.
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
<--- This one is freshly lifted from Andy Bell's FB page...
The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime you have a 50% chance of getting something right, there is a 90% probability that you'll get it wrong...
Great works are performed, not by strength, but by perseverance. He that shall walk, with vigor, three hours a day will pass, in seven years, a space equal to the circumference of the globe.Samuel Johnson - ‘Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia’
In the light of all the Cybercrime that is going on, it's time to review your private security settings.
I recently changed my PIN. It's the last 4 digits of Π (Pi)
What does a young man do when he is not sure what career path he should follow? “You can do what you want” was the advice Damian got. “But that was not necessarily helpful” our guest speaker last week drily remarked… 
Graeme Isaacson has again roamed the restaurant venues in Surfers Paradise and Main Beach for the perfect Christmas Breakfast for our club. Associate Members, family and friends are welcome!
As in previous years, Mario Fairlie is again organising the bulk order for the deliciously moist, plump Rotary Christmas Cakes (see image). Yes, take it from me: they are YUMMY! See the image below - order either in a tin to keep it moist for longer, or in a box (it's the same cake). Note, a corresponding donation to The Rotary Foundation is made on behalf of our club for every cake purchased. 
Last week, I extolled the strength of "our" charity, 
