Mario got back from Vanuatu after putting in some hard yards organising the on ground logistics for getting the x-ray building from Port Vila to Pentecost Island.
Local, state and federal members of parliament visited the Project Shed last Saturday to view the x-ray building and to offer their support for this important project for the country of Vanuatu.
Larry and Trent have successfully lobbied state government MPs John-Paul Langbroek and Sam O’Connor to utilise part of their electoral funds to enable the installation of LED lighting in the Project Shed.Not only will this help reduce the operating costs of the Project Shed, but it will also improve working conditions for volunteers working at the shed.Well done Trent and Larry!
This Wednesday in lieu of an informal meeting the Club will visit Craig International Ballistics at Arundel. This company manufactures ballistic protective equipment for Australian service men and woman deployed overseas and promises to be an interesting experience.
Beverages as usual on Thursday at the Benowa Tavern, kicking off at 4.30 pm.
Sorry for the late notice, but this was too good to miss: One of Mark Twyford's clients, Craig International Ballistics has offered to give us a tour of the factory. You may recall receiving an email from Mark last week to gauge interest. A fair number have replied positively, so the event is definitely on, instead of a social meeting at the Surf Club.
Last Saturday morning, Federal Member Hon. Angie Bell MP, State Member for Bonney Sam O'Connor MP and Councillor Ryan Baildon-Lumsden visited our project shed in Arundel this morning to inspect the X-Ray Unit, prior of its being dismantled, to be packed into a container and sent off to Pentecost Island in Vanuatu.
Last week, Mario Fairlie and Dr Graham Sivyer (RC of Broadbeach) visited Port Vila in preparation of the delivery and installation of the X-Ray Unit for Mauna Health Centre on Pentecost Island. There, they met with various officials from the Vanuatu authorities, including Dr Richard Leone, Head of Surgery (who originally instigated the project when on a visit to Australia). This was to ensure a smooth and incident-free transfer of our container from wharf, through Customs and on to a barge and ongoing transport to Pentecost Island.
Watch this space for a full report in next week's bulletin. Photo: Mario Fairlie (centre) with Dr Graham Sivyer (right) and Mr George Pakoa, pathology and development officer.
(*) Heidi asked for her surname and photo not to be published
The first time I met Alissa was in October 2017, a few weeks before she embarked on her one-year Rotary Youth Exchange to Minnesota, USA. At the time, she was a High School student at Emmanuel College; ernest, and – dare I say? - somewhat shy. There is a record of that meeting with a photo on our website: click here. You’ll find quite a number of other articles as well – simply click on the Search button (very top, right) for ‘Alissa’.
Fast forward 4 ½ years. Yes, she is still Alissa, but today I can only describe her as a superbly confident, well-spoken young woman. Studying for a Bachelor of Advanced Humanities at UQ, her future professional field can be… well, anything that deals with… humanity: Diplomatic Service, Sociologist, Editor, Policy Advisor, just to name a few. Brimming with confidence hardly describes her. “The experiences I had there made me a different person,” she said. From several examples, I selected just one. She found that her passport was soaked in Grapefruit juice. Many people would simply panic. “I was calm and collected and established the process to fix it and then fixed it”.
To supplement her studies (and to earn some income), Alissa works at QBD, the large bookshop chain. She also does journalism, interviewing singers and artists and publishes them on Social Media. She is involved in Music Videos, Community Radio, working with children from Immigrant backgrounds.
Heidi, our second speaker, attended the recent RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award) camp. Over the years, we have enjoyed the presentations of numerous young people coming out of RYLA, brimming with enthusiasm after being immersed in a week of motivational speakers and “highly switched-on” people. Heidi, however, added a new one: “I am in some sort of ‘University Bubble’. RYLA for me was a week-long toolkit, helping me to find purpose” she said. Heidi also was, as far as I can recall, the only one who gave serious thought to how RYLA could be improved: “Be more sensitive to past experiences of attendees” was the major one. “Earlier bedtimes”. Hmmm… with a group of about 40 young, highly motivated people – this might be a tad more difficult to achieve!
Check out the speaker’s PowerPoint presentations in the Download Section on the right (in PDF format).
(Photo: Alissa with Meeting Chairman of the day Simon Brook)
This might be of interest to you. Here is an email from the Gold Coast City Council sent to our club:
Hi everyone,
We have partnered with the Queensland Ambulance Service to deliver a series of drop-in CPR awareness sessions on Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 February. Bookings are not required as residents can attend anytime during the two-hour activation to enhance their CPR skills.
It would be most appreciated if you could please forward the below information and attached flyers to your networks who may be interested in these opportunities.
Thank you
Nicola Levinge
Community Safety Officer
Free CPR Awareness
Safe and Liveable Communities in partnership with the Queensland Ambulance Service are offering opportunities to enhance confidence to use CPR. Bookings are not required. Details are:
Date / time
Location
Wednesday 22 February
Between 10am and 12pm
Coolangatta Senior Citizens Centre
Thursday 23 February
Between 10am and 12pm
Robina Community Centre (adjacent to auditorium)
Thursday 23 February Between 3.30pm and 5.30pm
Helensvale Library & Cultural Centre (Piazza area)
On Monday 30th January, planning commenced for a big PR event, designed to highlight one of our club's "real big" projects: the X-Ray Unit for Pentecost Island, Vanuatu. This is a Multi-Club project, which also involves the Rotary Clubs of Broadbeach and Gold Coast.
Mario chaired the meeting, attended by Dr Graham Sivyer (RC of Broadbeach), Greg Bowler (RC of Gold Coast), our Secretary Trent Belling and Nicole Bricknell. Nicole is charged with the overall organisation of the event, expected to be held at a breakfast on 5th April 2023 at the Cafe Catalina on the Broadwater Parklands, Southport. We expect various dignitaries to attend, including representatives from the federal, state and local governments.
Please put it into your diary now - this will be one of the most important meetings of the year for all members as well as associate members and all volunteers who have tirelessly worked to bring this project to fruition. (Photo by Trent Belling (l-r): Trent Belling, Nicole Bricknell, Dr Graham Sivyer, Greg Bowler, Mario Fairlie)
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
My paranoia has reached absurd stages. I sneezed in front of the computer and the Anti-virus started a scan all of it's own....
"(it) will be the heart of the resistance when it comes.”
“And when will it come?”
“Do you want my honest opinion? I think it will come when the majority of people change their minds about the likely outcome of the war. They’ll want to back the winner.” Sebastian Faulks – ‘Charlotte Gray’
Common sense is like deodorant. The people who need it the most never use it.
Last week, Mario Fairlie and Dr Graham Sivyer (RC of Broadbeach) visited Port Vila in preparation of the delivery and installation of the X-Ray Unit for Mauna Health Centre on Pentecost Island. There, they met with various officials from the Vanuatu authorities, including Dr Richard Leone, Head of Surgery (who originally instigated the project when on a visit to Australia). This was to ensure a smooth and incident-free transfer of our container from wharf, through Customs and on to a barge and ongoing transport to Pentecost Island.
