Dear fellow members and friends of Surfers Sunrise,
Firstly, a big shout out to Rosie McIntyre... Welcome to the team! Secondly, where are all these amazing guest speakers coming from? This week is no exception, with the Salvation Army talking about their new Turning Point Admission Centre. Thirdly, here are my words of wisdom... The road to success for 99% of people isn't a jump, it's a steady incline from one small win to the next... with a few bumps along the way!
You will no doubt have heard in recent news of the 3 cases of polio in Nigeria, the first in Africa in over 2 years... bummer! A small setback yes, but Rotary are taking charge and releasing funds that will see vaccinations reach every child in the affected area within 120 days to prevent further cases...BOOM! That's what Rotary is about. Our road to success in eradicating polio just got one of those bumps but we are bigger than that and this is a good reminder to support PolioPlus!
Howzat for a winner! Program Director Jo Gorman, in conjunction with DGE Darrell Brown, organized Jean-Paul Langbroek MP, Member for Surfers Paradise, to speak at Surfers Sunrise! JP is Shadow Minister for Health and Ambulance Services and Shadow Minister for Commonwealth Games and Health Services in Qld.
"We change the world through action. We teach them how to make things. The villagers teach us how to be humble". Profound words indeed. Chantal's business, SUP Wilderness Adventures (SUP stands for Stand Up Paddleboard), can take you to places where you not only can experience the original way nature was before the tourism developers came along. One of the segments of her company's offerings is 'Voluntourism'. In essence, you take a holiday into a "rough" area, and while you are there, you help the locals with some volunteering work. What a great idea! Are there Headhunters? Ask Chantal. You might be surprised!
Chantal's specific presentation was on one of her projects, the refurbishment and upgrade of a Health Clinic and Kindy at Port Olry, Vanuatu. This is a fully approved RAWCS (Rotary Australia World Community Service) Project (#70) of her Rotary Club Currumbin-Tweed-Coolangatta and the Rotary Club of Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu at the recipient's side.
Espiritu Santu is the largest island of Vanuatu (albeit not the one where its capital, Port Vila, is located). The project is located at Port Orly, quite a bit further on from the northern most point for tourists, Champagne Beach.
So what sort of work is being performed? Lots, from refurbishing a Kindergarten through to the relocation of Sea Cucumber. Relocation? Yes, Sea Cucumber has been grossly over-fished by the Chinese. This resulted in a massive disruption in the overall ecology, causing issues with algae, causing coral bleach, causing loss of the fish population.
But one of the major aspects of the project is also to teach the locals how to carry out sustainable farming. This is done in conjunction with the Vanuatu Agricultural College. Kids can come along too: Chantal's daughter helped repainting the Kindergarten.
Two major stages are about to happen: Stage 1 (August 2016) involves the refurbishment of the existing Health Clinic and Kindy facilities, Stage 2 (October 2016 - June 2017) relates to the establishment of occupational training workshops and sustainable economic development.
See a comprehensive outline of the project in the Downloads section on the right.
Doug Lipp started at the door, followed by Tania Laird, and Doug Lipp was Chairman. Andy Bell was Sergeant.
We had apologies from Jo Gorman, Ray Higgs, Peter Morgan, John Franich, Chris Thurtell and Paul Seymour.
President Simon Brook welcomed all members and guests Catherine Palin-Brinkworth (RC of Hope Island) and our Guest Speaker, Chantal Clarke. He challenged us to participate in Sunday's Kokoda Challenge (ok, perhaps not necessarily to run, but to man the posts...) Also, Southport Rotaract will have an event on Saturday 6th August 2016 - cost $45.00 per person. More details as they come to hand.
Wheelchair Trust Chairman Daryl Sanderson reported on the happenings at The Shed: all the paperwork for the container to Sri Lanka has been completed, but the container with some 3000 wheels is delayed. We sent some 4 pallets of books and 2 pallets of beds to Donations in Kind (DIK) - see photo on right - courtesy of Geoff Croad. And Helensvale High School's project to build a school on Samoa is back on track: they are now combining with other High Schools to raise the funds.
Fundraising Director Tania Laird had received news from Martina Missarelli: she has safely arrived back in her home country - no question about whether there were a few parties following her arrival... ☺
Gerald East, Terry O'Shea: have you by now given up on Richmond?[Not at all! was the reply. "Complete faith!" is how Terry describes it. Hmmm... entire religions have been founded on the same principle. Ed.]Our visitor Catherine Palin-Brinkworth from Hope Island, together with Tania Laird and Des La Rance: Blues supporters?? Simon Brook: a recent survey on dating partners reports that those who arrive by skateboard have special qualities... Mario Fairlie: requesting a health report: "Quite ok" he said... Daryl Sanderson, still waiting for that newspaper report from Finland... There is a big game on tonight - are there any Blues supporters out there? Doug Lipp started off at the desk until Tania Laird turned up. We ended up $6.00 in front. Trust an accountant to come up with a positive balance... Franz Huber, THAT photo manipulation in the bulletin was way over the top! Angus Miller celebrates a new grandson, and, as is tradition in our club, donated $100 to sponsor a wheelchair in his name. And Andy himself participated in a recent Trivia challenge, where his team managed to get 40 out of 60. Not bad. But what is the name of the extinct volcano in Edinburgh? Our resident Scotsman Angus Miller of course knew the answer: it is called Castle Rock, sometimes also called Arthur's Seat, the volcanic plug on which Edinburgh Castle sits.
I have no religion, and at times I wish all religions at the bottom of the sea. He is a weak ruler who needs religion to uphold his government; it is as if he would catch his people in a trap. My people are going to learn the principles of democracy, the dictates of truth and the teachings of science. Superstition must go. Let them worship as they will; every man can follow his own conscience, provided it does not interfere with sane reason or bid him against the liberty of his fellow-men.
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder and first President of the Republic of Turkey
On the European side of Istanbul, near the city's iconic Taksim Square, children, teenagers and adults marched down the main Istiklal shopping street, waving Turkish flags and chanting "Allahu Akhbar" ("God is greatest").
Howzat for a winner! Program Director Jo Gorman, in conjunction with DGE Darrell Brown, organized Jean-Paul Langbroek MP, Member for Surfers Paradise, to speak at Surfers Sunrise! JP is Shadow Minister for Health and Ambulance Services and Shadow Minister for Commonwealth Games and Health Services in Qld.
Espiritu Santu is the largest island of Vanuatu (albeit not the one where its capital, Port Vila, is located). The project is located at Port Orly, quite a bit further on from the northern most point for tourists, Champagne Beach. 
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Gerald East, Terry O'Shea: have you by now given up on Richmond?
