2019 was a hard year for me, however I am looking forward to a very successful and fulfilling 2020. We have lots to do.
A very successful Christmas dinner. Thanks to Franz for organising everything. Also, at the Christmas Dinner each member was asked to bring a present to give to a child or give money to Ian Mayberry so he could purchase an item. The gifts were delivered to St. John’s Crisis Centre where they were put with food and other items in the form of a hamper that went to more than 140 needy families. Below are the ladies at St. John’s Crisis Centre/Surfers Paradise Anglican Church working on the Hampers prior to their distribution. Thanks to all our member for their contribution for those less fortunate than us.
The last weekend of the year also was the Christmas Party for all our Rotary Associates (Volunteers) at the Project Shed. Franz has more to share with you further on in the Bulletin.
New Year will see changes at the Project Shed. The wheelchair manufacture will slow down while we focus on the building for the project in Vanuatu. Lots to do in the New Year and we will need your help and assistance.
This year Chinese New Year is early the year of the RAT. It has been suggested that we should have a social Dinner on Wednesday 29th at a suitable venue (Chinese Restaurant) instead a social breakfast. Franz and I will try to get it together in the next few days.
Looking forward to seeing everyone for our first meeting on Wednesday morning.
President Mario suggested we could have a Chinese New Year event on Wednesday 29th January? That week we would normally have a social breakfast. Suggest to make this a dinner instead, with partners, children and friends, similar to the Christmas dinner we had. Associate Members and Corporate Members of course most welcome too.
Please communicate with your better halves and let me know this Wednesday, or if you are unable to be there, reply by email. We'll make a decision within a week.
Last Wednesday, the Surfers Sunrise Rotarians, their partners and guests enjoyed a beautiful Christmas Dinner hosted by the Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club. Lots of partners and friends, including our "Honorary Queenslander" Ross Augustine (RC of Frankston Sunrise) with his wife Coryn and granddaughter Alissa Lott (last year's Exchange Student to the USA). President Elect Charles Thomasson and his partner Angela brought their two daughters along(first time in decades we had children at our Christmas do!), David Orchid represented the Surf Club, accompanied by Jan Lutz, and Bryan Tuesley represented the volunteers from our Project Shed. With well over 50 people present, it was a truly social event, thus only very brief formalities: President Mario Fairlie, still a bit pale (he had only been discharged from hospital two days before), wished us all Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
But, without doubt, our current incoming Exchange Student from Japan, Ayana Sadaka (picture left) stole the show, wearing traditional Japanese dress, a Kimono! Doesn't she look breathtaking?
On the following Saturday, some of our members joined our volunteers at the
Project Shed at their Christmas Party.No, there were definitely no complaints that there wasn't enough food...! President Mario Fairlie briefly spoke to thank the volunteers for their sterling effort over the past year and foreshadowed a busy year coming up with the projected X-Ray Unit to be built for the Hospital on Espiritu Santo island of Vanuatu. Meanwhile, Al Sirovs updated the board with the latest total number of wheelchairs that have been shipped to date: Yes, almost 10,000! We'll need a bigger board very soon...
Our Youth Exchange Student Lucy Thorburn, on her last month of Exchange in Minnesota, sent us some more pictures, one on the right with her host family making Christmas cookies. Head over to the Photo Album Section on the right - they are in her folder.
Hey all the snow has started to fall heavy and the temperatures keep dropping -23 Celsius. My family and I are ready for Christmas, I’ll be making a big pavlova, which my familly is really exited for!
I wish you all an amazing, safe Christmas and a happy New Years!! I’ll see you all soon in person.
At the last board meeting, approval was given to sponsor two RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award) Candidates for the upcoming seminar 14 - 19th April 2020. Our club will sponsor $550.00 of the total cost of $650.00 per person to attend this superb training camp.
What is RYLA? It is a premier youth leadership development program for people aged 19-28. During a week long camp designed to promote proactivity, personal and professional development through a range of inspirational speakers, team building exercises and leadership training. The development of communication and presentation skills, problem solving, conflict resolution, self-confidence and self-esteem are key objectives of this program. RYLA is one of those “once-in-a-lifetime” experiences which truly has a lasting impact on your life. The high intensity seminar is filled to the brim with Australia’s leading inspirational and motivational guest speakers, who give up their time purely based on the benefits they see every year for those attending.
RYLA helps young people, the future leaders of the Australia to realise their full potential and ignites their passion for life. Whether you have a sister or brother, a son or daughter, a niece, nephew, cousin, friend, colleague or even an acquaintance within the age bracket, who you think may benefit from a week of personal discovery, professional development in an uplifting and infectiously positive environment, I urge you to send them along. It will be the greatest gift you could give. Need more information? Click here.
Duty Roster - note: subject to change. Please check every week:
New duty: Fellowship / Project Shed. What does it entail? There are two aspects to this:
a) At the club meeting, your job is to ensure that all members, in particular new members, visitors and guests, and in particular the Guest Speaker, are welcomed, are introduced to other members and are comfortable. If required, explain the usual procedures, e.g. when we have our meal, when the speaker is expected to be at the rostrum etc.
b) This person is also to attend the Project Shed on the following Saturday, as the representative of our club and to assist in the general management.
OK... The cartoon below was 10 years ago. Situation 10 years later: unchanged!
The strength of society is not measured by the strength of its wealthiest, but by the way its most vulnerable citizens cope with their lives. The question is whether everyone has the opportunity to live a good and dignified life. The world’s youngest Prime Minister, Finland's Sanna Marin, in her New Year’s message.
To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain always a child. For what is the worth of human life, unless it is woven into the lives of our ancestors by the records of history? Cicero, Roman Senator, 46 BC
My New Year's Resolutions for 2020:
1. Lose weight
2. Marry Charlize Theron
3. Find the lost city of Atlantis
4. Understand women
Well, if I'm going to fail, I might as well fail big!
A very successful Christmas dinner. Thanks to Franz for organising everything. 
This year Chinese New Year is early the year of the RAT. 
To all our members, associates, volunteers and friends of Surfers Sunrise Rotary: May 2020 bring you lots of happiness, good fortune and prosperity.
Last Wednesday, the Surfers Sunrise Rotarians, their partners and guests enjoyed a beautiful Christmas Dinner hosted by the Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club. Lots of partners and friends, including our "Honorary Queenslander" Ross Augustine (RC of Frankston Sunrise) with his wife Coryn and granddaughter Alissa Lott (last year's Exchange Student to the USA). President Elect Charles Thomasson and his partner Angela brought their two daughters along (first time in decades we had children at our Christmas do!), David Orchid represented the Surf Club, accompanied by Jan Lutz, and Bryan Tuesley represented the volunteers from our Project Shed. With well over 50 people present, it was a truly social event, thus only very brief formalities: President Mario Fairlie, still a bit pale (he had only been discharged from hospital two days before), wished us all Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Project Shed at their Christmas Party.
Hospital on Espiritu Santo island of Vanuatu. Meanwhile, Al Sirovs updated the board with the latest total number of wheelchairs that have been shipped to date: Yes, almost 10,000! We'll need a bigger board very soon...
Our Youth Exchange Student Lucy Thorburn, on her last month of Exchange in Minnesota, sent us some more pictures, one on the right with her host family making Christmas cookies. Head over to the Photo Album Section on the right - they are in her folder.
