Gidday Surfers Sunrise Rotary members, Associate members and Friends of Rotary,
I am writing this report from the Virgin Club at Gold Coast Airport. Sadly Robby and I are on our way to Melbourne to arrange and attend the funeral of Robby’s brother who died the day after we returned to the Gold Coast after seeing him last week. A tough time for Robby but at least we got to see him.
A great meeting last week, not only did we have a terrific guest speaker in Kath Koch who is District Chair of the Rotary’s International Youth Exchange Program, she brought along some of the overseas students who are being hosted in our District. I know I’ve said it before but, when all you hear on the news is negativity about the youth of today Kaths young folk were not only delightful to meet but quite inspirational in their own way.
I also had the great honour of inducting our newest Corporate Member, Kieser Bundall. The two principal members are Kane Chisholm and Paige Lovett with the two associate members in Chelsea Quinn and Sophie Moore.
These four people are exactly what Rotary needs, young, intelligent, great communicators and full of desire to put in to practice the mantra of Rotary in ‘Service Above Self’. Kane and Paige would have experienced a 'Baptism of Fire', so to speak, as they were rostered on for the middle shift at our Bunnings Barbecue on Sunday.
Don’t forget to book for the Sportsman’s Luncheon, we need bums on seats!
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... ☺). 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.
Kath Koch, our District's YEP Committee Chair, presented a well-prepared outline of the Rotary International Youth Exchange Program (YEP). Did you know YEP has been going since 1975? Since then, over 8,100 young (and very "switched on") students spent a full year abroad, completing their year 11 or 12 not only away from home, but in a country where the school's language is NOT English, or if they are in-coming, where their mother tongue is NOT English. Now, that might sound rather daunting. Yet, we observed the two guests Kath brought along, Marlene from Germany and Mikkel from Denmark (photo): their brief presentation once again proved the immense value of YEP: the gaining of self-confidence. Every YEP student I've met, upon their return had an air of "there is nothing you can confront me with that I can't handle". That is a skill that cannot be taught in a class room.
Our club has not only placed but also hosted numerous YEP students over the years, although COVID seems to have put a sudden stop to that. In recent years, we had Alyssa Lott (2019, to USA), Ayani Sedaka (2019, from Japan), Lucy Thorburn (2018, to USA), Felicity Cooper (2015 to Finland), Gabrielle Burey (2015 to Germany) Martina Missarelli (2016, from Italy), Laura Burtscher (2014, from Austria) are just a few that come to mind.
The statistics are immense - download Kath's PowerPoint from the Download section on the right. The costs to the Rotary clubs are not very high (around $150 per month pocket money, plus School Uniforms and other school costs if applicable), as the major expenses (around $10,500) are covered by the student's parents or sponsors.
Finding hosts is always one of the major obstacles faced by clubs that have "above average age" members. But it needed be: Generally, only two hosts need to be found internally, and even that can be overcome. Can Surfers Sunrise again become involved?
At today's meeting, President Andy Bell inducted our newest Corporate Member, Kieser Bundall, into our club. One of the principals, Kane Chisholm (Photo right, with President Andy) was there to represent his business. In addition, Paige Lovett is the second full member, with Chelsea Quinn and Sophie Moore the two associate members. The Kieser Clinic, which counts several of our members on their clientele, specialises in fully supervised exercise physiology, physio therapy and strength training. In November last year, our club conducted an on-site vocational meeting - click on this link for details.
Change of guest speaker: Regrettably, Tom Lawton is unable to participate. Instead, you'll meet and hear Peter 'Spida Everitt - famous AFL player with 291 games (Saints, Hawks, Swans).
Bookings for the Sportsman's Lunch on Friday 20th June 2025 are now open. It will be held at the Surfers Paradise Golf Club. Join us for a super-fun event with famous comedian Danny McMasters as MC and Rugby greats Mick Veivers and Peter 'Spida' Everitt as guest speakers. Heaps of finger food and unlimited drinks package from 12 noon to 3 pm. Doors open 11:30 am.
We will have a Minibus there to take people home if they think they may have gone above the 0.05 Limit (Max 15 Km). As we are not a licensed Taxi or equivalent service, we'll accept your generous donation rather than a fixed price.
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
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... ☺). 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
Kath Koch, our District's YEP Committee Chair, presented a well-prepared outline of the Rotary International Youth Exchange Program (YEP). Did you know YEP has been going since 1975? Since then, over 8,100 young (and very "switched on") students spent a full year abroad, completing their year 11 or 12 not only away from home, but in a country where the school's language is NOT English, or if they are in-coming, where their mother tongue is NOT English. Now, that might sound rather daunting. Yet, we observed the two guests Kath brought along, Marlene from Germany and Mikkel from Denmark (photo): their brief presentation once again proved the immense value of YEP: the gaining of self-confidence. Every YEP student I've met, upon their return had an air of "there is nothing you can confront me with that I can't handle". That is a skill that cannot be taught in a class room.
At today's meeting, President Andy Bell inducted our newest Corporate Member, Kieser Bundall, into our club. One of the principals, Kane Chisholm (Photo right, with President Andy) was there to represent his business. In addition, Paige Lovett is the second full member, with Chelsea Quinn and Sophie Moore the two associate members. The Kieser Clinic, which counts several of our members on their clientele, specialises in fully supervised exercise physiology, physio therapy and strength training. In November last year, our club conducted an on-site vocational meeting - 
Change of guest speaker: Regrettably, Tom Lawton is unable to participate. Instead, you'll meet and hear Peter 'Spida Everitt - famous AFL player with 291 games (Saints, Hawks, Swans).
