Well done to Richard Smith for organising the Excellence in Workmanship Awards that were presented last Wednesday at our annual Chinese New Year Celebration at Benowa Highland Court. It was a great evening with over 40 Rotarians and guests in attendance. This year’s winners included; Cameron McCracken (CRM Electrical), John Dobozy (Molectra), Melissa Von Bratt (Runaway Bay Centre), Grace Bouchard (Bunnings Southport) and Bianca Rose Zhou (Benowa Highland Court Chinese Restaurant).
As I mentioned last week, Surfers Sunrise will be participating in the Rotary Baton Relay on Friday 16th April between 9.30-11.30am at Broadwater Parklands. All Rotarians should wear a ‘Rotary Says No to Domestic Violence’ T Shirt so we can make an impact on the day. The shirts are $20 each and I will bring the order form (and the Square Terminal) to the next few meetings. More details on the Baton Relay to follow over the coming weeks and any suggestions welcome.
You will see in the Bulletin below that Surfers Sunrise has received a great email from the Rotary Club of Port Alfred in South Africa who received 20 wheelchairs in our latest shipment. Another great endorsement of what the Club and the Wheelchair Project Shed are doing!
This Wednesday morning we have a social meeting at the Surf Club - see you all there.
This Wednesday 24th February, from 07:00 am, we'll have a social meeting at the Surfers Paradise Surf Club, downstairs Bistro, on the northern side. See you there!
Last Wednesday night, we enjoyed a great social dinner at the Highland Court Chinese Restaurant. At the same time, Vocational Service Chairman Richard Smith, together with President Charles Thomasson, presented last year's Excellence in Workmanship Awards to the deserving recipients. Last year's? Yes, COVID-19 forced us to cancel the event, so the awardees have been patiently waiting for almost a year! Photo shows (from left, clockwise) Charles, his wife Angela and their children Amelia and Lauren. Rosie Rocco and her daughter Trinity (Good to see you again!), Mitch and Lydia Brown, Tanya and Mark Twyford.
You know that recently we despatched a container load of wheelchairs to South Africa, via the Rotary e-Club of South Africa. Here is some feedback: we received an email from the Rotary Club of Port Alfred, South Africa:
Dear “Surfers”
We have just taken delivery of 30 wheelchair kits, 20 for Port Alfred and 10 for Rotary Club of Kenton on Sea, (25kms from us along the Eastern Cape coast, halfway between Durban and Cape Town, both surfing centres).
We have so far made one prototype this week and were excited to see it taking shape; very simple but clever design, sturdy and manoeuvrable when done. It took us 50 minutes after a couple of false starts but we reckon 25 mins maximum now we know what we are doing!
We wanted to bring the story to our local press, our Rotary Africa Magazine and to Facebook so we have looked up the story on your webpage and would now like to attach a couple of photos taken during construction, just for you to see. We plan to create a work party to do the others. The men in the photos are PP David Hawkins and PP Martin Allison of Rotary Club of Port Alfred. Distribution will be handled soon. There is such a need for this sort of robust conveyance that we shall have no difficulty in placing them. We thought of attaching safety belts, have you any ideas about this? Thank you also for the knitted jerseys which we will distribute. Do your Rotary Anns do these? With congratulations on this great project, and best wishes Heather Howard for Rotary Club of Port Alfred.
When President Charles forwarded Tammy’s email offering to speak at our club, one part caught your Editor's attention: She became an aircraft maintenance engineer in the Australian Air Force – 27 years ago. Well, at that time, that would certainly have been unusual indeed. During her presentation she then also mentioned her training with the SAS, lugging 25 Kg packs around Kokoda. “A hard way to learn about yourself!” she claimed… I’d say, there would be sufficient material in there for a book! 😊
Today, Tammy is an entrepreneur, a motivational speaker, a trainer. She created a training program with the theme of “How to jump over yourself”. She teaches teamwork, how to work together to achieve a better outcome than working individually, how to visualise their aims, how the choices you have made throughout your live affect your future. “But be careful what you ask for though!” Tammy cautioned [haven’t we learned that before - the hard way! Ed.].
Another skill she trains is First Aid. First Aid? “Well no, it’s not sexy” she laconically mentioned. But it is a skill she greatly benefited from when, some 16 years ago, she found her 16 month old toddler son floating face down in her swimming pool. Yes! He survived.
Angus Miller was at the door, Geoff Croad was Chairman and Ian Mayberry was Sergeant. We had apologies from Peter Morgan, Gerald East, Adam Sheppard, Tash Price, Mario Fairlie and Simon Brook.
President Charles Thomasson welcomed all members and visitors Honorary Queenslander Ann O’Connor, soon to be member Trent Belling and KJ Jewson (Rotaract Club of Burleigh Heads). Charles elaborated on the Baton Relay event to be run in celebration of Rotary’s 100 year in Australia anniversary. Our club will be involved on Friday 16th April 2021, where we’ll be running with wheelchairs, so put it into your diary now!
After our guest speaker Tammy Richie’s presentation (see story above), Secretary Mitch Brown reminded members that, in view of our regular involvement with Youth projects, all members must have a Queensland Blue Card. If you don’t have one, or your card is not up to date, please fill in the form, get Mitch to certify it (even though he knows you well, you’ll need to have your Drivers License with you). Refer to a recent email sent out by Mitch.
To conclude, Sergeant Ian Mayberry contributed to the good humour of the morning by issuing a few fines: Geoff Croad forgot that he was on duty… Larry Murray whinged that he has a crook back, but doesn’t know how it came about… Andy Bell, you’re not supposed to take phone calls during the meeting… Franz Huber for panicking about our Guest Speaker not being here when indeed she already was… Charles Thomasson’s Fine Number XX for not mentioning the Sergeant at the Changeover… Johnny Bueti would have copped a fine but he managed to escape before… Richard Smith: the raffle must have been rigged!
Our club has been involved with the Gold Coast Ramble since its inception, regularly fielding teams. Are you up to it this year? Click on the picture to go directly to their website. At last week's meeting, David Baguley (RC of Gold Coast)the details of this event, to be staged on 21st March 2021, starting on Chevron Island (see article below). With a much more modern App, this year’s event only requires four check points to be manned. We need prizes! Can you assist?
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
Virtue is more to be feared than vice, as its excesses are not subject to the regulation of conscience.Adam Smith, Scottish Economist, 1723 - 1790
I wonder if the person who invented the phrase 'Jumping on the bandwagon' got really annoyed when everyone else started using it...
Mass media [and that includes Facebook! - Ed.]do not tell people what to think, but what to think about.Dr Brian Martin – Vaccination Panic in Australia
This Wednesday 24th February, from 07:00 am, we'll have a social meeting at the Surfers Paradise Surf Club, downstairs Bistro, on the northern side. See you there!
Dear “Surfers”
attach a couple of photos taken during construction, just for you to see. We plan to create a work party to do the others. The men in the photos are PP David Hawkins and PP Martin Allison of Rotary Club of Port Alfred.
When President Charles forwarded Tammy’s email offering to speak at our club, one part caught your Editor's attention: She became an aircraft maintenance engineer in the Australian Air Force – 27 years ago. Well, at that time, that would certainly have been unusual indeed. During her presentation she then also mentioned her training with the SAS, lugging 25 Kg packs around Kokoda. “A hard way to learn about yourself!” she claimed… I’d say, there would be sufficient material in there for a book! 😊
To conclude, Sergeant Ian Mayberry contributed to the good humour of the morning by issuing a few fines: Geoff Croad forgot that he was on duty… Larry Murray whinged that he has a crook back, but doesn’t know how it came about… Andy Bell, you’re not supposed to take phone calls during the meeting… Franz Huber for panicking about our Guest Speaker not being here when indeed she already was… Charles Thomasson’s Fine Number XX for not mentioning the Sergeant at the Changeover… Johnny Bueti would have copped a fine but he managed to escape before… Richard Smith: the raffle must have been rigged!
Virtue is more to be feared than vice, as its excesses are not subject to the regulation of conscience. 
