This will be a fairly short report as I’m in Melbourne at the moment and didn’t bring either my iPad or laptop with me so I’m writing this on my phone.
Proud of the turnout on Wednesday to hear our guest speaker’s presentation which was excellent. It was nice to see a number of visitors as well as so many Club Members.
Our plane was delayed for a couple of hours on Friday. Big deal I hear you say and fair enough however it’s the knock on effect that causes angst. So because we didn’t get into Melbourne until 4.30 so by the time we got the hire car sorted it was peak hour. We complain about the traffic on the Gold Coast but it’s a walk in the park compared to Melbourne especially when it’s raining. We didn’t get to the apartment complex we were staying therefore reception was closed so we had to phone and follow somewhat to me were complex instructions to get in.
The ordeal caused me to think about how blessed we are to have people in our club like Charles, Franz, Ross, Doug, Graeme and Adrian. These guys are front and centre in arranging meetings, functions, fundraising events. They do it with the minimum of fuss and everything they do goes like clockwork. Thanks guys.
Remember- do as you fear most and nothing changes if nothing changes.
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... ☺)
For most citizens of the Gold Coast, the base levels of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (food, water, shelter, and safety) are “normality”; they are “simply there” without much further thought about it.
Last Wednesday's Guest Speaker, Dianne Kozik, who is the CEO of St John’s Crisis Centre, presented us with a stark alternative: Her outline of our city’s homeless and destitute people is quite confronting. “The official figure, according to the 2021 Census, is that some 2,500 people are homeless. The reality, however, would be much higher,” she stated. Over the last 12 months, St John’s provided almost 40,000 meals, 3,500 school lunches, and temporary accommodation and even financial emergency assistance. The recent decision by the Gold Coast City Council to eliminate the tent cities in the local parks wouldn’t make it any easier.
St John’s Crisis Centre coordinates with various other organisations, such as OzHarvest(collecting donated food), Orange Sky (providing mobile laundry services) and numerous donors, both private and corporate. For instance, SnapFreshprovides airline-style ready meals which can be handed out instantly.
Further, the authorities discontinued a scheme that had, without any doubt, produced results: The ‘Public Safety Liaison Officers’ (PSLOS). It was working. (Details are in the slides of her presentation in the Downloads Section on the right.) A reduction from 292 active PSLOS cases in March 2023 to 187 by January 2025. Then it was scrapped. Go figure.
Not all bad news, though: the Gold Coast Common Ground initiative for a supportive housing model is coming to fruition. St John’s has secured land from the State Government. Next step: build it. Why not volunteer at St John's? Our member Mario Fairlie does (as a Director of the Board). By the way: it will greatly assist you to fulfil the third level of Maslow's. And the fourth. And the fifth.
OK, I admit it: until today, I've not been particularly partial to Japanese food, but today's social outing certainly changed my opinion. Yes, the taste of the food vastly exceeded any Japanese cuisine I had experienced before! And great fun it was to watch the chef cook in front of us and - just to lighten things up a bit - challenged anyone who considered him or herself to be fast and flexible, to catch a morsel, expertly flinged, directly into one's mouth. Dr Elizabetta, of course, did just that!
Thank you, Adrian Crowe, for organising this. Next Sunday, visit another place where you can see the chef preparing your meal right in front of your eyes: We're cooking at a Bunnings Sausage Sizzle!
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 Tom Lawton as guest speakers. Heaps of finger food and unlimited drinks package from 12 noon to 3 pm.
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... ☺)
For most citizens of the Gold Coast, the base levels of 
OK, I admit it: until today, I've not been particularly partial to Japanese food, but today's social outing certainly changed my opinion. Yes, the taste of the food vastly exceeded any Japanese cuisine I had experienced before! And great fun it was to watch the chef cook in front of us and - just to lighten things up a bit - challenged anyone who considered him or herself to be fast and flexible, to catch a morsel, expertly flinged, directly into one's mouth. Dr Elizabetta, of course, did just that!
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 Tom Lawton as guest speakers. Heaps of finger food and unlimited drinks package from 12 noon to 3 pm.
