Dear fellow members and friends of Surfers Sunrise,
If you don't chase after what you want, you'll never get it! If you don't ask, you'll never know! If you don't step forward, you'll always be in the same place!... well that's what I think anyway! So with that, let's do August! We got a school to build for Vanuatu, we got wheels to unload for the wheelchairs, we got Mat Rogers talking volunteering at the Com Games, Hope Island RC visiting AND we got a BBQ breakfast on the 'cards'... So chase, ask and step forward.... August is gonna be loaded!
George Friend OAM, a member of the Broadwater Southport Rotary Club, is known for a number of major projects. Last Wednesday, George, a former came to bring us up to date on two major project of his: from 2015 - 2012, the Kokoda Memorial Wall in Cascade Gardens and before that, in 1995, commenced the building of the Kokoda Memorial Hospital. There is no doubt that George has a lot of fondness for the area, for the 39th Battallion RAR and for Kokoda in particular. At the time as a member of the Australian Army, he walked the famous (infamous?) Kokoda Track in 1988. He trained in the Kokoda Barracks (these days known as Canungra Warfare Centre). Some 20 years ago, he approached (then) Mayor (and now Councillor of Division 7) Gary Baildon to commission a memorial to the bloody battles which now have become major tourist attractions in Papua New Guinea. He traveled the country from Sydney to Melbourne, Perth and even to Japan to interview veterans of that era, including veterans of the Japanese Imperial Forces who, at the time, would have been the sworn enemies of the Australian Defence Force. In conjunction with the Australian and Papua New Guinea governments, Rotary and lots of volunteers, the hospital was built in 1995.
Later on, in stage 3, Bronze Statues were added to the Memorial Wall (see picture on right).
Peter Morgan was at the door, Tania Laird was chairman and Andy Bell was Sergeant.
We had apologies from Jo Gorman, Tony Bird and Angus Miller. (There may have been others, but due to the changed routine of the meeting, no call for apologies was made.)
President Paul Seymour welcomed all members and our visitors Ross Augustine (RC of Frankston, VIC), George Friend OAM (RC of Broadwater Southport), Al Siorovs (shortly to be inducted) and our Youth ExchangeStudent Martina, freshly back from the YE Safari (see separate item). A brief insight followed of a daily routine early morning whilst on the Safari, Martina led the singing of 'Give me a home amongst the gum trees' by Bob Brown (and made famous by John Williamson), with a perfect Aussie/Italian accent...
In view of our Guest Speaker George Friend OAM needing to leave early, George's presentation was brought up front (see separate report).
After that, President Paul Seymour reported on the recent Board Meeting, in particular in reference to the unanimous decision by the board to recommend to move our meeting venue to the RSL Club in Surfers Paradise. Paul outlined the major points for and against. Members will be asked to vote anonymously in a Survey Monkey on-line survey, where these for and against points will be outlined, and where there will be provision for members to put further comments.
Youth Services Director Chris Thurtell advised that 28th May 2016 is firm for a 'Cocktail with the Dolphins' party to be held at Seaworld. This will be a fairly smart affair, with a limited number of tickets being offered for $125.00 per person. Proceeds will go to our Wheelchairs Trust.
Have you registered for the upcoming District Conference in Murwillumbah (6th to 8th May)? Registration itself is free.
WHAT ARE THE SIX AREAS OF FOCUS?
1. Peace and conflict prevention/resolution
2. Disease prevention and treatment
3. Water and sanitation
4. Maternal and child health
5. Basic education and literacy
6. Economic and community development THE ROTARY FOUNDATION – CONTINUING TO EMPOWER ROTARIANS AT HOME AND ABROAD AS WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS THE “GOOD WE DO IN THE WORLD.”
To fight and conquer in all our battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.
Sun Tzu, The Art of War, approx 5th Century BC.
In peace, sons bury their fathers.
In war, fathers bury their sons.
Herodotus - Greek Historian, contemporary of Socrates
For the fallen
With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.
Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres.
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.
They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables at home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam.
But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;
As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain,
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.
George Friend OAM, a member of the Broadwater Southport Rotary Club, is known for a number of major projects. Last Wednesday, George, a former came to bring us up to date on two major project of his: from 2015 - 2012, the Kokoda Memorial 
Wall in Cascade Gardens and before that, in 1995, commenced the building of the Kokoda Memorial Hospital. There is no doubt that George has a lot of fondness for the area, for the 39th Battallion RAR and for Kokoda in particular. At the time as a member of the Australian Army, he walked the famous (infamous?) Kokoda Track in 1988. He trained in the Kokoda Barracks (these days known as Canungra Warfare Centre). Some 20 years ago, he approached (then) Mayor (and now Councillor of Division 7) Gary Baildon to commission a memorial to the bloody battles which now have become major tourist attractions in Papua New Guinea. He traveled the country from Sydney to Melbourne, Perth and even to Japan to interview veterans of that era, including veterans of the Japanese Imperial Forces who, at the time, would have been the sworn enemies of the Australian Defence Force. In conjunction with the Australian and Papua New Guinea governments, Rotary and lots of volunteers, the hospital was built in 1995.
OK, he did so two years ago, but in view of him being our 'Captain' in the upcoming year, here it is again!
