Greetings, fellow members, associate members and friends of Surfers Sunrise Rotary,
I am writing this on behalf of President Paul, who advised that he has trouble to get his computer to connect to the Internet. Ah... the wonders of modern technology!
This is the last week of Rotary’s “Foundation Month”, in celebration of one of the greatest charities in the world, our charity, The Rotary Foundation. It is one of the very few major world charities that is awarded a 4-star, 100% efficiency rating by Charity Navigator. This is not only because it is really well managed and produces results, but also because its overheads are almost laughably low. Why? Almost all the work, other than at head office, is done by unpaid volunteers! Our club’s Foundation Director, Dottore Elisabetta, has written a brief article with some links included (see below). Please DO spend 5 minutes and watch the video and the slides. Yes, it will make you proud to be a Rotarian.
As this newsletter is published at its usual time – early Monday morning – Doug Lipp, Charles Thomasson and Ross Augustine will be gearing up for our annual Surfers Sunrise Golf Day at the Surfers Paradise Golf Club. If you haven’t already put your name down, go there anyway – they will certainly need some more helpers on the day. Check out tomorrow’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/rcsurferssunrise for some photos and results (hopefully, somebody will take some, as I’m interstate at present).
The originally booked speaker for this Wednesday’s meeting at the TRYP Hotel is unable to make it due to health reasons. As it happens, a young lady from Argentina, on a working holiday visa on the Gold Coast, will jump into the breach and tell us about her homeland and her father’s involvement with his Rotary club. Make her welcome!
Regrettably, the originally assigned speaker had to cancel, due to illness. So...
This week's speaker will be Melanie De Luca, from Argenina, who is currently travelling in Australia on a Holiday Working Visa. We understand that her father is quite involved in Rotary in her home country, so she has agreed, at very short notice, pick up the bat and tell us all about her country and Rotary there.
The meeting will be held at the TRYP by Windham Hotel, 59 Meron Street, Southport.
Particularly younger people may not even know what Polio is, and certainly have never seen a person suffering from it. It is an illness that severely affects children - in German, it's called 'Kinderlähmung' - Children's Paralysis.
It's caused by a virus, it is incurable, but it can be vaccinated against. Up to 1986, almost every country in the world except "developed" nations (but including France, Denmark, Germany and Spain) had it. Some 350,000 children were suffering. Then, Rotary embarked on one of the most audacious programs ever undertaken in the world: the eradication of Polio. Just as Smallpox had been eliminated before. Today, it occurs endemically in just two countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan. And until these are Polio free, we need to keep on keeping on.
Do yourself a favour and view the video and the slides of the link below. It will take just 5 minutes, and it will make you proud to be a Rotarian.
Our Fundraising Director Ross Augustine advises that last Saturday's Bunnings Sausage Sizzle produced new record sales! A big thank you to all the helpers on the day: Kane Chisholm, Ralph Pownall, Bevan Sim, Ross Augustine, Gerald East, Maria Fairlie, Fred Hamblen, Nemours Carver, Darrell Brown, Gus Miller, Rob Thomasson and Neil Thurlow. A special big Thank you! goes to Nemours Carver, an Associate Member, who jumped into the breach at the last minute to help. "We couldn't have coped on the midday shift without him" Ross stated.
The Innerwheel Club of Gold Coast North has booked 20 seats for the Sunday Matinee of Oklahoma. This show is sold out, so this isfor the members and associate members of Surfers Sunrise Rotary and their guests only. There is no other way to obtain tickets for the matinee. First come first served! Note: If there are any tickets left by Friday 7th November, we'll go public, e.g. advertise it on our website and Facebook pages.
The show starts at 2:00 pm, but we'll organise to go to lunch beforehand (optional though). Organiser Adrian Crowe asks for bookings to be prepaid no later than Monday 3rd November. Cost per person: $35.00 - payment either in cash to Adrian Crowe, Franz Huber, or pay direct deposit to our club's bank account.
You can register (but not pay) online on our club’s website www.rotarysurferssunrise.org - Click on Events, scroll down and select this event from the list and register for yourself as well as for your guests.
Mario advised this morning that the Christmas Cakes have arrived. And they ARE delectable - traditional rich Rum and Brandy recipe, 50% fruit, not too sweet, moist... They are available packaged either in a cake tin (so it stays moist if you don't want to eat it all at once) - $25.00, as well as packaged in a carton - $22.00.
So, first come, first served. Contact Mario directly. Payment can be made in either cash or card (via Treasurer Charles Thomasson) Net proceeds go towards The Rotary Foundation.
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
In view of Halloween starting shortly, I decided not to wipe down the spider webs. They look like very genuine decorations!
It is a joy to be hidden, and a disaster not to be found.Donald Winnicott, English Pediatrician 1896 - 1971
Whilst hanging up the decorations, my father fell off the ladder (again). He confessed, that this actually is his step ladder, and admitted that regrettably, he never knew his real ladder... [OK, I'll see myself out]
Our Fundraising Director Ross Augustine advises that last Saturday's Bunnings Sausage Sizzle produced new record sales! A big thank you to all the helpers on the day: Kane Chisholm, Ralph Pownall, Bevan Sim, Ross Augustine, Gerald East, Maria Fairlie, Fred Hamblen, Nemours Carver, Darrell Brown, Gus Miller, Rob Thomasson and Neil Thurlow. A special big Thank you! goes to 
Our Christmas Breakfast is set for Wednesday 17th December 2025. Our convenor Graeme Isaacson will advise details shortly. Put it into your diary now!
Mario advised this morning that the Christmas Cakes have arrived. And they ARE delectable - traditional rich Rum and Brandy recipe, 50% fruit, not too sweet, moist... They are available packaged either in a cake tin (so it stays moist if you don't want to eat it all at once) - $25.00, as well as packaged in a carton - $22.00. 
