We would like members to invite family, friends and colleagues to celebrate the wonderful 2017/18 Rotary Year and to welcome in the Year 2018/19. President Elect Jo Gorman has negotiated for us to get a sumptuous buffet with three hot and three salad dishes, plus home made cake, all at the same price of $60.00 per person we had at Seaworld the last couple of years.  Drinks will be cheaper too, at club member prices. Capacity is 80 people and we expect a big crowd so be sure to book early!! 

Every now and then, being a Rotarian - and in this case, being a Surfers Sunrise Rotarian - gives one some quite exclusive "insider" information about what is going on. Many members have "the pulse" of the town, but it is uncommon for the Guest Speaker to have such intimate access to "the pulse" as Inspector Bruce Kuhn. You see, Bruce was in charge of controlling the Aboriginal protests at the recently held Commonwealth Games.  So, how do you deal with a bunch of Aboriginal protesters who are unrelated to the 'Yugambeh' tribe, the local indigenous people on whose ancestral lands the games were held? In particular in view of the Yugambeh having no issues with the games and indeed were dead set against this mob muscling in on their turf?  How do you deal with a bunch of protesters, many of whom are not Aboriginals themselves (but very much look like "professionals protesters")? The reporters and cameramen of the local and international media were just waiting for an opportunity to have a decent bust-up. Anything to break the dull monotony of following a baton relay stretching not just for kilometres of flat ground, but also for hours of, in essence, repetitive spectacle of the same baton handover from one well deserving and often high profile individual to another?  

 

On the last day before the games started, our very own District Governor Darrell Brown was one of the Baton Bearers affected by this unauthorized protest which blocked Seaworld Drive. Your editor happened to be there too. My personal attitude to this sort of disruption is somewhat more teutonic and thus, in retrospect, I have nothing but great praise for the way the Police handled the issue in a way that indeed did NOT create the incident the sensationalist media were hoping for.  150 police personnel were on the ground. Their job was not just to maintain order, but to ensure that the Gold Coast would be projected as anything but violent.  As those of us who also watched the evening news (or were at the Opening Ceremony) would know, the mob still kept agitating in the evening too.  Bruce's team was right on the ball.  There were no real ugly scenes. I dips me lid!

 

So, what is the real story? Much regret to say, but you should have been there yourself.  Since Rotary is on principle not political and is far more determined to promote peace than conflict, the details of Bruce's presentation will not be reported in this bulletin. Suffice to say that, upon your Editor's question of who finances the 'Stolenwealth Games' organization (yes, it is an organization. It costs money to fly people in from as far as Perth), Bruce's answer produced the proverbial "sharp intake of breath" as writers of conspiracy novels would describe it. The organization is related to the highest levels of a major parliamentary party. Except that this is not fiction.

 

Last Sunday 3rd June, President Elect Jo Gorman led a team of Surfers Sunrise Rotarians to the District Training Assembly at Skennar's Head (Ballina).  Jo was joined by Rosie Rocco, Mark Twyford, Andy Bell, Richard Smith, Mitch Brown, Chris Thurtell, Paul Seymour and your editor.  As you can see, we were all enthralled by the spirited, motivational speeches to the congregation of current and future leaders in our District.

Mark Twyford also presented a lecture to incoming Club Secretaries.  Your editor attended a lecture given by PDG Michael Irwing designed for incoming Club Administration Committee Chairmen. OK, so we have Andy Bell again in the Sergeant's position (fasten your seatbelts!). We'll have a new position on the Roster: Fellowship Officer, and unless somebody else challenges me for the Bulletin Editor / Webmaster job...

Set for Wednesday 11th July: The Lutzy Award presentation, in conjunction with the Surfers Paradise SLSC.  We'll hold this at the Surfers Paradise SLSC Club (upstairs) on The Esplanade, Surfers Paradise. Usual time - meet 07:00 for 07:15 start. Breakfast will be served, $20.00 per person.

 

On the 18th July, we'll have a dinner meeting with partners and friends, and members of other clubs will join us too: so far, the RC of Burleigh Heads and the RC of Surfers Paradise have accepted our invitation, so there will be at least 90 people there! The event: Ray Higgs, in his capacity of District Chairman of the international Peace Fellowship, has organized for four of the current post graduate students to come down from the University of Queensland to give us a presentation on what they do, what they plan to do and how it will make a difference. 

 

The dinner will be at the Surfers Paradise RSL Club - just $22.00 per person which includes plate served dinner and coffee/tea, plus free parking for up to 3 hours at the Bruce Bishop Car Park across the road!  Cash Bar open right next to the dining room.