Another week flies by and it seems only yesterday I wrote the last message. I have worked out why time goes faster as we get older. When you are 10, a year is a 10% of your life. When you are 50, a year is just 2%. If my maths is correct – a year at 50 lasts only 2.4 months in comparison with your ten year old self.
“Someday", you said you'd do it yesterday; Yesterday, you said you'll do it today. Today, if you push it to tomorrow, it's likely tomorrow, you'll shift it to "Someday"! Do it now!”
I’ll leave it there safe to say – if we want to get things done .. we’d better get on with it.
On that note, thanks so much to everyone in the room last week for offering their help on our re-cycle project. At the weekend, I saw the bikes that the guys have been saving for our Xmas Wheel Out and there’s enough to raise a good $15k at least. We’’ll confirm dates at the next meeting but thinking the 2nd or 3rd week in November for our open day. The boys at the Project Shed are very excited about this. Here are some thoughts and jobs that need doing:-
Clean up the bikes and do inventory
Price tagging / price points
EFTPOS machine/cash collection
Signage
Promotion on Community radio, FB and Insta, promotion to local schools and community groups
Clean up of the Shed so we can do tours for people who want to look around
Local radio broadcasting from Project Shed
Sausage Sizzle
I’ll put together a working party but if you have any other thoughts or contacts that we can leverage – now is the time as it will come round super quickly. This will be a great pilot and perhaps we could do this twice a year as the annual fundraiser we have all talked about.
Thanks to Mark and Tanya, Franz and Tony Winwood (goods outwards) for giving up Saturday morning to take the paraphernalia from the Surf Club to the Shed for temporary storage and also to Des (good inwards) for helping us find a home for them. Many of the items are superfluous now but they have been such a part of Club history, we felt better to store them there short term than discard them (slow wheels of change).
DG Terry Brown has alerted us to a story you might be keen to see that relates to a possible future Rotary project, using the teachings of Peter Andrews who developed the Natural Sequence Farming to address farming in drought stricken areas solving erosion and salinity problems as well as fertility to the soil. It features on “Australian Story on ABC TV at 8pm on Monday 1st October, 2018. Should be a good watch. Gotta love a good solution!
That’s about all from me - See you all Wednesday for a casual breakfast at Espresso Bonsai (see details below).
This coming Wednesday, 26th September, we'll have an informal breakfast meeting at Espresso Bonsai, 66 Thomas Drive, Chevron Island. See map below. Plenty of parking at the rear of the building, enter from Anembo Street. Recommended by various people, including President Jo, for their excellent coffee. See you there!
A few weeks ago, Julius presented us with a very entertaining, yet serious talk about his near death experience when he suffered a heart attack whilst competing in a Surf Boat race and his subsequent development and production of 'Super Lifesaver', a board game, specifically designed to teach children the principles of beach safety and resuscitation. Last Wednesday, Julius agreed to jump in at short notice, due to our scheduled speaker being unexpectedly unavailable. And again, Julius entertained us with his experiences of competing with a huge number of different Surf Clubs in his specialty of Surf Boat Racing. Opening with a video 'Surf Boat Carnage' - see picture above, titled 'Novice Rower' (click here to view it), he demonstrated the perils competitors face. [Perils? Let me call it Mayhem!] "And they call that fun? What's wrong with kids these days?!?" Julius joked. He had started competing at the tender age of 16. As a member of the Torquay club, on the famous Bell's Beach on Victoria's south west coast, his team won a State title. For the next 50 years, Julius kept competing all over Australia, in later years in the Masters categories (aged 44+); numerous times in the national titles. In 1999, competing with the Kurrawa Surf Club on the Gold Coast, the World Titles were fought on Manly Beach (it is unknown whether Tony Abbott was there too... ☺). Of particular significance was that in that year, his daughter Kate competed and won the IRB Rescue Race championship and was inducted into the Hall of Fame for winning multiple world titles.
As is by now customary with Julius' presentations, question time went way over time. "Do Surf Boat racers suffer back injuries?" was one question: "Not just back!" replied Julius. "The rear-most position in the boat is also called the "Nutcracker" seat... ☺"
Your editor just happened to be at the Project Shed last Saturday morning - as Wheelchair Trust Chairman Daryl Sanderson jokingly commented, "just in time for coffee, as usual..." [ok, their freshly brewed coffee is very drinkable, thank you! Ed.]. Daryl was bringing his team of about 20 volunteers up to date on what's happening. Did you know that Gladstone Rotary, a very frequent supporter of our Wheelchairs Project, actually consists of seven (7) clubs, not just one? They will send us some photos about their wheelchair work on a 'Message Stick' (no, not indigenous, rather a USB Flash Drive).
Last week, the Beenleigh Police turned up. Not to arrest Daryl, but to bring him three bikes in good condition for re-deployment. Note, the change of attitude: in the olden days, the Police would advise to 'come and pick them up'. These days, they bring them in!
There are signs that we have a homeless person camping out near the shed. Daryl will put out a couple of blankets - whoever it is, he/she might be grateful. Community Service at its most basic format. Almost as good as Saint Martin of Tourswho cut his coat in halfto give it to a beggar in the middle of winter? [No, you won't be nominated just yet! Ed.]
And Les Williams, a long term volunteer at the shed and officially known as 'Mum' (he takes care of getting the coffee and cakes ready), is celebrating his 80th birthday this coming Wednesday. Congratulations, Les!
Des La Rance was at the door, Paul Seymour was Chairman - we didn't have a Sergeant's session.
Is it holiday season? Must be! We had apologies from Rosie Rocco, Andy Bell, Gerald East, Tania Laird, Darrell Brown, Geoff Croad, Al Sirovs, Fred Hamblen, Bob Harrison, Daryl Sanderson, Chris Thurtell, Ian Mayberry,,, (did I get all of them?) Des La Rance brought us up to date on Bob Harrison's health: he will come out of hospital next week.
President Joanne Winwood welcomed all members, our (soon to be inducted as a member) John Chiuri and our guest speaker Julius Czerny.
Following Julius' presentation (see separate report), Joanne referred to the intended "brand refresh" our our club's logo and paraphernalia. The aim is to make us look more contemporary. Simon Brook is in the process of coming up with some suitable designs.
Mark Twyford briefly reported on his recent attendance at the Zone Conference in Hobart - watch out for a full presentation in the next few weeks. Des La Rance outlined the concept of the "Trishaw", designed to transport elderly people on a "bike" outing. Franz Huber advised that he has sought advice from the Gold Coast City Council to ascertain that indeed these vehicles would be permitted on their beach front bikeways (no reply so far). Angus Miller announced that he'll organize a 'Guess who's coming to Dinner?' - originally intended for mid October, will now be postponed to November due to the Gold Coast 600 car race being on in October. Watch this space for details. Ray Higgs will confirm with Trevor Hendy that he'll be our guest speaker - we are planning to have a closer cooperation with the Surfers Paradise SLSC in relation to our Youth programs.
Des La Rance advised that we have again received a load of bicycles, some in very good condition, from the Gold Coast Police (unclaimed property). A working bee will soon be held to prepare a 'Bicycles for Sale' Garage Sale at the project shed. Calling for volunteers, just about all the members present confirmed their willingness to attend - look out for specific dates!
Duty Roster - note: subject to change. Please check every week:
New duty: Fellowship. What does it entail? Your job is to ensure that all members, in particular new members, visitors and guests, and in particular the Guest Speaker, are welcomed, are introduced to other members and are comfortable. If required, explain the usual procedures, e.g. when we have our meal, when the speaker is expected to be at the rostrum etc.
A few weeks ago, Julius presented us with a very entertaining, yet serious talk about his near death experience when he suffered a heart attack whilst competing in a Surf Boat race and his subsequent development and production of 'Super Lifesaver', a board game, specifically designed to teach children the principles of beach safety and resuscitation. Last Wednesday, Julius agreed to jump in at short notice, due to our scheduled speaker being unexpectedly unavailable. And again, Julius entertained us with his experiences of competing with a huge number of different Surf Clubs in his specialty of Surf Boat Racing. Opening with a video 'Surf Boat Carnage' - see picture above, titled 'Novice Rower' (.jpg)
Your editor just happened to be at the Project Shed last Saturday morning - as Wheelchair Trust Chairman Daryl Sanderson jokingly commented, "just in time for coffee, as usual..." 
Spring Season in Melbourne: when the magpies swoop. Then fly high...