Note to self: if you were able to believe in Santa Claus for 8 years, you can believe in yourself for a few seconds.... you got this! And with the silly season approaching fast we got a few more things to cover off before the year's close!
#1 - GC Ramble positions are available in abundance... Are you good with logistics? Maybe marketing? Sponsorship, admin, volunteer coordinator, OH&S or even a games team member? If you're can't help out on the day, join a team and participate... it'll be a whole lot of fun I promise!
#2 - Our Christmas breakfast on the 14th of December is at Bazaar, QT Hotel and boy, do they know how to put on a breakfast? Cost is $30 per head, family and friends of Rotary are welcome but bookings are essential! (Kudos to the programme team for snagging this place!)
#3 - Jokes about German sausages are the wurst... but jokes about onions, I never know whether to laugh or cry? But what I do know is our Xmas Sausage Sizzle is happening on the 18th... if you're not on the list you better get in quick!
And if that wasn't enough to wind out the year, this week we're talking about the naughty "R" word! [Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer? ☺] Wanna know more? You'll just have to be there to find out more!
Until then, be good, believe in yourself... 4 weeks til Christmas, you got this!
Tania Potts from Boomerang Bags is joining us today to talk us through this important Social Enterprise - why she established it, whom it helps and how we can get involved. Boomerang Bags is donating a carry bag to be attached to everyone of our wheelchairs we send overseas.
Bob Harrison was at the door, Ray Higgs was Chairman and Andy Bell was Sergeant.
We had apologies from Adrian Crowe, Doug Lipp, Chris Thurtell, Des La Rance and Tony Bird.
President Simon Brook welcomed all members and guests: Assistant Governor David Baguley (RC of Gold Coast), Rosie McIntyre brought her daughter Trinity along, whilst our 'go-between' person in Vanuatu, Chantal Clarke, came along with her daughter Nutty, and Simon's guest Kiel Sinclair, and of course our guest speaker, Bianca Topps. Simon advised that Outback Links had been postponed due to inclement weather and flooding out west. We have an interesting proposition: the Rotary Club of Warwick is hosting an incoming Youth Exchange student in 2017, but needs an outgoing student to balance the equation. Cost is approximately $1,500 - decision to be made at the next board meeting.
AG David Baguley gave a brief outline of the big fundraiser which we'll run in conjunction with his club, the Rotary Club of Gold Coast in March 2017: a Gold Coast Ramble Trial to take place on 23rd October. They need about 10 people from our club, with a total team of 30 required. Whilst this is coinciding with our Bunnings Sausage Sizzle, it should be possible to arrange some man power, perhaps some may have a 2 hour shift at Bunnings then a 2 hour shift at the ramble? In essence, the event is "a car rally on foot" [yes, you are permitted to make "brooooom broooom" noises whilst you walk the course... Ed.] There is a stack of more details about this great project on the Gold Coast Rotary web page: http://www.goldcoastrotary.org.au/.
Fundraising Director Tania Laird confirmed that the Bunnings Sausage Sizzle is on on 23rd October - contact Tania to get on the roster!
Wheelchair Trust Chairman Daryl Sanderson expressed his thanks to Neil Thurlow for providing signs for the van, to Barry Lea for assisting to pick up bikes, to Chantal Clarke who (re-)organized The Shed's First Aid Kit. And he received a phone call from a 88 year old gentleman who advised he had a load of waste steel to donate... Finally, Graham Bartlett of the Rotary Club of Gladstone has their local High School organized to build wheelchairs, ultimately destined for Sri Lanka.
Social Services Director Ray Higgs, highlighted the upcoming Social Events coming up this week: A movie night 'Sully' on Tuesday 27th September and on Friday 30th September, the Chinese Festival of Lights. Download details from the Download section on the right.
When I think about the subject of Organ Donations, the vision before my mind is an emergency operating theatre, a police motorcyclist transporting a donor's heart in an Esky (ok then, a sophisticated Esky) arriving within the required maximum allowed time of 4 hours... move to the final segment of a tired, yet smiling patient getting off his hospital bed... Whilst this is most certainly a very valid scenario: it goes way beyond the Police Motorcycle; in Queensland, the Donate Life organization has priority access to the Government's Air Wing, e.g. the Premier's aircraft! And, according the last figures available from the Qld Government website, as of December 2013, (sorry, looks like the current incumbents don't want you to know what their plane is being used for), 'Organ Transplant' made up over 20% of the jet's usage.
But it's not just the heart, kidneys, liver, lung, pancreas that can be "recycled". A lot of other tissue of your body, from intricate bits such as heart valves, to skin, bone and eye tissue can be re-used... And if you think that they are only interested in body parts from young persons (whatever the definition of "young" is): age is no issue! Bianca recounted a case a kidney donor 84 years of age! But what about if your view is "they can have my heart, liver and kidneys, but I don't want my body to end up in a spare parts catalogue of sorts. No problems, you can indeed stipulate which parts you want to donate upon your demise. And yes, you need to be formally declared brain dead; just being in a coma doesn't allow them to start snipping off any items that are no longer considered to be of much use to you...
However, "Donation is a rare event", Bianca stated. In 2015, nationally there were just a total of 435 donors. But there were a total of 1241 recipients who benefited!
Still, it is a complex issue indeed. You need to discuss it with your loved ones, and you need to do it when you are NOT in an emergency award, declared "brain dead". Very difficult to discuss your views with family members then. Interesting statistic: where a person has registered as a donor, consent rate is 91%. Where the donor has not registered and the family doesn't know, it is not even half, just 42%. There is a stack of stuff on their dedicated website http://www.donatelife.gov.au including a form to register, either online or by downloading a form and mailing it.
As foreshadowed in last week's bulletin, over the next few weeks we'll outline the major Youth programs which our club is involved in (and perhaps a couple which we have not yet been so far).
RYTS is a one-week residential camp for students who have just left school and are aged 17/18 years, and for Year 11 students who will be taking on leadership roles in their Year 12.
The focus on the program is the development of skills needed to make the transition from school into post-secondary education and employment. RYTS provides practical advice on topics such as renting, budgeting, goal setting, career choice and self-confidence.
Click on the Download section on the right hand side to get a comprehensive 2 page brochure 'What is RYTS'. Application forms are available on the left hand menu, and can be made online.
Well, at least Andy acknowledged that fining Simon Brook for the same thing week after week is booooooring... Tough! Still gotta pay up anyway! Mitch Brown has complained about having a sore neck. Hmmmm.... according to legend, Hobbits don't have necks...? Geoff Croad set his compass to 'West' and ended up in Paradise Point instead of Charleville... Gerald East and/or Franz Huber, I understand that one of you suggested that photo Franz took a couple of weeks ago, I look like Rolf Harris. Just in case you missed it: see left - what is your view?Mario Fairlie, what a combination: Armani top, sore legs... Ray Higgs, as the projector light shone on your baldness, it looked just a little bit like a halo... Tania Laird is renovating her kitchen. Normally this would take about 4 - 6 weeks. This has been going on since September 2015... Peter Morgan, welcome back! Paul Seymour, normally, coming second is not too bad a result, but not in Rugby! Rosie McIntyre, you are looking far too young to have a 10 year old daughter! Finally, Andy got a phone call from Larry Murray at the office: "Why aren't you here?" Larry wanted to know. He was one week early for the board meeting...
Jennifer Westacott, CEO Business Council of Australia
Don't think of organ donations as giving up part of yourself to keep a total stranger alive. It's really a total stranger giving up almost all of themselves to keep part of you alive. Author unknown.
You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.
Kahlil Gibran, from 'The Prophet' - On Giving [Not sure whether he had Organ Donation in mind when he wrote 'The Prophet' about 1923, but it fits, doesn't it? Ed.]
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Tania Potts from Boomerang Bags is joining us today to talk us through this important Social Enterprise - why she established it, whom it helps and how we can get involved. Boomerang Bags is donating a carry bag to be attached to everyone of our wheelchairs we send overseas.
When I think about the subject of Organ Donations, the vision before my mind is an emergency operating theatre, a police motorcyclist transporting a donor's heart in an Esky (ok then, a sophisticated Esky) arriving within the required maximum allowed time of 4 hours... move to the final segment of a tired, yet smiling patient getting off his hospital bed... Whilst this is most certainly a very valid scenario: it goes way beyond the Police Motorcycle; in Queensland, the Donate Life organization has priority access to the Government's Air Wing, e.g. the Premier's aircraft! And, according the last figures available from the .jpg)
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Well, at least Andy acknowledged that fining Simon Brook for the same thing week after week is booooooring... Tough! Still gotta pay up anyway! Mitch Brown has complained about having a sore neck. Hmmmm.... according to legend, Hobbits don't have necks...? Geoff Croad set his compass to 'West' and ended up in Paradise Point instead of Charleville... Gerald East and/or Franz Huber, I understand that one of you suggested that photo Franz took a couple of weeks ago, I look like Rolf Harris. 
Doing nothing does not mean nothing will happen. 