Greetings, fellow members, associate members and friends of Surfers Sunrise Rotary,
This past Saturday we celebrated Anzac Day in honour of our Australian and New Zealand service men and women both past and present. Lest we Forget.
Further to our board meeting last week, Mario Fairlie has officially been appointed as President Elect and thus will be our incoming President for the 2026-2027 Rotary Year. The appointment was ratified by a large majority of members in a VOM (Vote Outside Meeting), via email. The proposed change over will be held at Tryp on either July 7 or 14 July 2026 (more details to follow).
Key dates to remember this month:
Our Tri-nations Conference at Royal Pine, on 1st to 3rd May
Our District Changeover will be held on 28th June 2026 at 11.30am at Currumbin RSL and I encourage members to celebrate the day
A reminder that this Thursday 30th April we'll have our fortnightly social get togeter (always in the same week when we don't have a 'formal' meeting) at Benowa Tavern from 4.30pm. All are welcome
We have another Bunnings BBQ on 27th June 2026. Ross will forward roster list
Surfers Sunrise Golf Day will be held this year on 26th October 2026 at Surfers Paradise Golf Club
This coming Wednesday 29th April will be a social meeting at the Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club. Come along for a cuppa and/or breakfast. If possible, the meeting will be in the upstairs venue, if the weather is nice, on the balcony (otherwise on the ground floor, at the northern end). Lots of good banter and laughter, and - believe it - sometimes there are more club related matters discussed and solutions determined than on a formal meeting!
It’s not uncommon to listen to a politician’s talk and wish that there was an ‘Off’ button, or that you simply could change channels. And then there is Councillor Darren Taylor, who presented at Surfers Sunrise Rotary last Wednesday morning.
No doubt, he considers his principal job to look after his Division, an area that goes from from the Spit to Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, and West to parts of Bundall. Naturally, subjects included the controversial closure of the Esplanade “as a trial”. Could it be closed on weekends only? No, the closure needs to be permanent or not at all, due to infrastructure and budgetary issues. What about the Tram going to the Airport? “Like it or not: it’s ¾ completed”, he said. What about public transport in suburbs other than those on the coast? Car parking? The ‘A-line’ (a rockwall) stretching all along the coast to protect the foreshore from sand erosion every time we have a bit of a storm? The Trump Tower? Straight answers. One mightn’t necessarily like all the answers, but there was no BS. How refreshing!
When, after 30 minutes, we ran out of time, the questions kept coming anyway. So we invited him (and he accepted) to come back.. If you missed the meeting, or you didn’t get an opportunity to pose your questions: watch this spot. “I’ll be back”, he said.
(Photo: Darren Taylor (left) with our club’s Secretary, Trent Belling)
The sun was barely up when our volunteers started work this morning at the wheelchair shed. A container full of wheelchair components (wheels, tyres, solid tubes, castors and lots of other stuff), sufficient for about 400 wheelchairs, arrived from China. It needed to be unloaded quickly, the goods had to be transferred to one of the permanent containers. No rest for the wicked! There are more photos on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/wheelchairtrust .
This consignment was largely financed by our generous donors, many of whom donate on a regular monthly and even weekly basis. Thank you!
The Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) camp is designed for 20 - 30 year olds. This is an exciting and challenging training program which aims to equip leaders and potential leaders with the personal, leadership and citizenship skills required to succeed in all areas of their life. The program provides participants with an unforgettable experience in life, learning and laughter in a regional setting. It will be held at Camp Coby (north of Toowoomba), from 31st May to 6th June 2026. For frequently asked questions,click here.
In past years, our club has sponsored numerous participants in this program. Do you know of a young person who could benefit from leadership training? Click on the above link for more details, or contact Youth Services Director Mitch Brown directly - our club might just sponsor your candidate!
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
Nay, but his spirit lives; be very sure. Year follows year, and earthly things depart; But what he, dying, gave us shall endure Now and for ever in the nation’s heart. Now and for ever; tho’ the flesh be gone, Still shall that Spirit bid us, “Carry on!”
CJ Dennis - 'Anzac'. Click here to read the full poem
It’s not uncommon to listen to a politician’s talk and wish that there was an ‘Off’ button, or that you simply could change channels. And then there is Councillor Darren Taylor, who presented at Surfers Sunrise Rotary last Wednesday morning.
The sun was barely up when our volunteers started work this morning at the wheelchair shed. A container full of wheelchair components (wheels, tyres, solid tubes, castors and lots of other stuff), sufficient for about 400 wheelchairs, arrived from China. It needed to be unloaded quickly, the goods had to be transferred to one of the permanent containers. No rest for the wicked! There are more photos on our Facebook page 
