There is no such thing as bad weather.... just soft people!!! A weekend of supposedly raining and miserable weather turned out to be blue skies and fluffy clouds! Sure, the Suns didn't win, nor did the Titans, nor did Dan Ricciardo for that matter but the inaugural Gold Coast Ramble did win...! We had a great turn out of participants, volunteers and spectators for what was a extremely entertaining day... who would have thought even the locals and tourists would get involved! To all those who took part in one way or another, your efforts and time are greatly appreciated... thank you. We maybe onto something that has a lot of potential for future years to come! (And to those who witnessed my amazing impersonation of an 80's elite athlete, I apologise... but I can give you the number for my hairdresser and stylist 😜). [See photo in separate article below. Note: you may want to get your sunglasses before proceeding. ☺ Ed.]
Onto the next big thing.... the Flat Pack School for the Samoa Victims Support Group is in full swing now and we are in the final push to raise the last lousy thousand needed. The collegiate of Schools headed up by Helensvale High have already done a mammoth effort in raising over $30k! Surfers Sunrise have been working overtime to bring this all together and we are nearly there... so if you wanna help out with fundraising, grab a book of tickets! If you wanna help out with the build itself, be in Samoa during the September holidays (we do have more specific details!) or if you wanna be involved in any other way shape or form please let us know... to save and improve the lives of so many is at the heart and soul of what Rotary is all about!
...as the first quarter siren goes off for the year, next week is April! Time sure does fly when you're having fun... see you all on Wednesday!
New Year's Resolution: I'm giving up booze. OK, I'll start exercise Too hard. OK, no more fatty Take-Away. Yeah, Right. Groan, and it's only the second week of the year!
Here is a New Year's resolution you won't have any problem to keep:
Find and introduce a new member to our club
It's easy to promote our club! Due to the heavy work by relatively few, our Wheelchairs and Schools projects are internationally popular and have won multiple Awards - the most recent one being the 2016 Public Relations - Single Event award for the TV exposure Chairman Daryl Sanderson organized. But we have numerous other things to brag about, not least our continued involvement in Youth, with regular awardees to the major events of RYLA, RYTS, RYPEN and International Youth Exchange (YE), with our club's District YE chief Chris Thurtell and Youth Service Director Tania Laird pulling strings in the background. And our Darrell Brown is incoming District Governor. So, what else do you need to brag about?
So, make it YOUR resolution: identify three friends / business partners / customers / suppliers / fellow members of another regular circle you are in / professionals (yes, your doctor, dentist, accountant, solicitor.... you get the drift. Invite them to come along to a meeting. There isn't a better one coming up than the 25th January, when our Program Chief Jo Gorman has arranged for the Gold Coast Police Commissioner Brian Codd to be our guest speaker.
This year, we "borrowed" a Youth Exchange candidate from the Warwick Rotary Club. His name is Kieran Power, an all-round high achiever. Not only academically, he also plays the lead in school musicals, plays the guitar and a whole swag of other things. You can download an essay he wrote - see Download page on the right. Below is a photo published by his school 'The School of Total Education'. You can read the entire article at this link: http://www.sote.qld.edu.au/latest-news/rotary-exchange-to-Germany
At the beginning of the year, President Simon presented a very concise document on our club's goals for the year. It is in the Download Section to your right. C'mon! Download it again, have another look at it! Then think about it. Some may be out of your reach. But at least, Membership is very much the responsibility of all of us. When did you last time ask somebody to check out Surfers Sunrise?
With great sadness, we have to report that Tony Bird has passed away on Thursday, 15th December 2017.
The funeral was held on Thursday 22nd December 2016. Our deepest sympathy and condolences go to Tony's family.
The songs of the waves and the hymns of the streams
Are scattered, and the voices of the throngs reduced to silence;
And I can hear naught but the music of Eternity
In exact harmony with the spirit's desires.
I am cloaked in full whiteness;
I am in comfort; I am in peace.
OK, Christmas is over and so are the New Year celebrations. But, since no bulletin was published since, it still is much worthwhile to show a couple of pictures provided by Larry Murray from the annual party at The Shed, . Above left: 'The Three Amigos', from left: Wheelchair Trust Chairman Daryl Sanderson, Trust Treasurer Bob Harrison and Des La Rance, the overall acknowledged 'Chief Guru', whose design and project management skills are not just limited to the wheelchairs but also to the various schools and houses that were erected in Thailand, East Timor, Vanuatu and Samoa.
By the look of the almost formal table setting, they could apply for a position in hospitality any time..! ☺
New Year's Resolution: I'm 
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The songs of the waves and the hymns of the streams
OK, Christmas is over and so are the New Year celebrations. But, since no bulletin was published since, it still is much worthwhile to show a couple of pictures provided by Larry Murray from the annual party at The Shed, . Above left: 'The Three Amigos', from left: Wheelchair Trust Chairman Daryl Sanderson, Trust Treasurer Bob Harrison and Des La Rance, the overall acknowledged 'Chief Guru', whose design and project management skills are not just limited to the wheelchairs but also to the various schools and houses that were erected in Thailand, East Timor, Vanuatu and Samoa. 
My New Year's Resolutions are