Greetings, fellow members, associate members and friends of Surfers Sunrise Rotary,
This week we especially acknowledge Ross Augustine on his award of the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) a truly well-deserved award.
Last Wednesday Surfers Sunrise had their casual fortnightly coffee morning which was well attended by members, and I was especially encouraged by the comradery and although casual the amount of good Rotary work and ideas offered. I encourage all Rotarians to attend this casual morning
Key dates to remember this month
Saturday 20th June 2026:Big Bike Sale at the Wheelchair Shed: We'll again have around 80 bikes to sell. They'll need to be moved out, tyres checked and we'll need some people at the check-out. Contact Geoff Croad or Ross Augustine directly, or reply to this email.
Sunday 12th July 2026: Surfers Sunrise Changeover Luncheon: Bookings are now open for our big annual event. Graeme Isaacson again organised to have it at the same superb venue, on the top floor of the TRYP by Wyndham Hotel in Southport. And, when everything else goes up, the price is the same as last year! Associate Members and their partners and guests are welcome! But you MUST book, no walk-ins please. Click on this link: https://www.trybooking.com/DMHNQ.
Our District changeover will be held on 28th June 2026 at 11.30am Currumbin RSL and encourage members to celebrate the day
Saturday 27th June 2026: Bunnings Sausage Sizzle - Nerang Store. Ross Augustine needs more helpers, particularly for the middle shift. Please contact Ross directly, or reply to this email and I'll forward it to him.
Surfers’ Sunrise golf day will be held this year on 26th October 2026 at Surfers Paradise Golf Club. Brochures are now available for any member looking to play on the day or supply sponsorship
Sen Constable Andrew Cheung-Fook is a local Police Officer who also works at the Police Citizens' Youth Club (PCYC), an organisation that our club closely works with and supports. Andrew's topic will be one that is dear to our hearts: Police, and specifically, their Public Safety Response Team.
In yesterday's King's Birthday Honours List, our Director of Fundraising and Director of Services was listed as a recipient of an OAM! Sorry people, this should have been posted yesterday. Our hearty congratulations, Ross. Proud to have you as a member of our Surfers Sunrise Rotary!
Howzat, having two OAM's in our membership in the same year (the other one is Rock O'Keefe, who received his in January)
Looking at his surname, you might expect that Paul has a European background, and you’d be right: he’s Flemish. For those unfamiliar with the Geography: about 40% are Dutch, and 60% are Belgian. Paul is the latter. So, what happened? Long story (very long story), but in a nutshell: of all places, he met his (Australian) wife over 40 years ago, in Kathmandu, Nepal. After decades in Europe, two years ago they returned to Australia.
They have two daughters, one living in Melbourne, the other in Antwerp. A Telecom Engineer by trade, in his spare time he enjoys bushwalking, sailing his 40-foot boat, cooking, and... reading Science Books. Stuff like ‘The Interaction of Light and Matter’, or the ‘History of Electromagnetism’. Or watching foreign language movies, such as ‘Vie Privee’ (Private Life, with Jodie Foster). Why? “They have subtitles,” he explained...
Among the wheelchair shed volunteers, he sometimes is designated as ‘P4’ – yes, we have multiple Pauls in our team. Good to have you on our Wheelchairs team, Paul!
(Picture: Just so you don’t get anxious about WH&S: I asked Paul to remove his safety goggles for the photo! We don’t operate grinders without them!)
Bookings are now open for our Changeover Luncheon, to be held on Sunday 12th July 2026. President Paul Seymour will hand the collar over to President Elect Mario Fairlie. Graeme Isaacson has again organised a sumptuous luncheon at the same premier venue we had it last year, the top floor of the TRYP by Wyndham Hotel in Southport. Pre-lunch drinks on arrival have been sponsored by our corporate member Kieser Bundall (Kane Chisholm) - thank you!
Bookings are now open - you MUST book - no walk-ins please. Bookings are open now. Click on this link https://www.trybooking.com/DMHNQ.
The date for our annual Golf Day has been set: Monday, 26th October. This is not only a day of lots of fun and serious competition for the trophies, but is also one of our major fundraising events. Are you a golfer? You can book as an individual, but why not organise your own team? Click on this link: https://www.trybooking.com/1577462
And, of course, we need raffle prizes! Download the brochure - see Download Section of both our website and bulletin.
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
<--- If it wasn't so serious, it would be funny...
Today, I saw a bird picking up a worm. It was 4 pm. Don’t ever tell me that I have to get up early! And what about the poor worm, who thought it would be safe to appear in the afternoon.
Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you look into an abyss, the abyss will also look into you.Friedrich Nietzsche, German Philosopher.
In yesterday's King's Birthday Honours List, our Director of Fundraising and Director of Services was listed as a recipient of an OAM! Sorry people, this should have been posted yesterday. Our hearty congratulations, Ross. Proud to have you as a member of our Surfers Sunrise Rotary!
Looking at his surname, you might expect that Paul has a European background, and you’d be right: he’s Flemish. For those unfamiliar with the Geography: about 40% are Dutch, and 60% are Belgian. Paul is the latter. So, what happened? Long story (very long story), but in a nutshell: of all places, he met his (Australian) wife over 40 years ago, in Kathmandu, Nepal. After decades in Europe, two years ago they returned to Australia.
The date for our annual Golf Day has been set: Monday, 26th October. This is not only a day of lots of fun and serious competition for the trophies, but is also one of our major fundraising events. Are you a golfer? You can book as an individual, but why not organise your own team? Click on this link: 
