Greetings, fellow members, associate members and friends of Surfers Sunrise Rotary,
Last week Christine O`Connor gave a very interesting and informative presentation of the Rotarian behind the Badge on her early childhood, living in lighthouses, covered more fully in the segment below.
We are currently looking at the Christmas end of year function on 17th December as a breakfast. Final details of venue and date will be forwarded shortly.
Saturday saw another visit to the shed:
The shed noow opens on Monday mornings and although at this stage the numbers are small, they are growing each week
This Monday morning we have visitors from the Rotary Friendship Exchange Team from Arizona who will be visiting the shed for morning tea
It was good to see Rock with his friend, Thelma, from Spain as well as our regulars, Geoff, Mario and Ross. I encourage members to visit the shed and meet everyone and get to know how our signature project functions
It was good seeing the outside deck is finished and has helped enormously
Remember, don’t put off till tomorrow what can be done today.
Yes, this coming Wednesday 22nd October will be a social meeting. While, during the Surf Club's renovations, our 'formal' meetings are held at the TRYP Hotel in Southport, on alternate weeks we'll continue to meet socially at the Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club. Come along for a cuppa and/or breakfast. The meeting will be in the upstairs venue, if the weather is nice, on the balcony. 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!
One of my favourite quotes about our organisation is by Sir Clem Renouf, the first Australian Rotary International President: “Rotary takes ordinary men and gives them extraordinary opportunities to do more with their lives than they ever dreamed possible”. Well, allow me to mangle that and say “Rotary allows ordinary men (and women) to meet people who have done more with their lives than you ever dreamed possible.”
This morning, Christine O’Connor (picture right), who recently transferred to Surfers Sunrise from another club, presented her ‘Rotarian behind the Badge’ talk. “I am a lighthouse keeper’s daughter!” she proudly declared. The uncommonness of such a childhood only became clear as she outlined, in the clear and concise manner of a former University Professor, some of the difficulties of daily life when one is stuck in a lighthouse, for obvious reasons deliberately built in a location of extreme exposure to the weather. All up, her upbringing occurred in four locations on the eastern coast of Victoria, from Gabo Island, to Wilsons Promontory, to Cape Everard and Cape Otway. Gabo Island? How did you get there? From the Mallacoota bar... the trawler was often in poor condition... going through the bar, we lost a rudder once... had a fire, ran aground... And talking about the need to be self-sufficient: No electricity.
Home schooling. Eventually, at Cape Otway, a 45 minute trip by bus to the school. Yet that did not stop Christine to have a career as a highly recognised Psychologist and Academic for over 35 years. Visiting Professor at Washington State Uni, working in Paris, Bordeaux, Vienna, Norway.
There was almost no time to talk about her passion: ‘The Arts’. Yes, that's a very broad subject, and certainly the remaining 7 minutes were nowhere near adequate. So we’ll have to have you back, Christine! You can download Christine’s PowerPoint (in PDF format) with lots of great pictures – go the the Download Section on the right.
Not all our volunteers are elderly gentlemen: Additional to the two young women, Claire and Emma we introduced recently, Hunter decidedly belongs to the ‘young ones’ group!. Born and raised in the Tweed region, after High School (yes, not very long ago!) she commenced a traineeship as an Administration Assistant with a construction company. Her long time career path, however, is in the direction of Engineering. She plans to commence Uni in July 2026. “Civil or Mechanical?” I asked. “Not sure yet” she replied, “I’d like to work with anything relating to the environment”. Why not study Environmental Science? "That's what I'm doing - I'm aiming for a double degree..." And she still has time to volunteer. Howzat??
Any hobbies? Yes, reading classic books! Wow... Music? “Alternative Psychedelic Rock” is her answer. Ocean Alley. No, I didn’t know them either... just click on the link. [Hint: if you like Pink Floyd (my generation), you’ll love it. Ed.] Or Rhythm & Blues – Ah, I know that! 😊 Here is a link to one of her favourite bands of that genre: The Dip.
Welcome to the Surfers Sunrise Wheelchairs Team, Hunter!
Our annual Golf Day will be held at the Surfers Paradise Golf Club on Fairway Drive, Clear Island Waters 4217. Download the brochure (Download Files on the right). We need players, Raffle Prizes, helpers on the day. We need players (both corporate and individual), raffle prizes, helpers on the day. To play: Book online https://www.trybooking.com/DDEDP or scan the QR Code
Mario advised this morning that the Christmas Cakes have arrived. And they ARE delectable - traditional rich Rum and Brandy recipe, 50% fruit, not too sweet, moist... They are available packaged either in a cake tin (so it stays moist if you don't want to eat it all at once) - $25.00, as well as packaged in a carton - $22.00.
So, first come, first served. Contact Mario directly. Payment can be made in either cash or card (via Treasurer Charles Thomasson) Net proceeds go towards The Rotary Foundation.
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
One of my favourite quotes about our organisation is by Sir Clem Renouf, the first Australian Rotary International President: “Rotary takes ordinary men and gives them extraordinary opportunities to do more with their lives than they ever dreamed possible”. Well, allow me to mangle that and say “Rotary allows ordinary men (and women) to meet people who have done more with their lives than you ever dreamed possible.” 
who recently transferred to Surfers Sunrise from another club, presented her ‘Rotarian behind the Badge’ talk. “I am a lighthouse keeper’s daughter!” she proudly declared. The uncommonness of such a childhood only became clear as she outlined, in the clear and concise manner of a former University Professor, some of the difficulties of daily life when one is stuck in a lighthouse, for obvious reasons deliberately built in a location of extreme exposure to the weather. All up, her upbringing occurred in four locations on the eastern coast of Victoria, from Gabo Island, to Wilsons Promontory, to Cape Everard and Cape Otway. Gabo Island? How did you get there? From the Mallacoota bar... the trawler was often in poor condition... going through the bar, we lost a rudder once... had a fire, ran aground... And talking about the need to be self-sufficient: 
Not all our volunteers are elderly gentlemen: Additional to the two young women, Claire and Emma we introduced recently, Hunter decidedly belongs to the ‘young ones’ group!. Born and raised in the Tweed region, after High School (yes, not very long ago!) she commenced a traineeship as an Administration Assistant with a construction company. Her long time career path, however, is in the direction of Engineering. She plans to commence Uni in July 2026. “Civil or Mechanical?” I asked. “Not sure yet” she replied, “I’d like to work with anything relating to the environment”. Why not study Environmental Science? "That's what I'm doing - I'm aiming for a double degree..." And she still has time to volunteer. Howzat??
Our annual Golf Day will be held at the Surfers Paradise Golf Club on Fairway Drive, Clear Island Waters 4217. Download the brochure (Download Files on the right). We need players, Raffle Prizes, helpers on the day. We need players (both corporate and individual), raffle prizes, helpers on the day. 
Mario advised this morning that the Christmas Cakes have arrived. And they ARE delectable - traditional rich Rum and Brandy recipe, 50% fruit, not too sweet, moist... They are available packaged either in a cake tin (so it stays moist if you don't want to eat it all at once) - $25.00, as well as packaged in a carton - $22.00. 
