 When I joined Rotary well over 30 years ago (yes, I had more hair then…), there used to be just four principal ‘Avenues of Service: Club Service, Vocational Service, Community Service and International Service. Later on, Youth Service was assigned Number 5. January has been designated by Rotary International as Vocational Service Month. Admittedly, Surfers Sunrise Rotary gives overwhelming emphasis on International Service (think Wheelchair Project and various building projects such as the current Vanuatu X-Ray Unit) and Youth Service (RYTS, RYPEN, RYLA, Lutzy Award, National Youth Science Forum etc). Consequently, in our club Vocational Service is just quietly bubbling along. Yet, no aspect of Rotary is more closely related to individual Rotarians. When we join Rotary, we are assigned a vocational classification. We make a commitment to represent our vocation, our profession, with high ethical standards. We commit to offering guidance and mentoring services to youth. We pledge to be the very example of good work and professionalism when dealing with clients, suppliers and fellow workers. In the “good ol days”, vocations were relatively simple and straightforward, as in Butcher, Baker and Candlestick Maker. Most people had the same vocation all their working life. Today, it is not uncommon for careers to change multiple times. And if they don’t change in name, they certainly change in the way things are done: just think of an engineer or architect: There isn’t much plan drafting by hand anymore, eh..? Yet, the concept remains the same: Vocational Service is the banner by which Rotarians "recognize the worthiness of all useful occupations" and demonstrate a commitment to "high ethical standards in all businesses and professions." |
Occasionally, we receive a bike at the Wheelchair Shed which is in good condition and can be restored perfectly. It is then donated to a worthy cause. Such an opportunity arose when Tanya Twyford, who heads a division within Wesley Mission, needed a lucky door prize for a Christmas Barbeque recently held at Macintosh Island in Surfers Paradise. Our "Wheelchair Foreman" Brian Tuesley and Dom Chant, who regularly volunteers at our shed, presented the bike. Well done, fellows!
Last Wednesday, our members and partners enjoyed a delicious Christmas breakfast at the Sunset Bar of the Marina Mirage in Main Beach. 
We have all seen Ross Augustine displaying his intricately inlaid coffee tables, which he makes from discarded furniture, packing cases and pallets (picture right shows him taking one apart). I decided to start at a basic level and converted an old bookshelf into a pallet (picture left). Not bad, eh? 
