Greetings, fellow members, associate members and friends of Surfers Sunrise Rotary,
A reminder that although there are renovations taking place at the Surf Club the Lutzy Awards will remain at the Surf Club on the 6 August 2025. The shout out this week goes to Geoff Croad for all his efforts in finalising the container on site and all the effort of the Volunteers and Rotary Members in loading over 300 wheelchair boxes on Saturday morning for onward transportation to South Africa later in the month. A special thanks goes to Kane Chisholm from Kieser Bundall, who assisted with the bike pick up. We still require more Rotarians to help the Volunteers to pick up bicycles.
We are aware of the new 7 am – 7 pm paid parking restrictions near the Surf Club, but we are working with the City Council to see if we can get members’ free parking on Wednesdays up to 9:00 am. As yet, we have not had a response to our request. We will keep you up to date.
Good rollup at the Benowa Tavern last Thursday with plenty of banter and discussions. On a personal note, I’m getting my right knee replaced on the 6th, but will hopefully be back in action as soon as possible. PP Andy has offered to stand in in my absence.
Remember, don’t put off till tomorrow what can be done today.
Make sure you'll be there: One of our biggest events of the year: the presentation of the Lutzy Award. This is our 10th time we present this award to an "emerging leader", (though not necessarily the best surfer, but of course can be). The award includes a fully fledged surf ski, appropriately signwritten. It is presented in memory of Keith Lutz, who was one of our members and also a leading personality in the Surf Life Saving movement. The recipient is determined by the Surfers Paradise SLSC.
Bookings for the sit-down breakfast have now been closed, but if you haven't ordered, you are still welcome to join the celebrations.
Sometimes, it's plain hard yakka at the Wheelchair Project Shed! We had a working bee to load a 40-foot container with approximately 300 wheelchairs, destined for South Africa. Several of our Rotarians came over to help, with a number of the volunteers putting their muscles and backs into it as well. By morning tea, it was all done. But meanwhile, inside the shed, "the show goes on": grinding, sand blasting, running a bandsaw and a router around the plywood boards, applying heat to donated moulded chairs so they fit, clamping bikes that potentially can be refurbished for sale on and ultimately dealing with prospective customers.
All rewarded by half an hour of great fellowship with Lionel's traditionally brewed coffee, tea, biscuits and cakes (picture). There are over 20 photos on our Facebook page of real work being done. Click on this link: https://www.facebook.com/wheelchairtrust/
Emma, like Claire Forster (see previous story), is undoubtedly reducing our volunteers’ average age considerably – good on you for joining our Wheelchair Team! She immigrated from the US of A (New Jersey) and holds a Permanent Resident visa, intending to apply for full Australian citizenship. By profession, she is a qualified Occupational Therapist. Along with her highly qualified and experienced therapists, she is working full time for NHPA (National Health Professionals Alliance), which, according to their website, is “a group of collaborative professionals aiming to provide holistic care to our patients”.
So, what motivates a young woman to come and help us make wheelchairs? “I’m an artist” she replied, “I like to work with my hands to create something new from something old, and I love giving back to the community and contributing in a way that makes the world more accessible to others.” Well... that’s different! Inspiration? Is there a sculpture in it for the ‘Bleach’ festival? Indeed, art is what she does in her remaining spare time: she paints pictures. Monet is one of her guiding styles (see picture of one of her works on our Facebook page). What else? “I hike” (Australian term: Bushwalking), I surf, and I listen to music, such as Fleetwood Mac or classical piano. In the not too distant future, Emma will finalise the establishment of a therapeutic group ‘The Worth Collective’. Watch out for the website – it is close to going live.
Visit our Facebook pages to view a sample of one of her paintings.
Do you have a current Class C drivers license, and are reasonably fit for your age? At our Wheelchair Project factory, we need people to assist in the collection of discarded bicycles from various places on the Gold Coast. We do have a ute and a large trailer (by the way, a large trailer is much easier to reverse than a small one - training provided if you have never done it) - we just need somebody to drive it and/or help with loading and unloading the bikes. The shed operates every Wednesday and Saturday morning (either or both - no specific commitment required, and you still will have time to come to our meetings. However, alternative days could be arranged.
Interested? Contact our Wheelchair Trust Chair Geoff Croad directly (click here to email, or call him on his mobile).
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
New ladies' competition category: Ironboard. Note: no need to shoot. I've seen myself out already... ☺
At the rate we are going, they are going to cancel shampoo, so bald people don't get offended.
When you are twenty, you care what everybody thinks. When you’re forty, you stop caring what everyone thinks. When you are sixty, you realise that nobody was ever thinking about you in the first place.Winston Churchill.
I went to McDonalds today and ate a kid’s meal. His mom was furious.
Make sure you'll be there: One of our biggest events of the year: the presentation of the Lutzy Award. This is our 10th time we present this award to an "emerging leader", (though not necessarily the best surfer, but of course can be). The award includes a fully fledged surf ski, appropriately signwritten. It is presented in memory of Keith Lutz, who was one of our members and also a leading personality in the Surf Life Saving movement. The recipient is determined by the Surfers Paradise SLSC.
Sometimes, it's plain hard yakka at the Wheelchair Project Shed! We had a working bee to load a 40-foot container with approximately 300 wheelchairs, destined for South Africa. Several of our Rotarians came over to help, with a number of the volunteers putting their muscles and backs into it as well. By morning tea, it was all done. But meanwhile, inside the shed, "the show goes on": grinding, sand blasting, running a bandsaw and a router around the plywood boards, applying heat to donated moulded chairs so they fit, clamping bikes that potentially can be refurbished for sale on and ultimately dealing with prospective customers. 
Emma, like Claire Forster (see previous story), is undoubtedly reducing our volunteers’ average age considerably – good on you for joining our Wheelchair Team! She immigrated from the US of A (New Jersey) and holds a Permanent Resident visa, intending to apply for full Australian citizenship. By profession, she is a qualified Occupational Therapist. Along with her highly qualified and experienced therapists, she is working full time for 
Do you have a current Class C drivers license, and are reasonably fit for your age? At our Wheelchair Project factory, we need people to assist in the collection of discarded bicycles from various places on the Gold Coast. We do have a ute and a large trailer (by the way, a large trailer is much easier to reverse than a small one - training provided if you have never done it) - we just need somebody to drive it and/or help with loading and unloading the bikes. The shed operates every Wednesday and Saturday morning (either or both - no specific commitment required, and you still will have time to come to our meetings. However, alternative days could be arranged. 
