It was good to see the Project Shed now open and slowly getting back to its old self. Work is continuing on getting our next shipment of wheelchairs ready to be shipped overseas.
Due to the inclement weather, the ground-breaking ceremony of Stage 1 of Living Choice Parkwood, the Gold Coast’s new retirement community, has been delayed till April. Living Choice has announced that Surfers Sunrise are to receive a $1 000 donation for our Wheelchair Trust.
Many communities within our District desperately need help to recover from the devastating recent floods. Our District 9640 is launching an appeal for financial assistance for the flood victims. Should you wish to donate please see the article further on, including full banking details. Two bank accounts, one for donors who require Tax Deductibility.
Sadly I have to advise that, for personal reasons, Col Laurenson has resigned from Surfers Sunrise Rotary. On behalf of the club, I wish to extend our thanks and appreciation for all Col has done, particularly for his expertise in international logistics, and wish him well in the future.
As life is now slowly getting back to normal I am appealing to members to reach out and encourage prospective new members to come along to our breakfast meetings. Charles also has advised that several prospective corporate members will shortly to attending our breakfast.
“I’m now a ‘Full Advisor’!” Ashleigh Symes (photo right, with President Paul Seymour) proudly describes her vocation. (For the uninitiated: with the severe tightening of government rules and regulations relating to the licensing of financial advisors, this is not an easy goal to achieve!) Together with Charles Thomasson, Ashleigh is one of our Corporate Members with Wilsons Advisory, a nationwide organisation that spans the spectrum from Private Wealth to Corporate and Institutional financial advice.
Born on the Gold Coast, she is the proverbial go-getter: “Whilst I studied for a Bachelor of Commerce and Business, I worked full time in Merchandising with Proctor & Gamble, sold pot plants [no Henrietta, nothing to do with the pot you are thinking about, heavens forbid!], worked as a Mortgage Broker and taught Surf School.” Then she decided to go traveling to Europe, “couch surfing” through France, Spain, Poland, Albania, Romania, just to name a few of the countries. Even hitch-hiking when Romania's public transport system left something to be desired....
In London, she found employment with a Fund Manager, and that is where her initiation to the world of finance started. “...though I started dabbling in shares at 13 years of age, so the subject always fascinated me” she quipped.
Upon return to the Gold Coast, Ashleigh was selected by a recruitment agency for Wilsons Advisory, whose local office is located in the Oracle complex in Broadbeach. Her specialisation is in Compliance and providing ‘Strategic Advice’ to private clients.
‘And when you are not providing financial advice?’ was one of the many questions: “Netball, Surf Life Saving (with the local Surfers Paradise SLSC).
‘Any good share buying tips?’ The expected “this is only general advice” popped up. Still, a couple of specific sectors and worthwhile ASX codes were mentioned.[Which ones? Sorry, you should have been there… Ed.]
District Governor Jeff Egan recently wrote a letter (see Download section on the right) to all Rotarians in District 9640, advising that a dedicated Flood Appeal account has been set up for Rotarians (and anyone else, for that matter) to contribute to a flood appeal to benefit victims of the horrendous floods some regions experienced over the past two weeks. As is common for any Rotary-based appeals, there will be no administration fees, director's remunerations etc. All funds end up directly at the target, the people who were affected.
If a donor does not require the donation to have tax deductibility status, it is preferable that donations should be deposited into the following account:
Rotary International District 9640 Ltd.
BSB: 084462, Account No: 816279059
This is the account to which Rotary clubs should donate.
If tax deductibility is required, please use this account:
Keith Wilson Relief Trust Fund
BSB: 633000 Account No: 175308303
The name of the donor needs to be included on the deposit AND please send via email to PDG Sandra Doumany at srmd@bigpond.net.au (Note: the original post had a typo - this is the correct address): 1. the name of the donor 2. the amount of the deposit 3. any requirement for the donation to be spent on a specific area (if requested).
For the last two years it was COVID. And here we are: the first serious armed conflict in Europe in well over 50 years[yes, Henrietta, Ukraine is indeed in Europe, and so was Czechoslovakia 😐] and – puff – all other concerns are swept from the front pages. What chances then that a bland, mundane theme such as Water and Sanitation would even come to our conscious mind? OK, exception: over the past two weeks, we’ve had quite a bit too much of the stuff falling out of the sky…
In our (relatively) civilized society we take water and sanitation for granted. Isn’t that what we pay Water Rates for? Yet, visualise for a moment: you have no (running) water. (Paradoxically, some regions in District 9640 are in that very position right now; let’s hope it is only temporary).
You can’t? Well then, walk out to the street and turn the mains water tap off and see how long you last before you crack. You will also discover that without water, there isn’t any sanitation either. Now, suddenly your problem is bigger than whatever leads the TV news.
Well, that is exactly what, in the third decade of the third millennium, an awfully large proportion of our planet’s population faces every day. And it’s not just “over in Africa” (forgive me if that sounds callous). As an individual, in concert with your Rotary club, you very much can make a difference. For example, about 2015, a team from Stanthorpe Rotary Club delivered and installed a massive system to provide secure water to Naiyala High School in Fiji. It didn’t make the evening news on TV, but then, that’s not what Rotary is all about. As Rotarians, we are proudly part of an organisation which boasts the most esteemed of charities, The Rotary Foundation and, on the local scene, the Rotary World Community Service (RAWCS). Click on this link, then apply a filter of ‘Water’ and you’ll find a list of 55 water related RAWCS programs currently running.
About 100 years ago, Austrian philosopher Karl Kraus wrote about war: “first, one hopes to win; then one expects the enemy to lose; then, one is satisfied that he too is suffering. In the end, one is surprised that everyone has lost.” As individuals, we can’t do much to change the course of a major conflict. But that doesn’t stop us from winning some battles which bring joy rather than misery. In contrast to an armed conflict, this is a battle that we can win.
This year's event is going to be a real country affair, it's in Tenterfield! Go to the Expo Website https://rotary9640.org/page/district-conference and check out what's happening. There you find the program, a brief summary of all the Keynote Speakers, and of course, you can register. But of course, one of the big attractions of attending a conference is always the deep feeling of Rotary Fellowship. Being in the country, formalities will be kept to a minimum. There is a lot more to a District Conference than Keynote Speakers and Rotary business. There is lots of social interaction:
Friday morning is the District Governor's Golf Challenge
Friday night is the Welcome Dinner - held at the historical Tenterfield Railway Station
Saturday night is a Dinner Dance (and yes, you can drink; they have organised bus pick up to/from your accommodation place)
Sunday morning are two styles of breakfast: one the Champagne Breakfast up near Bald Rock (image right), the other at the Historic Walk with PDG Harry Bolton
The (almost) final program is now on the Downloads section. Go on, check it out!
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 the funny things about the stock market is that every time someone buys, another one sells, and both think they are astute. William Feather, American Publisher.
More often than not, a statist's argument against Anarchism boils down to an unwillingness to take control and responsibility for their own lives, actions, and communities. The sad truth is that the human animal has been domesticated to the point where it actually fears Liberty.Dane Whalen, Author
I will tell you how to become rich. Close the doors. Be fearful when others are greedy. Be greedy when others are fearful." Warren Buffett
“I’m now a ‘Full Advisor’!” Ashleigh Symes (photo right, with President Paul Seymour) proudly describes her vocation. (For the uninitiated: with the severe tightening of government rules and regulations relating to the licensing of financial advisors, this is not an easy goal to achieve!) Together with Charles Thomasson, Ashleigh is one of our Corporate Members with 
District Governor Jeff Egan recently wrote a letter (see Download section on the right) to all Rotarians in District 9640, advising that a dedicated Flood Appeal account has been set up for Rotarians (and anyone else, for that matter) to contribute to a flood appeal to benefit victims of the horrendous floods some regions experienced over the past two weeks. As is common for any Rotary-based appeals, there will be no administration fees, director's remunerations etc. All funds end up directly at the target, the people who were affected. 
We much regret to advise that the pre-screening of The Duke movie on 16th March had to be cancelled.
This year's event is going to be a real country affair, it's in Tenterfield! Go to the Expo Website 
One of the funny things about the stock market is that every time someone buys, another one sells, and both think they are astute.
