|
|
|
|
|
Posted by Franz Huber
on Jul 20, 2015
|
Benvenuti in Australia Martina!
Real early this Monday morning, our new inbound Youth Exchange Student Martina Missarelli from Italy arrived at Brisbane International Airport, where she was greeted by District Youth Exchange Treasurer Gerald East (picture left) and Youth Exchange Director Chris Thurtell (on right).  We understand that Martina's father is the local Volvo dealer in her home town of Pian Camuno (Brescia, Lombardy), so Martina would have felt right at home in Gerald's Volvo. (BTW, in Italy, Volvo drivers don't wear hats...! ☺) Not sure if her father is aware that Chris has a stable full of Peugeots, including a RCZ...
Martina will be formally introduced this Wednesday at the Yacht Club - don't miss it!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted by Franz Huber
on Jul 25, 2015
|
|
Chris Thurtell was at the door with freshly arrived Youth Exchange Student Martina as his assistant, Neil Thurlow was Chairman and Ian Mayberry was Sergeant on behalf of Andy Bell.
We had apologies from Fred Hamblen, Daryl Sanderson, Paul Seymour, Larry Murray, Andy Bell, Tania Laird and Conrad Martens.
President Elect Simon Brook welcomed all members and in particular our Youth Exchange Student Martina Missarelli, Honorary Member George Keily and special guests Sarah Cooper (Felicity's mum), our rebound studend from France Isabelle Franich and her friend Hayley Winchcombe. Hayley, who lives in Perth, also was a YE Student in France with Isabelle. Simon reminded all that our meeting of 29th July [that is this week, folks!] will be a social affair at the Paradox Cafe in Surfers Paradise (it is at the Transit Centre near the Bruce Bishop Car Park). Members will purchase their own breakfast a la carte and make a donation of $5.00 to the club. Simon also re-iterated that members are requested to look out for candidates to the upcoming GSE Team selection for Pennsylvania: Nominations are being sought for both team members as well as for a team leader. Conversely, our club may want to be involved in hosting the incoming team? More details can be found on our District Website: http://rotary9640.org/SitePage/group-study-exchange. And on 12th August, we'll meet together with the Hope Island Club - see Events section on the Website.
 Chris Thurtell then formally introduced Martina Missarelli in interview style (picture left: Sarah Cooper, Chris Thurtell, Martina Missarelli, Isabelle Franich and her friend Hayley Winchcombe from Perth). Martina has the most delightfulla Italian accentta - if you weren't there, you definitely missed something. As outlined in last week's bulletin, Martina comes from the town of Pian Camuno in Northern Italy. She has enrolled at St Hilda's Girls High School where she starts on 27th July.
Martina, currently just 17 years old, gave us a brief introduction to her family, her school live in Italy (they go to school 6 days a week), her sports and hobbies (Tennis, Music). She sees her future in a double degree of economics and law. And travel: to the US, Canada... Her first impressions of Australia? "Love it!!" No doubt, there will be a more substantial presentation coming up in the foreseeable future!
Doug Lipp advised that the Crazy Whist game will now be held a week laster on Saturday 8th August, to avoid a clash with the Suns Horizon event on the 1st August and a clash of bookings at the hall. See Events section on the Website and download file. You don't need to know how to play - instructions will be provided on the evening! More details on location etc in next week's bulletin. Just mark your calendar!
Gerald East is organizing the Suns Horizon raffle ticket selling team for Saturday 1st August. Be at the Gate at 5:10 pm for game start at 7:20 pm.
Honorary Member George Keily announced that Apple Marketing had raised $6,050.00 for our Wheelchair Project, which brings it to a total of $14,850 for the last 12 months. A big Thank You to the team at Apple Marketing! George also has been hyperactive himself: he's collected about 4 Kg of Stamps from Apple Marketing, and has collected some 500 pairs of spectacles from various Optometrists to be forwarded to Donations in Kind for re-deployment in developing countries. Well done George! George also put forward a recommendation for a supplier of Pool Fencing: Peter Hayes, a member of the Broadwater Southport Rotary Club (for which he promptly got fined by the Sergeant later on - there is no free advertising...)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted by Franz Huber
on Jul 19, 2015
|
.JPG) This was Chris' inaugural experience of being Sergeant. We understand that Andy Bell specifically annointed Chris as his stand-in whilst he enjoyed the balmy weather of Melbourne...
Des La Rance (and any others who barracked for the Blues at last Wednesday's State of Origin decider)... Doug Lipp: you know, when you collect the money at the door, you are supposed to add it all up before you hand it  over to the Treasurer... Simon Brook, you are simply impossibly skinny... Terry O'Shea, still wearing that Irish jumper - you haven't changed it since last week! In view of the imminent arrival of our Youth Exchange Student from Italy, Chris selected an Italian theme: Des La Rance, obviously the Pope... Mario Fairlie is The Godfather... Lawyer Mitch Brown gets his pound of flesh... Franz Huber is the Foreign Correspondent... [really, I would have thought Saint Francis d'Assisi would have been more appropriate... Ed.] Angus Miller is Gallileo the Stargazer... Darrell Brown is Da Vinci... whilst Simon Brook represents Michelangelo and Gerald East is assigned to be Michelangelo's statue David...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted by Franz Huber
on Jul 19, 2015
|
|
Last week we enjoyed a rare insight into one of the big departments in the Federal Public Service: Richard Smith, now retired, used to be in charge of the Federal Government's regulation of the Insurance Industry (except the Life Insurance Sector). This included Home and Business Insurance, Public Liability, Car Insurance etc. Part of the Department of Treasury, the industry in the 'olden' days was not regulated at all. In 1973 then, the Insurance Act was proclaimed with the aim to provide some protection for policy holders. The department had 3 Statutory Officers, Richard was the Insurance Commissioner. Ultimately then, Compulsory Employer Superannuation was also rolled into it to form the Insurance and Superannuation Commission.
Ultimately, this led to the formation of APRA (Australian Prudential Regulation Authority), the body which oversees banks, credit unions, building societies, general insurance and reinsurance companies, life insurance, private health insurance, friendly societies and most members of the superannuation industry. [Interestingly, APRA is funded largely by the industries that it supervises... Wouldn't this be sort of like the fox in charge of the hen house? Ed.] It was established on 1 July 1998.
Over the years, major changes were introduced, including minimal capital requirements (Solvency), quarterly financial returns and audited annual reports. Richard was in charge of between 30 and 50 Examiners. Formulae have to be adhered to: For example,
NTA = A - L > % of PI
(Net Tangible Assets: Assets minus Liabilities must be greater or equal to a percentage of Premium Income net of Re-insurance.
Only one minor hitch in this: It seems that the definitions of the actual valuation of Assets and the assessment of Liabilities were not properly circumscribed. Richard stated an example of an investigation he led where an asset consisting of a hotel in New York was grossly overvalued. Similarly, the determination of OCP (Outstanding Claim Provisions) which form part of an Insurance Company's Liabilities, seemed to be as flexible as a rubber band...
Richard briefly elaborated on the HIH Insurance disaster and how it was possible for a company to "lose" 5 Billion Dollars until it eventually went to the wall. The fact that the head of the failed company, Ray Williams, went to jail for a mere 2 years for 'losing' $5 Billion is little comfort for the thousands of Australian citizens who found their insurance cover to be non-existent or their shareholding to be worthless.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Mark your Diary now! Join Doug Lipp on the evening of Saturday 8th August at our club's inaugural Crazy Whist social game event. Don't know how to play? Don't worry! Instructions will be handed out. Details of location in the Download Section on the right. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted by Franz Huber
on Aug 23, 2015
|
 Last Saturday, the Suns had nail biter against Essendon: considering they led almost throughout the game, 2 points separated the teams at the end of the day!
Coordinator Gerald East and Simon Brook were the only representatives of Surfers Sunrise due to the absence of several regulars, along with Tyler from Southport Rotaract who flew under our banner. The good news was that Simon and Gerald sold out of tickets and could have sold more if they had had them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted by Franz Huber
on Sep 20, 2015
|
| Duty Roster - note: subject to change - please check every week |
|
|
| Date |
Chairman |
Door |
| |
|
|
| 07th October 2015 |
Daryl Sanderson |
Neil Thurlow |
| 14th October 2015 |
Chris Thurtell |
Simon Brook |
| 21st October 2015 |
Darrell Brown |
Geoff Croad |
| 28th October 2015 |
Tony Bird |
Gerald East |
| 04th November 2015 |
John Franich |
Mario Fairlie |
| 11th November 2015 |
Angus Miller |
Larry Murray |
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Posted by Franz Huber
on Sep 27, 2015
|
|
Ladies, get your fascinators ready! Gentlemen, yes, it is ok to wear a brightly coloured silk shirt with a rosa coloured tie and a heavy gold chain, white slacks and shoes...
Our member and District Treasurer Doug Lipp (he is a race horse owner himself), in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Surfers Paradise, is organizing a Race Day at the Gold Coast Turf Club in October. Further, the day is sponsored by our Sergeant Andy Bell's company Eximm too. Tickets are just $70.00 per head, which includes a sumptuous buffet luncheon as well as afternoon tea and coffee. Tables of 10 are available, so why not invite some friends or clients?
Download the flyer, which includes the booking form, in the Download section on the right.
Alternatively, contact Doug Lipp or Darrell Brown.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted by Franz Huber
on Jul 12, 2015
|
 Might have taken a while... But if you go over to the Download section, you will find Felicity's latest reports (April and June - don't know what happened to May...). But not to worry: you can also access her Blog which has all the reports with superb photos at this address:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted by Franz Huber
on Sep 20, 2015
|
Every time you stop a school, you will have to build a jail. What you gain at one end you lose at the other. It's like feeding a dog on his own tail. It won't fatten the dog.
Mark Twain.
Two old guys, one 80 and one 87, were sitting on their usual park bench one morning.
The 87 year old had just finished his morning jog and wasn't even short of breath. The 80 year old was amazed at his friend's stamina and asked him what he did to have so much energy.
The 87 year old said, "Well, I eat Italian bread every day. It keeps your energy level high and you'll have great stamina with the ladies."
So, on the way home, the 80 year old stops at the bakery. As he was looking around, the lady asked if he needed any help. He said, "Do you have any Italian bread?" She said, "Yes, there's a whole shelf of it. Would you like some?"
He said, "I want 5 loaves."
She said, "My goodness, 5 loaves .... by the time you get to the 5th loaf, it'll be hard."
He replied, "I can't believe it, everybody knows about this, except me."
|
|
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
.JPG)
