What a wonderful morning! Organized by Graeme Isaacson in his usual professional manner, our ladies, Youth Exchange Students and several guests joined us at the Marriott Hotel in Surfers Paradise. What a feast!
There were no formalities, just good ol' Rotary fellowship. Good to see that John Ellemor, who had been unable to attend in recent weeks due to a medical condition, obviously is on the way back to the top. His charming daughter Lynne gave him a lift into Surfers. John assured me that he is planning to be back at the Yacht Club in the new year.
Our Exchange Students Laura Burtscher (incoming, from Austria) and Felicity Cooper (shortly leaving for Finland) together with her mum Sarah (see below with Sergeant Andy Bell), were joined by Gaelle Ameye (n picture with Laura) who hails from Belgium and is currently on Exchange at Yamba. And, in addition to our partners, it was great to meet again with Debbie Cohen and Jan Lutz.
Thank you, Graeme, for organizing and seeing this event through with your usual impressive precision.
“43 bikies, each charged with 7 counts of murder" Mick (picture on left as he looks today, with President Conrad Martens who, in a previous life, also was a Police Officer) continued from the previous week. We had run out of time the previous Wednesday, so it was good to have Mick back for a follow-on session. At the time, it was the largest number of charges laid in a single trial ever. So how come that there were 43 individuals charged if there were just 7 people dead? "Common purpose". In essence, if the question "were you aware that grievous bodily harm would occur?" was proven to be in the positive, the murder charge would stick. Eventually, 31 of them faced trial. Anthony 'Snodgrass' Spencer (photo on right), the Bandido's National President, hung himself in prison before the trial.
In 2012, Channel Ten commissioned a TV Mini Series on the Milperra Massacre. The aim obviously was to compete against Channel 9's successful Underbelly series. "It was a total stuff-up...", Mick informed us.
During the Q&A session, your Editor asked Mick for an opinion on the current substantial increase of fatal Police shootings in Queensland. Mick skillfully deflected the question. However, a comment which may indeed be valid was that there is a strong suspicion of deliberate "suicide by cop". Another interesting item to come up: today's "modern" Policemen and Policewomen carry more gear on their belt than the SAS carried in Vietnam when operating behind the enemy lines. And did you receive counseling after the event? Yes, we did, by our fellow officers, having a Bundy and Coke and a good chat. A day later, we were again at our station...
I knew I would get your attention... I've been in Rotary for 28 years. Starting with the Surfers Sunrise banner, a fair number of "different" ideas surfaced during that time. But, hands on your heart: did you ever go to one where a team of professional masseuses would do the rounds and give everyone a super-relaxing shoulder massage? Terry O'Shea loudly protested: "Stop this - in about 5 years..!". ☺
Back to the serious stuff: Mark Blackshaw, the principal of Helensvale outlined why his school has over one third of its intake from outside its territory: Leadership.
Four of his students who are the very obvious movers and shakers in this project gave their view and screened a super professional video. Watch it on YouTube, you'll be impressed. Our own Des La RanceOAM (left) gave a well honed, polished presentation. There were interviews by Liz Cantor with Gary Ablett, the captain of the Gold Coast Suns and Neil Henry, the new coach of the Gold Coast Titans. There was a big auction of memorabilia, including a guernsey donated by Ian Mayberry and one of the highlights of the auction was a bottle of Grange Hermitage donated by Mario Fairlie.
And a good time was had by all at the Surfers Sunrise table: Andy Bell, Darrell Brown, Simon Brook and his partner Jodi, Catherine and Franz Huber, Helen & Peter Morgan, Jill and Terry O'Shea. More photos on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/rcsurferssunrise
There are some events when I feel that I have been truly privileged to have been invited to join Rotary. This was one of them.
Ah... to be 18 again! Another very interesting report from Isabelle. Any idea what a Futuroscope is? Well, you will just have to download it and see for yourself, won't you!
Every day public opinion is the target of rewritten history, official amnesia and outright lying, all of which is benevolently termed ‘spin’, as if it were no more harmful than a ride on a merry-go-round. We know better than what they tell us, yet we hope otherwise.”
Thomas Pynchon, in his Introduction to George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four.
Wheelchair Trust Chairman Daryl Sanderson is looking for more volunteers
OK, so you have gone through your list of potential future Rotarians... but not everyone may want to commit to be an active Rotarian, for various reasons, be that time commitments, financial etc.
Daryl Sanderson needs more volunteers at The Shed! They meet every Saturday morning. Perhaps you could bring it to the attention of a couple of your friends? Communicate with Daryl directly on 0408 729 118 or by email to daryl.sanderson@gmail.com.
were joined by Gaelle Ameye (n picture with Laura) who hails from Belgium and is currently on Exchange at Yamba. 
And, in addition to our partners, it was great to meet again with Debbie Cohen and Jan Lutz.
“43 bikies, each charged with 7 counts of murder" Mick (picture on left as he looks today, with President Conrad Martens who, in a previous life, also was a Police Officer) continued from the previous week. We had run out of time the previous Wednesday, so it was good to have Mick back for a follow-on session. At the time, it was the largest number of charges laid in a single trial ever. So how come that there were 43 individuals charged if there were just 7 people
I knew I would get your attention... I've been in Rotary for 28 years. Starting with the Surfers Sunrise banner, a fair number of "different" ideas surfaced during that time. But, hands on your heart: did you ever go to one where a team of professional masseuses would do the rounds and give everyone a super-relaxing shoulder massage? Terry O'Shea loudly protested: "Stop this - in about 5 years..!". ☺
Four of his students who are the very obvious movers and shakers in this project gave their view and screened a super professional video. 
