I attended PP Mario Fairlie’s house on Saturday morning as he and other Rotarians from the Rotary Clubs of Gold Coast and Broadbeach finalised the application for a Global Grant for the X-Ray and Pathology equipment to go inside the Vanuatu Health Centre Project. Thank you to Mario and the team for the huge amount of work done so far on this project. It is really great to see a multi-club project where Rotarians, Rotaractors and volunteers work together - the finished Health Centre is going to change the lives of all the residents of Pentecost Island.
The District Conference is on this Saturday May 15 at Twin Towns, Tweed Heads. It is a one-day event starting at 9am. Click here for more information and booking details
An initial consignment of 6 wheelchairs has been sent to the Men’s Shed at Wollongong. This Men’s Shed had capacity to assist us and they will be assembling, checking and returning the wheelchairs to us. This will save time in our Project Shed and allow us to increase production to help meet the growing demand for our wheelchairs. Toll Transport has provided free shipping to and from Wollongong to assist.
Larry Murray has been in discussions with the Gold Coast Tool Library (GCTL) about having a ‘Repair Café’ event at the Project Shed on Sunday 13th June. The GCTL is a local not-for-profit association that works just like a book library, however as its inventory it contains tools of all kinds. Larry and I will be updating you with more details over the coming weeks.
This Wednesday we have our 2022 World Peace Fellowship Nominee Vandy Kamara visiting us at the Surf Club – see you there at 7am.
Vandy S Kamara last year was our World Peace Fellowship Nominee. He will give us an update on his personally financed charity to run a school in his native Sierra Leone.
OK, over the past 12 months, we haven't put a lot of emphasis on the Rotary International monthly themes, neither in our club media nor at District level. But Youth Service, the theme for May, is one of our very strengths: we support RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award, a leadership training seminar for 19 - 28 year olds - KJ Jewson and Sasha Kimber's presentation coming up in 4 weeks), RYPEN (Rotary Youth Program for Enrichment, for 14-16 year olds -3 candidates going into this month's camp), RYTS our club has numerous times in the past supported, International Youth Exchange (come off the boil in very recent times due to COVID though), but we had a successful candidate for the National Youth Science Forum with the CSIRO in Canberra (Briana Dorrough, in January), and of course we are always actively engaged in RYDA (Rotary Youth Driver Awareness) with multiple seminars held each year for senior students at local high schools.
In addition, this year Youth Services Director Darrell Brown has budgeted to support a candidate for MUNA(Model United Nations Assembly, happening this weekend!). Of course, we have met our Rotaractors KJ Jewson, Matt Howard, Blake Foster, Chumani Brookhouse, Harrison Howick and many other Rotaractors who helped on the Vanuatu project at the shed and on our new website. Is your head spinning yet? Yes, Rotary has so much to offer. [In my next life, I might join a less hyperactive organisation, such as a Quilting Club, instead. What?? Rotary has a Quilting Fellowship? Ok, then perhaps Whisky Appreciation? Yes, Rotary has that too... ☺ Ed. ] Meanwhile, keep your eyes open for potential candidates. Our District Website has a complete rundown of all youth programs, including the dates, locations, qualifications required etc. Click here: www.rotary9640.organd select 'Youth Services' at the top menu. Or ask Darrell Brown, there isn't much that he doesn't know about the subject!
This month's edition of Rotary Down Under magazine has a special feature on Youth Service. Click here to access an online version of the magazine.
Incoming President Paul Seymour and President Charles Thomasson cordially invite you, your partners and friends to join us a the annual Changeover Luncheon on Sunday, 4th July 2021. This year, it will be held at the Links Hope Island Golf Club. This year we'll enjoy a 3-course Luncheon (Vegetarian and Vegan options available).
Bookings are open now - please click on this link: https://www.trybooking.com/BREDU - please book online, we need to provide exact numbers by 22nd June.
On Saturday 15th May 2021, our District 9640 will hold its Conference at Twin Towns Conference Centre. In view of the COVID situation, the format is a one day event. This brings the cost down to just $60.00 per head ($20 for Rotaractors and $10 for Interactors) which includes morning tea break and Lunch.
Among the hugely interesting keynote speakers is Jason Browne (via Zoom), Public Image Co-Ordinator, Zone 28 & 29, Pennsylvania State University Rotary Club, on "Can we make M&M's in Rotary?" Click here for more information and to book.
Note: Officially, bookings closed on 1st May, but if you hurry, you might still be able to slip in...
In short: we'll have a dedicated website for the Wheelchair Trust, the Project Shed, the volunteers, seeking donations, and all the stuff we do.
We are looking for photos relating to our Wheelchairs, various buildings we put up over the years etc etc. If you have any, please upload them directly to a shared Google Drive KJ has set up for this: Click here - it's dead easy - simply drag the photos from your folder into the 'Drop files here' field. Note: You need to log in with a Google (as in Gmail) account.
Alternatively, feel free to copy them to a USB stick or CD and give them to Franz Huber.
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
If you lose one sense, the other senses become enhanced.
That's why people with no sense of humor have a heightened sense of self importance.
Where there is an emptiness, the mind will obligingly fill it up. Fear is always at hand to supply any vacancies, as is curiosity. Margaret Atwood, 'The Testaments'
The first rule of the Condescending Club is really kinda complex and I don't think you'd understand it even if I explained it to you.
Vandy S Kamara last year was our World Peace Fellowship Nominee. He will give us an update on his personally financed charity to run a school in his native Sierra Leone.
less hyperactive organisation, such as a Quilting Club, instead. What?? Rotary has a 
Incoming President Paul Seymour and President Charles Thomasson cordially invite you, your partners and friends to join us a the annual Changeover Luncheon on Sunday, 4th July 2021. This year, it will be held at the Links Hope Island Golf Club. This year we'll enjoy a 3-course Luncheon (Vegetarian and Vegan options available).
Andy's post of the week:
