Last Wednesday, a cameraman from SBS came to the wheelchair shed to generate vision of our production facility where 'Rough Terrain' wheelchairs are made. This was followed by an interview with Des La Rance, who developed the concept of making low-cost wheelchairs by using parts from discarded bicycles, as well as Wheelchair Trust Chairman Geoff Croad. Watch out for it to be screened on SBS in the near future!
Photo by Al Sirovs - see more photos on our facebook page www.facebook.com/rcsurferssunrise
Our Annual General Meeting is not just about the election (mostly confirmation) of the incoming board of directors for 2026/27. We will need to approve the accounts for 2024/25, and we'll also need to elect a President Elect Nominee 2027/28. 
Surfers Sunrise Rotary at Arundel is having a massive bike sale on this Saturday 13th December 2025. Over 80 bikes will go on sale with kid’s bikes from $5, Road bikes from $10, men’s bikes from $30, plus a large number of project bikes all with minor problems for the fixer upper.
This year's Christmas Breakfast will be held on the top floor of the TRYP by Wyndham Hotel (where we had the Changeover). Enjoy top views, in salubrious surroundings (linen table cloth etc), with the wonderful Rotary fellowship of Rotarians and their guests. Partners, Associates, Friends of Rotary, are all welcome.
Every now and then, you come across a personality who leaves you with little doubt that, in comparison, your own life was somewhat run-of-the-mill... Visualise: Born on April Fool's Day, of mixed parentage, in a military hospital in India. Top-notch Private School, excellent in sports. At 17 years old, migrated with her Grandma and sister to Australia, and 8 years later she married her "soul mate", lasting 40 years (he passed away recently). They bought a round-the-world ticket to visit the University of Michigan, USA. Part-time work with the Governor’s Commission on China... 
In last week's bulletin, we reported on the despatch of a container with 121 'Rough Terrain' wheelchairs, together with some conventional ones, destined for Colombo, Sri Lanka. What wasn't mentioned, was that the 
Last Monday's Surfers Sunrise Golf Day, one of our regular fundraising events, again was very successful, raising around $7,000. All proceeds to go towards our 'Rough Terrain Wheelchairs' project and to local charities. Regrettably, your Editor was living it up in Sydney, so wasn't there to take the usual photos. Check our Facebook page for some photos that were sent to me by fellow members - hopefully more to come.
The 40-foot container with some 300-plus 'Rough Terrain' wheelchairs is on the way to Durban, South Africa! (Yes, it IS full!) The Rotary clubs in the region will take care of the distribution into the South African Hinterland.
At this morning's meeting, the 10th Annual Lutzy Award was presented to Noah Siladyi. The award is in memory of our late member Keith Lutz, who not only was a leading light in our club but was one of the major leaders and sportsmen of the Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club.
On Saturday night, Channel 9's A Current Affair screened an update on our Wheelchair Project, 28 years after the first screening in August 1997. Click on this link to view it on the
As President Andy mentioned in his closing remarks, we always hear the mostly negative stories about "Today's Youth" and - regrettably - one hears so little about young emerging leaders who quietly beaver in their classrooms, the school library and slave over hot computers to qualify for the rather stringent requirements to be selected to attend the annual National Youth Science Forum in Canberra. Future leaders in their professions who well may make headlines when they publish their discovery some years hence. Considering that it is quite expensive (over $3,000, of which our club sponsors 50%), the event is usually oversubscribed and participants are selected purely on their level of scientific knowledge and in particular on aptitude. 
At the last meeting, our freshly baked President Andy emphasised that he wanted to put the Four-Way Test back into the forefront of our 
Last week, the project shed sent off the 11,015th wheelchair. Just on 3 years since we celebrated the 10,000th wheelchair in September 2013. The Photo on the right is our regular project shed worker Al Sirovs pointing out the number on the world map. The photo above shows some of the regulars, taken this morning. The wheelchair displayed is not exactly the 11,000th (that one is already on the way), but nobody needs to know... Third from left is Des La Rance OAM, who invented the concept and delivered the first 10 to Fiji in August 1997, 20 years ago! - See report in the 
So, keep your soft drink bottles, stubby bottles, aluminium cans, milk cartons etc. As a general rule, most drink containers between 150ml and 3L can be returned for a refund under Queensland's container deposit scheme. Containers should be empty, unbroken, the lid removed and display a 10-cent refund marking on the label. Something like the image (right), but many others are simply marked as suitable for recycling. Note: they must NOT be crushed. See image above what is and what is not accepted. For details of what can / cannot be returned for cash, and where the locations are, 
In the olden days, for a new member to join a Rotary club the unofficial rule was, expressed in simple terms, he should be "somebody who is in a position to hire and fire". Yes, 'he'. Thankfully, around 1987, the 'he' was expanded to also include the fairer sex. There were lots of other rules too, for example, weekly attendance at our meetings was considered to be just about essential. 
What a superb morning last Saturday at our Project Shed, where we celebrated the 10,000th Wheelchair manufactured. For any of our readers who are not familiar with the concept: parts from recycled bicycles, marine plywood, solid rubber BMX wheels and... LOTS OF VOLUNTEER HOURS equal a wheelchair which can be manufactured for $100! Give yourself a pat on the back, but particular recognition must go to the principal movers and shakers who started and carried this project through: Des La Rance, Daryl Sanderson and the late Keith Lutz and Bob Harrison. Jan Lutz was there, but regrettably, Gloria Harrison was unable to join us, but for a good reason: her grandson debuted on that same day, playing Grade 1 Cricket in the Queensland Premier League. Howzat! Bob would be proud on both accounts. 
A great way to start the day
Surfers Paradise, QLD 4217
Australia