Greetings, fellow members, associate members and friends of Surfers Sunrise Rotary.
Glad to be back from my holiday through Central Queensland. Everyone should think about taking a journey through the western plains sometime. I drove 4970K. It was amazing, enjoyable and, at times, quite surreal.
It is also amazing to see what is happening because our Club makes wheelchairs. The Killarney Country Quilters from Killarney, Queensland, contacted us recently. They are a small group of crafters who enjoy making quilts, rugs, toys, beanies, bags and lots of other crafty things for charity. They supply rugs, quilts and beanies to the Oncology Unit in Toowoomba, and they asked whether our organisation could use knitted teddies and/or small quilts (approximately 90cm x 90cm), either knitted, crocheted or quilted, to send with our wheelchairs.
Obviously, I accepted their very generous offer and also agreed to travel to Killarney to collect the first lot.
Next, Peni Toga Kacimaiwai visited the Shed on Saturday morning. Peni is a prominent community leader from Fiji, now living on the Gold Coast. He co-founded and chairs major Australian charities dedicated to supporting disadvantaged communities in Fiji. He is originally from the village of Salia on the island of Nayau in Fiji's Lau Group.
Peni came to request 40 wheelchairs and has already organised the freight to Fiji. Our only responsibility will be to get the wheelchairs to RAWCS in Brisbane.
Next, Scarlett Harmon, a 14-year-old Year 9 student at Kelvin Grove State College in Brisbane, visited Surfers Sunrise Rotary as part of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards – Duke 4 Volunteering program. The program encourages applicants the importance of voluntary service in shaping resilient, compassionate and community-minded young people, and is designed to connect young people with purpose-driven charities and empower youth-led change.
Everyone has been impressed with Scarlett. She is an intelligent and aspirational young leader with a clear and focused vision for her future. [See photos on our Facebook page. Ed.]
A few other things:
I understand Rusty Lush's presentation at the last meeting was extremely well received. Unfortunately, I missed it.
Next Saturday is the Bike Sale, and we would appreciate your help on Saturday morning from 7:30am onwards at the Shed.
The Golf Day, 26th October is also looking for helpers and items for the raffle on the day. Please see Charles or Doug.
Also, the meeting on Wednesday, 7th October, will be held at the Shed. We will be cooking breakfast, so please let Tulip know if you are coming and whether you are bringing a friend. We could have lots attending including local members of Council, State and Federal Government and we don’t want to run short on bacon and egg rolls.
The Bunnings barbecue was a great success on Saturday. Thanks to everyone who turned up and gave their time and energy. It was great to see everyone working together and providing such friendly service to our customers, our Club and our community.
Finally, if you are thinking of attending 2027 Rotary International Convention 26-30 June 2027 in Barcelona, Spain Registration opens on 17 September. I am going!
I always thoroughly enjoy the 'Rotarian Behind the Badge' presentations, as invariably, some quite unexpected facts pop up, and so it was with Rusty's presentation this morning. OK, so we knew that Rusty is a member of the 'OBE' (Over Bloody Eighty) club and that he is still deeply involved as a Real Estate agent. Some of our members who were around in the years when he previously was a member of Surfers Sunrise (many, many moons ago) may recall that he got "hooked" into Rotary when he was selected to go on a Rotary Group Study Exchange (GSE) to Arizona. But did you know that, back in the days when Colonel Gaddafi was still in charge of Libya, Rusty was working in that North African country, teaching the locals how to drive farm machinery?
(Photo: Downtown Benghazi. Check the two kids dressed in white in the middle distance, about 12 years old: they were fully fledged Police Officers...)
Two of my most favourite composers of classical music, Roger Waters and David Gilmour released this album some 47 years ago. [Classical? Yes, Henrietta, of course I’m serious!]
September is Rotary International’s ‘Basic Education and Literacy Month’. Now... you have an image in your mind, don’t you? And I bet that that image is something like a classroom in a “developing country”, full of highly attentive, smiling kids with perfect teeth, sitting on the floor, or at best on old school benches (possibly donated by Rotary). Correct?
Now, I don’t for a moment suggest that those Rotary programs, which supply material, financial support and sometimes human resources, are not worthwhile. Are they ever! There is only one way to improve the lives of the impoverished people regardless of where they live and that’s Education. Starting with basic literacy and numeracy, it is indeed the only way. With Rotary’s concept of having a partner at the recipient’s end, our efforts also have a much higher chance of success. This generally is the policy of The Rotary Foundation, as well as – closer to home – the rule of Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS).
But what about right here? A recent publication by the Australian Catholic University reports that some 44% of adult Australians “lack the literacy skills required in everyday life. Is it because we are not spending enough of our taxes on Education? Personally, I don’t really think so. It goes much deeper than that. [Note: ”This is the author’s personal view. It may not coincide with Rotary’s policy” Ed.]
It is not Rotary’s task to set Education Policy, but to help where we can. Our club’s ‘Rotary Support for Students’ program (formerly known as ‘School Mates) most definitely will create a lasting impact, by providing funds to help disadvantaged children to obtain necessary equipment and materials. More on this program in the next bulletin.
Best ever raffle prize that money can't buy: We have just received news: Peter Senior advised that he is "happy to gift himself and three others" to play a round of golf at Sanctuary Cove. So, now is the time to become involved.
The Golf Day is on Monday, 26th October. This is not only a day of lots of fun and serious competition for the trophies, but is also one of our major fundraising events. Are you a golfer? You can book as an individual, but why not organise your own team? Click on this link: https://www.trybooking.com/1577462
And, of course, we need more raffle prizes! Download the brochure - see Download Section of both our website and bulletin.
Many people think of Rotary as a friendly social club that occasionally organises Bunnings BBQs, has weekly meetings... Well, take this: over 3 Billion children immunised against polio. And that is just one segment.
Next month (21st October), PDG Lisa Hunt will visit Surfers Sunrise to present on The Rotary Foundation, one of the largest privately managed and administered charities in the world. "Our Foundation". Click on the image (or check the Download Section on the right to iew the facts, in preparation of Lisa's visit.
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
“Some people worry that artificial intelligence will make us feel inferior, but then, anybody in his right mind should have an inferiority complex every time he looks at a flower.” Alan Kay, American Computer Scientist.
I intended to study psychology. But then I thought I’d have better potential as a patient.
It is also amazing to see what is happening because our Club makes wheelchairs. The Killarney Country Quilters from Killarney, Queensland, contacted us recently. They are a small group of crafters who enjoy making quilts, 
rugs, toys, beanies, bags and lots of other crafty things for charity. They supply rugs, quilts and beanies to the Oncology Unit in Toowoomba, and they asked whether our organisation could use knitted teddies and/or small quilts (approximately 90cm x 90cm), either knitted, crocheted or quilted, to send with our wheelchairs.
moons ago) may recall that he got "hooked" into Rotary when he was selected to go on a Rotary Group Study Exchange (GSE) to Arizona. But did you know that, back in the days when Colonel Gaddafi was still in charge of Libya, Rusty was working in that North African country, teaching the locals how to drive farm machinery? 
Best ever raffle prize that money can't buy: 
