Its a funny thing that when you take on the role of President of Surfer Sunrise the task that causes the most angst is trying to come up with something that may have a semblance of relevance or even interest for the weekly report. One is always on the lookout for a story, an incident or some little thing that you can use to push a point.
Tuesday morning my Robbie and I were at the gym doing our usual workout when I noticed 4 of the instructors engaged in a competition to see who could dead lift the heaviest weights. 3 guys with arms and legs like tree trunks and 1 woman who was not small but not overly big either.
One of the men, a guy who tends to swagger and look in mirrors a lot, was quickly eliminated by the other 2 blokes and the girl. I would love the story to be that the girl beat them all but she didn't, she came third. She still lifted the equivalent of 3 family sedans and small block of flats though. The moral.....just because you talk big and tell everyone you're good doesn't mean you are. Just saying.
Barry Rassin, of the Rotary Club of East Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas, is the selection of the Nominating Committee for President of Rotary International for 2018-19. He will be declared the president-elect on 1 September if no challenging candidates have been suggested.
Rassin’s nomination follows Sam F. Owori’s death in July, just two weeks into his term as Rotary International president-elect.
Dr Danielle Stanisic is a Research Fellow at the Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Australia. Her PhD research was undertaken at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research and examined the regulation of malaria-specific immune responses in rodent models of malaria. She subsequently held positions at New York University, the Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research and the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, where her focus was on understanding naturally acquired immunity to the malaria parasite. Her current research is focused on vaccine development including the pre-clinical and clinical evaluation of blood-stage malaria vaccine candidates. She is a member of the Rotary Satellite Club of Southport-Griffith University. In her spare time, she likes to Dragon Boat and is a member of the Brisbane River Dragons.
They claimed that they had a seriously heavy working bee last Saturday at The Shed, but the picture your news starved Editor received from Tania Laird shows people having a good time drinking coffee and eating cake...
Only kidding - there are lots of other pictures which I have compiled in a Photo Album - see download on the right. President Simon Brook led the team to dismantle lots of bikes, keep the bits that we use to make wheelchairs, keep the bits we can sell as scrap metal and taking the rest to the tip. Workers include Mark Twyford, Neil Thurlow, Tania Laird, Jo Gorman, Richard Smith, Clive Edwards, Mitch Brown, Geoff Croad and of course The Shed's major movers and shakers, Wheelchair Trust Chairman Daryl Sanderson, Des La Rance and Bob Harrison. Simon suspects he may have left somebody out of this list - if you are not listed, my apologies, but all of your work is much appreciated!
And having tea, coffee and cake in good fellowship and banter is indeed one of the major tenements of Rotary!
There are a few more photos in the Photo Album Section on the right. Check it out now!
A common Australian "sport" (quotation marks deliberate) is the derogatory comments about politicians. "Lazy, in it just for themselves, snout in the trough" are just some of the more civilized descriptions. And when one reads the newspaper, in particular the boulevard press (and, I regret to say that even Brisbane's major paper just about meets all the criteria for this category), one frequently reads stories that may give justice to such remarks. But then, one meets the "real" person. A few years ago, I had the pleasure of working on a committee with two of them when helping to organize a couple of Mental Health Forums for Australian Rotary Health. One was Peta-Kay Croft, then the member for Broadwater, and Christine Smith, then the member for Burleigh. No problems working with us late into the night. Ask for anything within reason. Whilst I have not had the opportunity to work with Sid Cramp, the sitting LNP member for Gaven, I can't help the feeling that Sid falls into the same hard working category.
Before entering politics, Sid had worked for 14 years for the Queensland Ambulance Service. At the time of his switch to politics, he was Acting Chief Inspector. And in case you thought that conservative politicians are the proverbial "Tories", e.g. "us against them", I've got news for you: Being very unhappy with the (at the time) incumbent Union, Sid actually organized a new Ambulance Officer's Union, the Emergency Medical Services Protection Association. (They rather want to be known as a 'Professional Association' than a Union). This body now has some 1100 members in Queensland. "In 5 years I never lost a case, because we always worked with the management to resolve an issue" he said.
Feel like you can't get access to your local member? Well, Sid challenges that 'tarring all with the same brush' concept. "My office is like Central Station", he quipped. "Yet, only 7% of my constituents actually come to my office at some stage. My challenge is to meet the other 93%". So, he engages the community in meetings, heavily works towards preventing Domestic Violence and Bullying in Schools. "Did you know that 95% of Domestic Violence victims are women and children?". It is just one of his many areas of active engagement. And, as an active member of Rotary (Nerang Rotary Club), he thus practices the theme 'Rotary Serves Humanity' on a daily basis.
Richard Smith was at the door, Al Sirovs was chaiman and Andy Bell was Sergeant
We had apologies from Peter Morgan, Tania Laird, Rosie McIntyre, Graeme Isaacson and Mario Fairlie.
President Simon Brook welcomed all members and visitors Sue Lipp (Doug's partner), regular visitors Clive Edwards (RC of Young) and Ross Augustine (RC of Frankston Sunrise), German YE Student Lukas Lührmann and of course our Guest Speaker, Sid Cramp MP, member for Gaven. Simon "formal" advice that Andy Bell, at short notice, will be our incoming President 2017/18, taking over from Larry Murray who unexpectedly will need to travel overseas, was received with acclamation (see separate article further on). Simon also announced that the Club Changeover will be held on 2nd July at Seaworld Resort (see separate article), which also means that the trophies need to be brought in and given to Gerald East so he can arrange for the engraving. Whilst on Changeovers: Darrell Brown's District Changeover will be held at Kingscliffe Bowling Club on Sunday 25th June. You can book online - see further on.
Surfers Sunrise, together with Gold Coast Rotary and the Griffith Uni Satellite Club, won the Best Multi Club Project Award for 2016/17, presented at the recent District Conference. As the Rotarian who was most heavily involved in its organization from our club's perspective, Simon presented the award to Mark Twyford - see pictures on right. [It should also be noted that Simon's team took out the 'Best dressed' Award at that event. Ed.]
Wheelchair Trust Chairman Daryl Sanderson reported that they had again some helpers at The Shed from the Youth Justice Department. Some 60 wheelchairs will be despatched to Medang (PNG) shortly. And, "it never ceases to amaze me what we get offered for donations", Daryl reported that he had recently received an offer of 100 buses... [perhaps we could dismantle them and sell them for scrap metal? Would keep The Shed in coffee and biscuits for several years... Ed.]
District Treasurer Doug Lipp advised that the closing date forDistrict Grants is 15th June 2017, so if you have any major project in mind, now is the time to get going!
Groan... I just realized I hadn't booked yet... Ed.
This coming Sunday, President Simon Brook will hand over the collar to President Elect Andy Bell. Note: we are meeting a bit later to avoid traffic due to the Gold Coast Marathon:
Darrell Brown: Just about EVERYTHING: the most atrocious socks, and what is that gay handbag all about you are carrying? President Simon: [the usual - only another three times... Ed.] Doug Lipp, you can't wipe the smile off your face - no wonder, just look at that charming wife of yours, Sue Lipp...! Gerald East, what?? Nothing to moan about?? Jo Gorman, this morning obviously not dressed by Toll, but dressed by Tony? (No, she expected Tony to be still asleep, even now...) Bob Harrison, we all know carries his lunch in his briefcase he brings in every day. But this morning, what have you got in that large garbage bag? Your own supply of grass? [No, it was a bag full of bromeliads for Franz Huber who is re-landscaping...] and Franz also had to show his (missing) tooth... Al Sirovs, that joke was even worse than those Simon normally comes up with! Paul Seymour, did your wife buy you those lovely little blues suede shoes? Barry Lea: nothing really, just good to see you here! Ross Augustine, quite fed up introducing you - by now you are well known to everyone! And Clive Edwards, what is that RC of Young badge still hanging on your neck for? [perhaps ask our Membership Director why his Sunrise badge has not yet arrived... ☺] Chris Thurtell will take our German YE Student Lukas out for a Jetski experience. Lukas, do you have a Jetski Rescue certificate? You may well need it! And, there is a certain game of football coming up: Is there really anyone who supports the Blues? (Yes, several...)
Note: No meeting next week. Instead In just 10 days, on Sunday 25th June 2017, "our" incoming District Governor Darrell Brown will accept the collar from Michael Irving. The event will be held at a luncheon at Kingscliff Beach Bowls Club. This is a "once in a lifetime" festive and ceremonial event when one of our own members takes the top job in the District. A must attend for all our members and partners.
In view of last week's Guest Speaker Sid Cramp getting Andy Bell's security firm to assist with keeping the ballot boxes safe:
“It’s not the people who vote that count. It’s the people who count the votes.” (attributed to Joseph Stalin, but actually this is unlikely, since he never worried about elections)
Like Indiana Jones, I don't like snakes - though that might lead some to ask why I'm in politics. Theresa May
Politicians come in three varieties: straight men, fixers, and maddies. Paul Keating
"Politics? I'd rather be a Q&A Panellist or colonically irrigated with a firehose." Philip Adams, Weekend Australian 03 June 2017.
A common Australian "sport" (quotation marks deliberate) is the derogatory comments about politicians. "Lazy, in it just for themselves, snout in the trough" are just some of the more civilized descriptions. And when one reads the newspaper, in particular the boulevard press (and, I regret to say that even Brisbane's major paper just about meets all the criteria for this category), one frequently reads stories that may give justice to such remarks. But then, one meets the "real" person. A few years ago, I had the pleasure of working on a committee with two of them when helping to organize a couple of Mental Health Forums for Australian Rotary Health. One was Peta-Kay Croft, then the member for Broadwater, and Christine Smith, then the member for Burleigh. No problems working with us late into the night. Ask for anything within reason. 
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Darrell Brown: Just about EVERYTHING: the most atrocious socks, and what is that gay handbag all about you are carrying? President Simon: [the usual - only another three times... Ed.] Doug Lipp, you can't wipe the smile off your face - no wonder, just look at that charming wife of yours, Sue Lipp...! Gerald East, what?? Nothing to moan about?? Jo Gorman, this morning obviously not dressed by Toll, but dressed by Tony? (No, she expected Tony to be still asleep, even now...) Bob Harrison, we all know carries his lunch in his briefcase he brings in every day. But this morning, what have you got in that large garbage bag? Your own supply of grass? [No, it was a bag full of bromeliads for Franz Huber who is re-landscaping...] and Franz also had to show his (missing) tooth... Al Sirovs, that joke was even worse than those Simon normally comes up with! Paul Seymour, did your wife buy you those lovely little blues suede shoes? Barry Lea: nothing really, just good to see you here! Ross Augustine, quite fed up introducing you - by now you are well known to everyone! And Clive Edwards, what is that RC of Young badge still hanging on your neck for? 
