Greetings, fellow members, associate members and friends of Surfers Sunrise Rotary.
The last two weeks have been incredible, with some wonderful things happening across our Club's projects and activities.
Last Tuesday, I travelled to Killarney, a small town approximately 30 kilometres from Warwick. A wonderful group of ladies, known as the Country Quilters, presented me with approximately 40 beautiful quilt sets, each accompanied by a crocheted doll. Every set was individually wrapped and prepared to go into one of our wheelchairs. The quality of the workmanship was magnificent. What a delight it was to meet these ladies and receive such thoughtful gifts. Their generosity will bring a little extra joy and comfort to the people who receive our wheelchairs. On behalf of our Club, a very big thank you to everyone involved. They also, gave me a quantity of shopping bags made from material. Really fantastic. These will go to St. Johns Crisis Centre to be use for handing out food parcels for the needy. Thank you, Killarney Country Quilters.
There is more news from the wheelchair project. The Art Teacher at Foxwell State Secondary College has received approval for students to create artwork on our wheelchairs. They are also planning to run a competition involving the school's art students. This is a wonderful initiative and another opportunity to involve our local community in the project.
Also, last week, 40 wheelchairs were sent to Brisbane, where they will be loaded into a container destined for Fiji. [See article below. Ed.] The Queensland Rail has approved the transfer of wheelchairs from their lost property department to the wheelchair project.
School Mates: Ross, I believe with Evan and Andy, visited a state school at Varsity Lakes to introduce the school to our club's School Mates project. The initial response looks very promising, and with financial assistance from a RAWCS grant, we are hopeful this will develop into another worthwhile initiative for Rotary Surfers Sunrise.
Bunnings Barbecue: Our Bunnings barbecue on Saturday was very successful. Ross should be able to provide us with the full details at Wednesday's meeting. We also managed to sell some Christmas cakes, so thank you to everyone who supported these activities.
International Rotary Speaker – Patrick Longano This Monday evening and again at Thursday morning's breakfast at Burleigh Heads, Rotary District has organised a very special opportunity for us. We are fortunate to welcome an international speaker from the USA, Patrick Longano, who is visiting Australia and New Zealand. Patrick is Chair of the North American Club Creation Team and the founder of the Companion Rotary Club model. Today, there are more than 250 Companion Rotary Clubs across North America.
His presentation could be particularly relevant to our Club as we look towards 2027. His ideas and experience may provide us with some fresh thinking about stimulating membership growth, attracting new members and expanding our Club's reach. I would encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity.
Golf Day: Unfortunately, due to the very heavy rainfall, our Golf Day had to be postponed. The new date is 30 November. The postponement does give us a little more time to sell raffle tickets, so please keep up the good work. And remember — you don't have to attend the Golf Day to win!
Robert Paterson OAM is a retired Fire Services Officer and comes highly recommended (by none others than the ladies of the Gold Coast Innerwheel Club). He will do a presentation, in an entertaining, yet higly informative way, on Fire and Emergency safety in your household and everyday life. With the new Smoke Alarm rules becoming effective as of January 2027, this might also be a good opportunity to seek clarification on that front. Usual time and place: 07:00 am for 07:30 am start, Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club.
Bevan Sim, who in July took over the Chairmanship of our Wheelchair Trust from Geoff Croad, last week received an urgent order from RARE (Rotary Australia Repurposing Equipment) for 40 'Rough Terrain' wheelchairs. They required them to go into a container ready to go with hospital beds, mattresses and linen, Solar Buddies, Solar Lamps and all sort of other goodies, destined toLau Education Charity, in the isolated Lau Province of Fiji. Fortunately we had stock, so early at 6 am last Saturday morning, our volunteers Bryan Tuesley, Russell Skill, and Malcolm Marshall rolled up at the project shed to wrap and load the boxes, and take them up to Brisbane.
What a wonderful example of how various organisations within Rotary (in this case, the Surfers Sunrise Rotary Club and its Wheelchair Trust, together with RARE can work together with other charities and benevolent organisations to improve the lives of people in disadvantaged and remote communities. Download a PDF from our Downloads section on the right for more details.
And just as well: our relatively new 'School Mates' program has proved to be very popular indeed. Pioneered by the Rotary Club of Goonellabah, near Lismore, it is designed to provide the essential gear for local High School students from underpriviledged families, whose parents may not be able to afford to purchase the necessities, Surfers Sunrise Rotary is liaising with the schools' principals (NOT with the students nor parents) to determine what acute needs there are. Recently, we financed 10 laptops for one of the local High Schools, and we have just received an "order" from another one. So, the proceeds from our Sausage Sizzles go to this worthwhile program. Thank you to all our helpers (from left) Andy, Paul, Mario, Evan, and at the rear the only one who kept working, Ross, as well as all those who followed until close at 4 pm! Photo: two satisfied customers at Nerang this morning, just as the morning shift changed over
PDG Lisa Hunt is the District Chair of The Rotary Foundation (TRF), Rotary's own major international charity. Charity? Yes, certainly, but "The Rotary Foundation is not just a charity, it is an engine!" she emphasised. Take the example of, via the foundation, Rotary clubs the world over facilitate and organise the installation of clean water supply in disadvantaged areas. As a result, the young girl is able to attend school, rather than walking for kilometres to carry water from a distant well back to her home. That translates to the simple formula: Clean Water = Education.
Specifically relating to our District, and our club, Lisa elaborated on the various grants that can be obtained. She made it clear that the District does have funds, so it is a matter of finding and stating a goal, following the procedures. There are also Multi-District Grants, e.g. where a club in our District cooperates and coordinates with a club at the recipient's end. Our club, over the years, has many times been successful in obtaining grants, particularly in relation to our wheelchairs project. Recently, such a grant supported the shipping of a container to South Africa, where we work together with the Rotary Club of Durban.
Photo: Lisa was the recipient of the inaugural wine that featured our new label, with Geoff Croad (left) who won the Two-up and President Mario Fairlie. More photos and a report by Tulip on our Facebook page
Yes, you might think it is early, but... last year, we missed out on those that come in a tin. And they are the same price as last year's: $22 in a carton, $25 in a tin! So, better order them now!
And they ARE delectable - traditional rich Rum and Brandy recipe, 50% fruit, not too sweet, plump, moist... If packaged in a cake tin it stays moist, ideal if you don't want to eat it all at once). The cakes will keep for more than 12 months, so ordering a month or so earlier is certainly worthwhile
For every cake sold, $3 will be credited to our Club for PolioPlus/Foundation.
So, first come, first served.
Contact Mario directly. Payment can be made in either cash or card (via Treasurer Charles Thomasson) Net proceeds go towards The Rotary Foundation.
Thank you for supporting this worthwhile fundraiser and getting a great cake and a very nice Christmas gift for someone.
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
Their generosity will bring a little extra joy and comfort to the people who receive our wheelchairs. On behalf of our Club, a very big thank you to everyone involved. They also, gave me a quantity of shopping bags made from material. Really fantastic. These will go to St. Johns Crisis Centre to be use for handing out food parcels for the needy. Thank you, Killarney Country Quilters.
Robert Paterson OAM is a retired Fire Services Officer and comes highly recommended (by none others than the ladies of the Gold Coast Innerwheel Club). He will do a presentation, in an entertaining, yet higly informative way, on Fire and Emergency safety in your household and everyday life. With the new Smoke Alarm rules becoming effective as of January 2027, this might also be a good opportunity to seek clarification on that front. Usual time and place: 07:00 am for 07:30 am start, Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club.
Bevan Sim, who in July took over the Chairmanship of our Wheelchair Trust from Geoff Croad, last week received an urgent order from 
PDG Lisa Hunt is the District Chair of The Rotary Foundation (TRF), Rotary's own major international charity. Charity? Yes, certainly, but "The Rotary Foundation is not just a charity, it is an engine!" she emphasised. Take the example of, via the foundation, Rotary clubs the world over facilitate and organise the installation of clean water supply in disadvantaged areas. As a result, the young girl is able to attend school, rather than walking for kilometres to carry water from a distant well back to her home. That translates to the simple formula: Clean Water = Education.
Yes, you might think it is early, but... last year, we missed out on those that come in a tin. And they are the same price as last year's: $22 in a carton, $25 in a tin! So, better order them now!
