Graeme Isaacson and I attended the ‘Cluster 7 Muster’ yesterday alongside other Rotarians in District 9640. It was great to catch up with our fellow Cluster 7 Clubs and learn more about social media, club membership options and DG Andy’s goals for the Centenary of Rotary in Australia. I’ll be updating you on some of the specific training over the coming weeks.
Our club should continue to work closely with our Cluster and other Rotary Clubs in coming years. We can all learn from and benefit from working together on large projects - already we have our Vanuatu Project with the Rotary Clubs of Broadbeach and Gold Coast which is a great multi-club project. As a result of the cluster I’ll be attending the Parkwood Rotary Club meeting this Tuesday night at Arundel Tavern to invite them down to the Shed on Saturday [in appropriate attire, I'm sure - see Larry Murray's post below... ☺ Ed.] and to investigate if there is any opportunities to work with them on projects in the future. Also at the Cluster Muster I was talking to the President of Broadwater Southport Howard Manning and I mentioned our upcoming Golf Day. Howard has a few keen golfers in his club and said they would love to enter a team and challenge Surfers Sunrise. As such this year the golf day will also include (as well as the other prizes of course) the very prestigious ‘Cluster 7 Cup‘. Gold Coast Rotary have also indicated they are up for the challenge. We look forward to Surfers Sunrise being the inaugural winner!
Larry Murray has put the call out for as many helpers as possible this Saturday at the Shed. Please refer to Larry’s entertaining post below for details.
This Wednesday we have our State Member for Surfers Paradise John Paul Langbroek speaking at our formal meeting – I encourage you all to bring a guest and have a listen to what he says with the Queensland Election only a few months away. See you there.
This coming Wednesday 5th August, our State Parliamentarian for Surfers Paradise, John Paul Langbroek will present at our club. His principal subject will be the Queensland Olympic Games bid, but I'm sure there will be an opportunity to get in a question or two... ☺
See you at the Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club (upstairs). Club opens at 06:30 am, order and pick up your breakfast at the downstairs bistro and enjoy it upstairs in company of your fellow Rotarians and guests!
Project Shed Chief Larry Murray needs helpers this Saturday morning: Starting at 08:30 am (or earlier if you like), we need as many able bodied helpers as possible at the shed, so if any Rotarians know people like this perhaps they could encourage them to come. We will be shifting the lumber from the workshop to the 40’ container. Some of the larger planks weigh as much as 50 Kg, necessitating a 2 man/woman lift; well within the capacity of the average fit Australian. Once again this may involve our trusty Rotarians seeking the help of younger family members. This may necessitate the passage of some gratuities in the form of bribes or suitable inducements.
Should the members feel able to avail themselves for this task we recommend the following precautions should be followed to minimise the possibility of personal injury and/ or embarrassment.
Please bring heavy duty gloves to avoid splinters, before putting on the gloves make sure nasal passages and other orifices are clear of debris, as excavations will not be possible whilst gloved up and in mid lift.
Please wear suitable clothing, no bell bottom trousers high heeled shoes jewellery or loose clothing (flamboyant scarfs, flashy silk handkerchiefs or cummerbunds ) anyone with cross dressing tendencies will be restricted to making the tea.
Suitable footwear is essential. Carpet slippers are a no go, the shed has a pair of heavy steel toed boots available, it may be necessary to share these, those with foot issues should in fairness to fellow Rotarians avoid exposing others to any contagious foot or feet conditions.
Do not partner with a person stronger than yourself.
Have about your person any pertinent medical details together with information on next of kin and details of any money bequeathed to the shed. ☺
Please do not expect any financial reward, like most good things you do, it is best to be discrete, in the hope of a reward in the afterlife, if there is one (for those over 60 this is a good time to hedge your bets)
The work should only take 2 or 3 hours and will include light refreshments and interesting conversation.
by PDG Darrell Brown - Current District 9640 Youth Program Chair)
When I first proposed Chris Thurtell for membership to our club he indicated that he was interested in helpingYouth. That became an understatement this year! Not only did he help Youth in our club but he took on the Chair of the Youth Exchange Program for the District 4 years ago. This year tested his skills.
Over the time of his tenure he transformed the Youth Exchange Program with his caring attitude & dedication. Chris retired from the District Chair position last December and when his intended replacement was unable to fill his shoes, I was asked to take over the role until the end of the Rotary year. Thank goodnessfor Chris’s sense of responsibility. When I rang Chris for a briefing he said that he would stay in the role as it would take too long & be too difficult to become acquainted with the role for such a short time. Then COVID-19 struck. YEP became a minefield of problems dealing with countries closing down programs, arranging a safe environment for students & the logistical nightmare of getting students home.
Chris deserves a medal and he got one. He was awarded his first Paul Harris Fellow at the District Changeover a week ago in recognition for what he has achieved & the tumultuous time he has been through. The unfortunate aspect of all of this is that Chris has resigned from Rotary. I understand his feelings. His role was such an intense commitment to the Youth of our District that he needs a break from Rotary. He is exhausted. He hasn’t ruled out the possibility of returning to the fold in a year’s time but he needs to concentrate on his own family, his new job & to regain equilibrium.
Many many moons ago (June 2017 to be exact), Dr Danielle Stanisic - see picture left - presented at our club on a major project at the local campus of Griffith University, aimed a developing a vaccine to eradicate Malaria. Over the past 12 months, this was also the 'District Governor's Partner' project; Shauna Bolton raised $18,965. In addition to that, it was suggested that people who were entitled to a refund of pre-payments for the cancelled District Conference donate it instead. This raised another $9,065, making the total over $28,000 for the year.
PDG Graham Jones, who is the chairman of the Malaria Vaccine Project, expressed his delight in a recent letter to (now) Past DG Harry & Shauna Bolton. The project, which also attracted a grant of $500,000 from the Federal Government, is now in its 'Phase 1 - clinical trials in a non-endemic country' - yes! Australia. Read more about it on their website.
By the way: Did you know that Dr Stanisic was sponsored by Rotary to attend the National Youth Science Forum, to which our recent guest Briana Dorrough (see bulletin of 29/07/20) also aspires to. Yes, Rotary sponsoring Youth works!
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
Sometimes when people speak, it won’t be because they had something important to say. It was because they had a powerful need for someone to listen. Jodi Piccoult, ‘Small Great Things’
Andy's post of the week:
"Don't let them take the temperature on your forehead as you enter the Supermarket, because it erases your memory. I went for macaroni and cheese and came home with two cases of beer."
Gerald's post of the week:
"During the middle ages, they celebrated the end of the plague with wine and orgies. Does anyone know if they have anything like this planned for when this one ends?" [Note for members of the "above 60" population group Larry refers to above: It is not compulsory to participate in both options. Ed.]
Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.
Diesel Services Queensland and AB Crane Hire recently provided a truck and a huge mobile crane at no charge to lift a 40' container into our Project Shed area at Arundel. Thank you! Click on the links to go to their website.
This coming Wednesday 5th August, our State Parliamentarian for Surfers Paradise, John Paul Langbroek will present at our club. His principal subject will be the Queensland Olympic Games bid, but I'm sure there will be an opportunity to get in a question or two... ☺
Project Shed Chief Larry Murray needs helpers this Saturday morning: Starting at 08:30 am (or earlier if you like), we need as many able bodied helpers as possible at the shed, so if any Rotarians know people like this perhaps they could encourage them to come. 
When I first proposed Chris Thurtell for membership to our club he indicated that he was interested in helping Youth. That became an understatement this year! Not only did he help Youth in our club but he took on the Chair of the Youth Exchange Program for the District 4 years ago. This year tested his skills. 
