The insurance for the forklift has been organised through Aon who cover all of the insurance for Rotary. We will be asked to make a payment to Rotary later on to cover our proportion of the insurance cost.
Sorry I did not attend last week’s social meeting as I had Covid. Unfortunately, Sue came done with it as well. I am over it now and it will another few days before Sue will be fully recovered.
Don’t forget to book for our club’s Changeover Luncheon, which is at Braeside Estate, Gooding Drive, Merrimac next Sunday 16th June 2024. If you cannot attend, please let Franz or Graeme know, as final numbers have to be notified early this week. See article below. Looking forward to seeing you on Sunday!!!
Thought for the Week: People can’t drive you crazy if you don’t give them the keys. (Book title by Mike Bechtle)
Bruce Howlett, who is a member of the Burleigh Heads Rotary Club, will bring us up to date on one of the most daring Rotary projects ever undertaken in Australia: Developing a vaccine against Malaria. This project, which is undertaken at the local campus of Griffith University, is funded through a number of clubs throughout Australia and New Zealand.
President Doug Lipp and President Elect Andy Bell cordially invite you to attend our Changeover Luncheon. It will be held at the same venue as last year's (and wasn't that hugely successful!):
Braeside Estate
275 Gooding Drive
Merrimac 4226
Convenor Grahame Isaacson has negotiated not only a great luncheon, but we also secured a bar tab... free beer, wine or soft drinks (ok, within reason!).
“I was born in Port Douglas” Ron proudly declared. To my question whether that was before the emergence of that town in Queensland’s Far North as a major tourist destination, he added “well, there were some 50 hotels already then!”
After High School, Ron initially worked in Retail, then at 21 years of age, decided that the Army was his destination. Come 1968, he joined the 1st Battalion (Infantry) for 1year service in Vietnam followed by a 3 year posting to Malaysia and Singapore.
After training as a Fire Controller (Mortars) in Australia, Ron was posted to RMC Duntroon as a Drill Instructor. On promotion to WO2 another posting to 2/4th Battalion as a CSM. A posting followed to Infantry Centre as an instructor on the RSM’s Course as a WO1. The final posting was to The 2/4th Battalion as the Regimental Sergeant Major.
Upon his discharge, after 21 years in the services, he was appointed to the Defence Housing Authority in Townsville. Upon obtaining formal Real Estate Agent qualifications, his work included the purchasing of houses and accommodation for Defence personnel in North Queensland.
Ron met the love of his life, Zina, in the Army; she then was a Paymaster (Paymistress?). Retiring to the Gold Coast, they both enjoy Golf, going to the Gym at least twice a week, gardening, touring the world, and now plan extensive touring of Australia. Music? “Sure!” He replied, “Rock, Pop, Frank Sinatra, and what’s that blond Australian classic music singer? Yes, Mirusia!”, he confessed…
One of our volunteers, Rick Parry, became aware that Biggera Waters State School wanted to donate almost 300 moulded plastic chairs. All in good condition, except that the legs showed signs of rust and corrosion. Well, we don't need the legs, but the seats are ideal to be deployed with our Rough Terrain Wheelchairs. Rick organised with Leanne Allison (picture), the school's Business Manager, and in multiple loads picked them up. This will save us a considerable amount of money. Thank you, Allison and Biggera Waters High School! And well spotted, Rick!
Last Saturday, Pastor Ken Wigglesworth and two of his helpers, Tim and Ken, came to the project shed to pick up another 50 wheelchairs, destined for Zambia. (You may recall that I reported that a consignement, sent some 15 years ago is still very much in use.) The church liaised with incoming Wheelchair Trust Chairman Geoff Croad, and will also pick up some bicycles that are not suitable for our Rough Terrain Wheelchairs manufacture. In turn, they'll send some strong men to help us load hospital beds (yes, they ARE very heavy!) into the container for Fiji.
Photo (from left): Geoff Croad, Tim, Sean, Pastor Ken, Rick Parry. Obviously, our new forklift was very much put to use to stack the wheelchairs into and on top of the roof of the delivery van they brought along.
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
There are no limits to what you can accomplish when you are supposed to doing something else.
This operation is not being planned with any alternatives. This operation is planned as a victory, and that's the way it's going to be. We're going down there, and we're throwing everything we have into it, and we're going to make it a success. General Dwight D. Eisenhower, in relation to D-Day, 6th June 1944
During training exercises, the Lieutenant who was driving down a muddy back road encountered another jeep stuck in the mud with a red-faced Colonel at the wheel.“Your car stuck, sir?” asked the Lieutenant as he pulled alongside. “Nope,” replied the colonel, coming over and handing him the keys. “Yours is.”
Bruce Howlett, who is a member of the Burleigh Heads Rotary Club, will bring us up to date on one of the most daring Rotary projects ever undertaken in Australia: Developing a vaccine against Malaria. This project, which is undertaken at the local campus of Griffith University, is funded through a number of clubs throughout Australia and New Zealand.
“I was born in Port Douglas” Ron proudly declared. To my question whether that was before the emergence of that town in Queensland’s Far North as a major tourist destination, he added “well, there were some 50 hotels already then!”
One of our volunteers, Rick Parry, became aware that Biggera Waters State School wanted to donate almost 300 moulded plastic chairs. All in good condition, except that the legs showed signs of rust and corrosion. Well, we don't need the legs, but the seats are ideal to be deployed with our Rough Terrain Wheelchairs. Rick organised with Leanne Allison (picture), the school's Business Manager, and in multiple loads picked them up. This will save us a considerable amount of money. Thank you, Allison and Biggera Waters High School! And well spotted, Rick!
