Our very own Cameron Ashmore gave us a great presentation last Thursday. He was certainly had us entertained with the timeline of his life so far and he had just started on the intriguing stories from the fire service when time was called and a second edition beckons in the near future.

 

So much has happened in the Rotary space over the weekend that Cameron’s presentation seems ages ago!

The weather was heavily pitted against us for the scheduled Rotary Walk against DV. I recorded 44ml in my rain gauge at home for Friday. To my astonishment we has probably 80 people who hid under umbrellas for the walk from Queens Park to the Masonic Lodge. Please look at the album of photos from the weekend.

Thanks to the kindness of the Freemasons we were able to use the Supper room in the Masonic Lodge for the Rally and speakers. Estimates had the crowd at between 180 and 200 people.

The three main speakers didn’t disappoint and had the crowd enthralled with their facts and oratory skills. Maryanne Walsh was followed by Adair Donaldson (they both spoke at our meeting last October) and Dr Curtis Rayment brought it home with a heart felt presentation of why he is involved in the education of young men.

 

The District conference had the 14 members of RCTE who attended the conference front and centre. Of course Roger Klaassen (Deputy Conference Convenor) and Tony Jarroush (Conference Treasurer) had been intricately involved with the Conference organising committee for the last 18 months. Head sergeant Henry Campey led the group of sergeants very ably and the Club received some lovely compliments for the job well done. My thanks to those that reported to Henry; Ron Bowden, Craig Mathieson, Geoff Sommerville, Geoff Kapernick, Graham Christensen, Peter Nalder, Gavin Roberts. Ian Humphreys, Paul Stephenson, and Gary Campbell.  Ian Humphrey also featured (as the member from RCTE) in the joint Clubs of Toowoomba parody of YMCA entertainment piece and the less said about that the better!

 

There were several fantastic speakers and the my two favourites were Chadden Hunter and Dr Dinesh Palipana. Chadden gave an amazing presentation on his times with Wildlife documentary making and had us entertained with out-takes from Planet Earth 1 & 2. Dr Dinesh is a quadriplegic Emergency Doctor who works at the Gold Coast Hospital and his story and insights on the world had not a single dry eye in the house.

 

The RIPPR (Rotary International President’s Personal Representative) was a star of the conference. All the way from India, Raju Subramanian is a current Rotary International Director and an amazing orator. He spoke passionately and eloquently about his why in Rotary and the reasons to support the Rotary Foundation.

 

The Gala dinner on Saturday night had the theme of the Great Gatsby. RCTE featured prominently in the highlights of the evening. Big Gav showed us dance moves that had the phones out taking videos (straight to the sergeant for a big fine!) and our very own sergeant, Paul Stephenson, butchered the Nutbush and the Macarena and should be heavily fining himself!!

 

This week is a busy week for the Club.

Buy your own meals. I would encourage everyone who is able to make it along that evening to do so.

This is an opportunity to assimilate 10-12 enthusiastic Rotarians in the age bracket of 45-65 years into our Club.

I would encourage each of you to come along and meet these guys and make up your own mind.

 

 

 

 

 

Regards

Alistair

 

 

 

Regards

Alistair