In this Changeover edition of Rotarlight we are including the addresses delivered by both
outgoing President Neil and incoming President Ron
Yours in Rotary
Editor
Rotary Year 2025/2026 – report from outgoing President Neil
Thank you for your attendance and it is great to see so many partners, Honorary
Members and Guests in attendance to celebrate this past year of Broadbeach Rotary
Club, as well as my second consecutive year of holding the positions of President
and Secretary. I wish to thank every member of our great club for their continuing
contribution to our Club, Rotary and the Community.
I expressly wish to thank Neil J (who is an apology this evening), Noel, Andrew and
Jim for their Board support over the Rotary Year. I also wish to thank Cec and Uwe
for their continual effort in looking after the Meeting Registration Process and to all
those members who have also assisted in our Bar operation.
Tonight, brings to a close the International Presidential Theme for 2025/2026 of Unite
For Good. This theme highlights:
Focus on Human Connection: Which emphasizes using community and
connection to drive positive change in a divided world.
Collaboration: Encourages members to work together on service projects and
expand global impact.
Action-Driven: Aligns directly with the Rotary Action Plan to create stronger
recognition for Rotary's name and service partners.
We are fortunate that we have the facility that we are meeting in – The Hub – which
is the envy of some clubs and we are also able share our facility with Gold Coast
Magic which highlights the area of collaboration.
Our widely recognised Mobility Scooter Project is quite action driven and which also
creates positive human connections as we interact with our Scooter recipients on a
regular basis. Under the guidance of Past President Harold, the Mobility Scooter
Project is a perfect example of having a positive impact on our community. With over
50 Mobility Scooters in the Community, our Club is providing an independence to our
recipients that they would not normally have. It is good to know that our Mobility
Scooter Project is well known among our fellow clubs. When you are able to witness
a recipient receiving a scooter and enabling them additional mobility and happiness,
it is something that our club should be proud of and without our fundraising by
members from the occasional Bunnings Sizzle we would not be able to continue our
Mobility Scooter Program.
In mentioning The Hub – it would be remiss of me if I/we did not acknowledge the
level of hospitality and menu selections provided by our own Chef Kouma – for that –
all of us say a big thank you.
Our meetings across the Rotary Year as we have seen from the 12-month
Presentation prepared by Past President Neil Jones have been somewhat varied
with a Formal Meeting where we have tried to engage a Guest Speaker on the first
Tuesday and then a Fellowship Meeting on the third Tuesday of the month.
We have been fortunate with having Guest Speakers across the year– Honorary
Member Rob Borbidge, Rob Brown – Regionalisation, Tim O’Dowd – Making Sense
of Health, Councillor Darren Taylor – Council Updates, Presentation on Fire Ants and
Bart Traynor a Clinical Psychologist. We have also held 2 Club Forums, as well as
the Annual General Meeting, the Christmas Party at Esprit de Vie Mermaid Waters
and hosted the Rotary Friendship Exchange Team from Arizona, as well as some
Member Behind the Badge talks.
We have had club representation at the Tri-District Conference in May and at a
District Assembly and we also have members enjoying a number of Rotary
Fellowships. It is worth noting that Bill Rex is an apology tonight as he is currently
making his way to Taiwan to represent Broadbeach Rotary on a Rotary Friendship
Exchange. We also acknowledge Incoming President Ron is District Chair of the
Rotary Friendship Exchange Program.
From a Membership perspective we have ended the Rotary Year with an increase in
membership of 1, welcoming Ray Milton back to Rotary last meeting. But in a sad
recollection of the past year, we mark the passing of Honorary Member Paul Taylor
and Rotary Partner June Milton.
I am happy to report, that unlike last year, we have not experienced any thefts from
The Hub!
I know that I have mentioned this, but I would like to personally thank every member
for their personal contribution to our club and Rotary in general, particularly the
setting up and cleaning of The Hub for meetings and the general upkeep of The Hub,
including being involved in the Working Bee, plus the members who ‘volunteer’ for
sizzles and on the Scooter Roster.
While we encourage the responsible use of alcohol, I have to thank Colin for
coordinating our Containers for Change process, as well as the members for
bringing their empty containers to The Hub for depositing to the Club’s account. I
also know that Colin thoroughly enjoyed the experience of coordinating the
Christmas Cake and Pudding orders!
Congratulations to Colin Welch for being awarded the Bruce Duncan Fellowship
Cup, as voted by our members.
Thank you to Past District Governor Wendy Scarlett for your involvement in our
Changeover.
I have been fortunate to lead Broadbeach Rotary Club, while also being able to
participate in the RV Fellowship with a number of caravan trips as well as travelling
overseas, and I sincerely thank the members for their support.
In closing - Our member involvement can easily translate to - Everyone is doing
good in the world.
A big Thank You to Ron and Allison and their helpers for all the preparations and the
work that they have put in to make tonight a success.
Now it is only fitting to wish Ron all the best for the next Rotary Year….
Inaugural Address by 2026=27 President Ron
Thank you Wendy and Past President Neil.
To be a Rotarian is an honour and to be asked to be the President of a Rotary Club I believe is an even greater
privilege. So, I would like to thank the members of the Rotary Club of Broadbeach for giving me that opportunity to
be your President in the Rotary Year 2026-27.
A Little of my Rotary History:
The Rotary journey for me started 49 years ago back in 1977 when just after establishing my own real estate
business in Moree I was invited by a former football team mate to a meeting. I guess I was what Rotary today would
love to have, new young under 30 members. I was only 28.
It was a major cultural shock as I addressed the members by Mr. I was soon told call me Frank, call me Norm, call me
Perry. The members were the leaders from all walks of life from the mayor, councillors, council planners, engineers,
school headmasters, solicitors, and many business owners and here I was trying to be polite as in those days you
always addressed older men by their surname.
I cannot say Rotary was the reason my business was so successful, but I can say that those close personal contacts
were invaluable when introductions or information was needed. This was very much the same during my time as a
member of Surfers Paradise Club where the state Premier our own Honorary member Rob and the city Mayor Gary
Baildon were both members and remain personal friends today.
LEPEL BAR
This little Lepel Bar was presented to me in 1982 when I left Moree for the Gold Coast. It is inscribed “Almost
President”. I was President Elect to serve as President for the 1982-83 year but sold my business just before the
Rotary Changeover and never took the chair.
I joined the Rotary Club of Surfers Paradise upon arriving on the Gold Coast.
In 1989-90 I had the privilege to serve as their President. At that time the club had about 66 members.
Unfortunately, I think I have aged a little since then.
RESIGNED
I resigned from Rotary in 2002 together with quite a few current and past members of this club. I did not transfer my
membership across as I wanted to concentrate my time on Rugby coaching. Thanks to a friend on our floor in The
Pinnacle Building, I was asked to come back and join Mermaid Beach club in January 2019. In 2021-22 I served as
their Club President.
EXCITED FOR THE YEAR AHEAD
I am excited for the year ahead, as Past Presidents Neil and Andrew in the past 4 years have built the foundations to
move the club ahead, it is this Boards job to now grow on that and expand our community service beyond our clubs
Blue Ribbon Mobility Scooter Project.
At our Club Forum and combined Board meeting 2 weeks ago, some good ideas were put forward by our members.
Our Rotary International Presidential theme for 2026-27 is “Create Lasting Impact” this theme is passed down to our
District 9640 Governor Deb Frugtniet. We as a Rotary Club, not me as an individual will strive to “Create Lasting
Impact” in this coming year.
Some of our ongoing and new projects include – our ongoing Mobility Scooter Project which has been going now for
35 years and has 50 out on lease at $1 per year to persons with a mobility problem that can’t get NDIS funding., We
will support Rotary Youth Leadership camps plus our involvement in the Rotary Foundation, PoloPlus and the
Malaria Vaccine program & research at Griffith University where funds permit.
COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS
I am also looking forward to the club being involved in more community service projects where we can be seen as
flying the Rotary flag and helping serve the community.
VOCATIONAL VISITS
Some of the best Rotary meetings are when we undertake a visit to a particular location of a business, institution, or
community service. I would like to see this back on the agenda even though within our club we have little
opportunity.
FRIENDSHIP & FELLOWSHIP
Friendship and Fellowship is an extremely important part of Rotary Life both within the club and outside of the club.
Our Sister club relationships have been extremely successful over the years for inter club visits particularly as both
the overseas clubs are within an 8-hour flight time. Japan and New Zealand. We will look to an exchange visit in
some way this year.
Our PDG Wendy Scarlet and I are the district committee of Rotary Friendship Exchange where a group of up to 12
Rotarians visit a district in another country for 14 days and members from that district visit this district and are
hosted in the homes of Rotarians. Currently our member Bill Rex is on such an exchange to Taipei.
I feel the greatest part about the Rotary Club of Broadbeach is the friendship and fellowship among its members
which we all need to continue to foster.
It gives me great pleasure to introduce the incoming board for 2026-27.
Your VICE PRESIDENT & CLUB SERVICE Director– Pauline Armstrong.
Your Immediate PAST PRESIDENT & SECRETARY – Neil Baldwin.
TREASURER – Jim Hawkins.
COMMUNITY SERVICE Director – Colin Welch.
YOUTH SERVICE Director - Andrew McTaggart.
INTERNATIONAL SERVICE Director – Neil Jones.
ATTENDANCE REPORT 02 JUNE 2026
17
Broadbeach Members
1
Visiting Rotarian: PDG Wendy Scarlett
Guest Speaker:
18
Guests: Carol Baldwin, Allison Borland, Helen Busch, Pam Hawkins, Kay Hodges, Kathy Lewis, Lea Rickwood, Ian & Suzette Rule, Margot & Rob Thomasson, Alison Thomson, Roslyn Tomlinson, Peter Tomlinson Jnr, John & Rosie Wallace, Ruth Welch and Sophie Whitley.
Rotary Fellowships deepen connections beyond the club
June is Rotary Fellowships Month! Rotary Fellowships are international, independently organized groups that bring people together around shared hobbies, professions, or identities. From music and art to sports, history, and technology, fellowships help create a more connected global Rotary community — and offer meaningful ways to build friendships beyond your club.
THE MEETING IN PHOTOS
No one was getting past these two cowboys Ron & Allison with guests
Lots of fellowship with was enjoyed with members and guests embracing the theme
Barbara Proposed toast to Rotary PDG Wendy responded
Colin proposed Toast to Partners Allison Responded
Peter presents Fellowship Cup to Colin President Neil Presents his 2025-26 report
PE Ron presents certificate of service to Neil PDG Wendy in ducts President Ron
2026-27 President Ron addresses the Club
President Ron & the Board for 2026-27
The Lighter Side Fortnightly
I get most of my exercise these days from shaking my head in disbelief.
Me: Just had my physical today and the doctor says I’m a beast.
Wife: No Dear, he said your obese.
I thought the dryer made my clothes shrink. Turns out it was the refrigerator.
I never thought I would be the type of person who’d wake up early in the morning to exercise……..And I was right.
Did you hear about the town that legalised pot but banned alcohol?
The residents were left high and dry.
This book on marriage says ‘treat your wife like you treated her on the first date”.
So after dinner tonight I am dropping her off at her parents’ house.
PEARLS OF WISDOM
- Thank you for viewing the Broadbeach Rotarlight -
Lots of fellowship with was enjoyed with members and guests embracing the theme 
Barbara Proposed toast to Rotary PDG Wendy responded
