Rotarlight 2025-26 #9 (Dec 02, 2025)

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Fellow Rotarians & Friends,

Good to see a better attendance of 15 at this meeting including Honorary Members Uwe and Kevin.

It was also welcome back to Robert Thomson – finally home from his travels.

Unfortunately, Guest Speaker Councillor Darren Taylor was not able to attend as the Gold Coast City Council Meeting went longer than anticipated. We will reschedule Councillor Darren for a meeting early in 2026.

Chef Kouma looked after us again with a nice 3 course meal and we wished Kouma all the best for Christmas and he will be back online with us in January 2026

Pauline Armstrong was the lucky door winner and surprisingly accepted a nice bottle of Shiraz.

Members were advised that we have submitted an application for funding towards the Mobility Scooter Program from the Brightwell Trust administered by Mermaid Beach Rotary. We await the outcome.

Our thoughts are with Neil Jones after he has had his first Chemo treatment, with another as a ‘Christmas Present’ on 22 December. Neil intends to be at the Christmas Event.

Our Christmas Event will be held at Esprit de Vie 100 Lakeview Boulevard Mermaid Waters on Tuesday 16 December, commencing at 6pm on Level 7 for Pre Dinner drinks and nibbles.

We will then move to Harry's Dining on Level 1 at 7pm to enjoy a 2 Course Alternate drop of:

Traditional Christmas Roast Plate or Grilled Salmon Steak, followed by

Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta or Traditional Christmas Pudding

Please book in on ClubRunner as soon as you can, so that we have a good idea of numbers. I need to advise the Chef by Friday 12 December of numbers.

After you have booked in if you can please deposit $50 per person to the following Bank Account -

Broadbeach Rotary Club Account

BSB 034 637

Account Number 201534

Please put your name in the Description - to make Treasurer Noel's job much easier in balancing.

Another reminder that December is a great time to consider a contribution to the Rotary Foundation. You can nominate amounts to the Annual Fund or Polio Plus.

If you are making a Contribution, please Credit to the Club Account:

Broadbeach Rotary Club Account

BSB 034-637

Account Number 201534

Please put your Surname on the Deposit and then let Treasurer Noel know that you have made a contribution and where you would like it directed.

Our first Club Meeting in January will be at The Hub on 6 January 2026.

See you at our Christmas Event.

Yours in Rotary,

Neil

ATTENDANCE REPORT 02 DECEMBER 2025

15	Broadbeach Members
	Visiting Rotarians:
	Guest Speaker:
	Guests: Alain Charles
15	Total Attendance

NEXT MEETING

Tuesday 16 December

Club Christmas Celebration

Esprit de Vie 100 Lakeview Boulevard Mermaid Waters commencing at 6pm on Level 7 for Pre Dinner drinks and nibbles.

DUTY ROSTER

Chair: President Neil

BUNNINGS SAUSAGE SIZZLE

Friday 9 January 2026

7.30-10.00am Ron Borland, Uwe Seifert & Peter Tomlinson

10.00-12.30 Neil Baldwin, Barbara Burnheim & Col Welch

12.30-3.00pm Harold Busch, Noel Hodges $ Robert Thomson

SCOOTER PICKUP/DELIVERY

08 Dec - 21 Dec: Kevin O'Brien & Uwe Seifert

22 Dec - 04 Jan: Neil Baldwin

05 Jan - 18 Jan: Harold Busch

President

Neil Baldwin

Immediate Past President

Neil Baldwin

President Elect

Ron Borland

Vice President

Noel Hodges

Secretary

Neil Baldwin

Treasurer

Noel Hodges

The Rotary Foundation

Neil Jones

Club Insurance Officer

Noel Hodges

Youth Services

Andrew McTaggart

Webmaster

Jim Hawkins

Christmas Celebration Dinner
Esprit de Vie
Dec 16, 2025 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Club Meeting 6 January 2025
Broadbeach Rotary Hub
Jan 06, 2026 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

January Fellowship Meeting
Broadbeach Rotary Hub
Jan 20, 2026 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

View entire list

Member Birthdays

David O'Dwyer

December 4

Noel Hodges

December 24

Anniversaries

Neil Jones

Christine Jones

January 4

Peter Tomlinson

Roslyn

January 20

David O'Dwyer

Jenny

December 28

Rotary Information Weekly

Rotary Foundation Fundraising Goals Surpassed

Contributions will support projects around the globe, including a robust recommitment to the fight to end polio

Donors to The Rotary Foundation celebrated some big achievements in fundraising in the past year, showing their support for the wide array of programs the organization sponsors all over the world.

A multiyear campaign to increase the Endowment to US$2.025 billion by 2025 exceeded its goal by US$25 million. In 2024-25 alone, members and others contributed more than half a billion dollars to the Foundation.

“The goal was an inspiration, but the objective was to do good in the world,” says Mark Daniel Maloney, the 2024-25 Rotary Foundation trustee chair. “We are making sure that Rotary will always be able to carry out that mission.”

The Foundation raised more than US$569 million in 2024-25 alone, exceeding its annual goal by almost US$70 million. More than 478,000 individuals donated, along with over 31,000 Rotary clubs and nearly 1,900 Rotaract clubs.

Thanks to its donors, the Foundation was able to award 1,424 global grants, 468 district grants, and 74 disaster response grants in the past year. A US$2 million Programs of Scale grant will help build peace and economic independence in Colombia. Rotary International also extended its long-standing partnership with the Gates Foundation, announcing a joint commitment of up to US$450 million over three years to support global polio eradication efforts.

“Rotary members demonstrated their commitment to these efforts with their support of the 2.025 by 2025 campaign,” Maloney says. In particular, he notes the large number of fundraising events around the world that Rotary’s district governors organized.

“I am just amazed at the generosity of Rotary members,” he says. “They came together to make it happen.”

Learn more about the work of The Rotary Foundation.

Bunnings Family Xmas Night

Broadbeach Rotary Club and our Hub co-tenant Gold Coast Magic, jointly participated in Bunnings' Family Xmas Night on Thursday 4 December.

THE MEETING IN PHOTOS

WEEKLY LAUGHS

1. When one door closes and another door opens, you are probably in prison.

2. To me, "drink responsibly" means don't spill it.

3. Age 60 might be the new 40, but 9:00 pm is the new midnight.

4. It's the start of a brand new day, and I'm off like a herd of turtles.

5. The older I get, the earlier it gets late.

6. When I say, "The other day," I could be referring to any time between yesterday and 15 years ago.

7. I remember being able to get up without making sound effects.

8. I had my patience tested. I'm negative.

9. Remember, if you lose a sock in the dryer, it comes back as a Tupperware lid that doesn't fit any of your containers.

10. If you're sitting in public and a stranger takes the seat next to you, just stare straight ahead and say, "Did you bring the money?"

11. When you ask me what I am doing today, and I say "nothing," it does not mean I am free. It means I am doing nothing.

12. I finally got eight hours of sleep. It took me three days, but whatever.

13. I run like the winded.

14. I hate when a couple argues in public, and I missed the beginning and don't know whose side I'm on.

15. When someone asks what I did over the weekend, I squint and ask, "Why, what did you hear?"

16. When you do squats, are your knees supposed to sound like a goat chewing on an aluminium can stuffed with celery?

17. I don't mean to interrupt people. I just randomly remember things and get really excited.

18. When I ask for directions, please don't use words like "east."

19. Don't bother walking a mile in my shoes. That would be boring. Spend 30 seconds in my head. That'll freak you right out.

20. Sometimes, someone unexpected comes into your life out of nowhere, makes your heart race, and changes you forever. We call those people cops.

PEARLS OF WISDOM

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