Sergeant David O’ Dwyer opened the meeting at 6.30 pm.
Toast by Graham Werrell to “Real Estate Industry”. Graham provided an update on the current situation with the property market on the Gold Coast. Highlighted the limited available properties for sale and rentals.
President Les is on holiday, in his absence, acting president Alain Charles welcomed all specially our guest Edwina Hutchison and wished everyone an enjoyable evening.
Pauline Armstrong shared information on upcoming Botanical Bazaar, scheduled for Saturday July 31 and Sunday August 1
st at Country Paradise Parklands, Nerang. Tickets are on sale now. For more information please visit:
www.botanicalbazaargc.com.au
Graham Werrell shared information for next Tuesday (22 June) visit to "The Verge" at Burleigh Golf Course. This is a new development of retirement apartments that provide a new experience in golf course living adjacent to the 10th fairway at the Burleigh Golf Club. A light dinner will be provided, please register ASAP.
Graham Sivyer provided an update on the Pentecost Island Project. Following is a copy of his report for your information:
Broadbeach Rotary Club June 15, 2021- Update of Pentecost Island Project.
We have just submitted a Global Grant application to Rotary International for a matching grant for the Project.[Stage 2]
We have budgeted for US$ 47,260 to include a portable XR system, blood auto-analyser, solar electrical system with battery backup, computer network, water tank and plumbing, fire extinguisher, refrigerator and freight costs. The first stage of an annexe to house the above equipment is still being built at the Mens Shed, Arundel with a major effort from Surfers Sunrise R.C. The annexe will be ‘flat packed’ and shipped to Vanuatu later this year.
Burleigh Heads Rotaractors have made an enormous contribution to the project including the building of the annexe, the fit out with electrical cables and power points as well as building the computer system needed for the digital portable XR system. An off-shoot of their involvement has been the formation of 3 new Rotaract Clubs on the Gold Coast including the ‘Makers Rotaract Club’ based at the Arundel Mens Shed. Honorary Rotarian Uwe Seifert has spent many hours painting the annexe.
With the assistance of Wayne Leatham of Medical Repurposing Network, Ben Loots, a retired electrical engineer and Steve Willis, Chief Radiographer, South Coast Radiology we are considering purchasing the Portable XR system and blood auto-analyser through a Chinese company, Healicom.
These systems will be freighted directly to Vanuatu and with the assistance of Santo RC, Luganville Vanuatu, and will then be transported to Mauna Hospital on Pentecost.
Clubs now involved with the Project include:
Broadbeach
Surfers Sunrise
Gold Coast,
Tauranga, Kasaoka,
Madras [D 3232]
Santo, Vanuatu
Burleigh Heads Rotaract Club
Nordwest Bremen Rotaract Club
Many thanks to Russ Hutchinson and Brian Pearson who have donated generously to our Project. Also thanks to Jim Hawkins who secured a large donation from the Neumann Family Trust. Apart from helping with the Project these donations will assist enormously gaining the matching Global Grant.
Graham Sivyer [ on behalf of the PIP committee
Sergeant David had a quick fine session with the help from the bunyips Jim and Noel.
Raffle Winners were Bill Waller and Alex Jorden.
Andrew drew the Silver Circle, Graham Sivyer and Noel Hodges were the winners.
Acting president Alain introduced our guest speaker, Bruce Kuhn and provided the following background information.
The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI), or Operation Helpem Fren, was a partnership between the people and government of Solomon Islands and fifteen contributing countries of the Pacific region. The Mission is majority-funded and led by Australia and commenced in 2003 to lay the foundations for long-term stability, security and prosperity.
From mid-2013, RAMSI was solely a policing mission, the Participating Police Force (PPF) working in partnership with the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) to build a modern, effective and independent police force that has the full confidence and support of the community.
The initial focus of the PPF was on restoring law and order, collecting weapons and arresting suspected criminals. As the security environment improved, the PPF stepped back to allow the RSIPF to take the lead on front line policing and focussed on building the capabilities of the RSIPF.
In 2007, Bruce was seconded on a 60-week deployment from the Queensland Police to the AFP to participate in the RAMSI mission.
After the introduction, Bruce delivered an engaging talk, here is a summary of Bruce’s Speech:
Seconded to Australian Federal Police (AFP) to support RSIPF (as above) in an advisor role. Bruce provided a quick history of conflict in the Solomons from WW2 where the US and Japan fought with huge losses of life and UXO's still a major problem, to the tensions between Malaita and Gaudalcanal which effectively was a civil war, which led to the RAMSI mission.
Initially Team Leader in Honiara before being asked to take over Coordinator role of Honiara (Supt) which later included Provincial, covering all operational policing advisors. Role included in charge of 100 advisors from 15 countries, managing the three helicopters and plane, and advisor to Chief Superintendent of Honiara. This role entailed travelling across the country meeting with Police and community leaders to engage and 'win the hearts and minds' of the people to restore law and order of the years of conflict which led to the RAMSI mission.
A number of areas were discussed, including the response to the 2007 EArthquake and Tsunami and the effect it had on the country, from both a supportive role and also the helplessness of the local police due to a lack of capacity to do anything at all. To being operationally responsible for the government 'Vote of No Confidence' against the Prime Minister, whereby in the previous year led to two days of rioting and effectively burning ChinaTown, including 11 police cars. Fortunately due to role of the police, rioters were stopped from entering the city, and as advise by DFAT, 'Democracy was allowed to occur'.
Another situation Bruce is proud of is deploying SERT officers and a section of Army to a remote location of Guadalcanal, to quell an attack on the police station, keep a wanted murderer in custody and support the involved police, utilising available air support. There was till time for some relaxation including scuba diving, golf, trekking to pristine waterfalls and locations, and of course socialising. He returned to the Qld Police om 2008 after his secondment. Bruce shared beautiful pictures/ slides which were depicting magnificent sceneries, and a glimpse of the communities that he was working with.
Acting president Alain provided a vote of thanks to Bruce at conclusion of his talk. The meeting finished around 8.10 pm.
