Our speaker today was Lola Mashado from Relationships Australia (Queensland). 

Relationships Australia (Queensland) is a leading provider of relationship support services for individuals, families and communities.

Our Mt Tamborine social and vocational excursion was a real hit for all the members and partners that attended.Seeing nature at its best with a walk around Curtis Falls, then a very interesting tour of Australian Outback Opals thanks to the very welcoming owners,learning all their is to know about opal. This was followed by a fun group lunch and gelato at the businesses right next door to the Opals!It is good to support local business at this time.

Our speaker today (via Zoom) was Cameron Bolton, President of the Rotary Club of Tenterfield. He talked briefly of the town of Tenterfield where he grew up and also the challenges now facing the club. Zoom meetings haven't been as popular in their club! He talked about some of their projects, one of which was distribution of potable water to the local families in the times of drought in recent times. They have been able to arrange delivery of water to 17 properties, with 7 more properties being scheduled for delivery. Each water cart sent is servicing 3 properties, providing approximately 6,000L of water per house and just over 900000 litres in total ! Awesome job ! He also talked about the importance of keeping club members engaged in the planning of events and fundraisers, even if only a fraction of the ideas came to fruition in these challenging times. Good tips for us all :) 

Another fantastic catch up with Club members on a glorious winters morning at magic Burleigh Heads. Good to meet Rotary friends every week as the fellowship is awesome. That's what we hear every time .. Members who can't come really do miss it :) So here s a quick wrap up of our meeting today,no Guest Speaker this week but always lots of action. We had Greg Evans presented by President John Clark, with the Spirit of Rotary Perpetual Award, as he was unable to attend our Changeover dinner.In addition another new member was indicted into our Club, welcome Gareth Keenan ,who was introduced to our Club by current District Governor,Andy Rajapakse, also a member of our Club and in attendance for the induction. Also lots of laughs as our Rotary Foundation Director, Ron Mullins did a quiz on Paul Harris Fellows and managed to knock out everyone, so won the bottle of wine himself!

 

 

An excellent attendance both ways at our meeting this morning with 15 on site at the Surf Club for breakfast and 16 Zooming in,including our regular guests Janet from Michigan and Jenni from Clithereo UK. Our Guest Speaker,Maggie Twyford also zoomed in with an inspiring presentation on her time as a volunteer at an orphanage in Mexico.

Past President Allan Barnett's Zooming around the world to attend 30 different Clubs, in 14 different countries was featured firstly in the Seniors Newspaper then taken up by the Gold Coast Bulletin, the Mackay newspaper and many other regional newspapers in Queensland.In addition Allan's friend that he met at a Zoom meeting then posted it on the Casper,Wyoming Facebook page. So this story has really spread around the world promoting Rotary and how we use technology to stay in touch and attend our regular meetings and other Clubs meetings,no matter where they are. 

 

This is the Currumbin Community Special School (for special needs children) new playground area! This was a community service project idea first suggested, by Past President Richard Spencer in May 2017! But at a cost of $45,000 we knew it was going to be a difficult task to find the funding for it, yet after three years we finally did it! After many attempts at Grants, and lots of fundraisers,it was finally achieved by funding from our Club,the Currumbin Coolangatta Tweed Rotary Club and a Grant from the Gambling Community Benefit Fund,thanks to our Club member David Ungar,who submitted the application on behalf of the School P & C.

There are four new pieces of equipment- Explorer Net Mount Gingera, Whirly Go Round (for wheel chairs),the Revolving Sand Table and the Bed of Beads,plus all new rubber matting and turf around it.A magnificent achievement for our Club.

Thank you Club member Karen Waters, Zooming in live form Japan to provide us with another great presentation on her business there,her Rotary story and the history of Rotary in Japan,commenced by Sir Umekishi Yoneyama,known as the father of Rotary in Japan.

At our Zoom meeting today,we had the pleasure of inducting our very first member virtually via Zoom,welcome  Kathryn Koch! we managed to arrange to get her badge and welcome kit delivered to her and then Club Membership Director, Jacqueline Plaice,conducted the induction over Zoom. Her husband and 19 year old cat were with her at home!

 

After a little absence due to the current Covid-19 lockdown and social distancing we have finally met again with our first regular Club meeting via Zoom.We welcomed a visitor,Gary Hopkinson dropping in from New Zealand,and it was great to see our Club member,Karen Waters,attending from Japan! All went well and we had a very similar format of our normal on site meetings,including Heads and Tails,and the National Anthem!

A huge variety of food,drinks,music,atmosphere and good company with a great turnout of members for our Leap Year Party, only once every four years! at Miami Marketta for dinner!And good promotion of our Club with the little sign for our exclusive area!

 

 

Our Club member Andy Rajapakse is the incoming District Governor for 2020-2021,commencing 1st July, and it was a very interesting meeting as he gave us an update on what will be happening in our District and with Rotary International in his year and going forward as we enjoyed lots of fresh air,sunshine and a magic view of the beach with this meeting out on the balcony, as our usual room is being renovated.Current Division 12 Councillor Pauline Young,a great supporter of our Club attended as well, and enjoyed the atmosphere.

Congratulations to our Rotary Exchange student,Emily Campbell who has just returned from a year away in Italy and gave us a very professional and interesting presentation on  her "Rotary families" that she lived with her and her year in Italy.

 

 

We welcome our latest member Yohann Azlee to our Club being inducted at this mornings meeting then going on to be Guest Speaker with Jamie Preston as they are both volunteer Board members of Gold Coast Project for Homeless Youth-a charity doing great things to help the homeless on the Gold Coast.This is what can happen-Yohann  visited our Club a couple of months ago and was asked if he would like to be a Guest Speaker then,and because he was so impressed with our meetings and what we do he decided to join!