I really enjoyed our newest members, Paul Jaffar and Johnny Bueti, presenting their ‘Men behind the badge’ at last week’s meeting. It’s great to have experienced Rotarians join our club and I look forward to the fresh ideas that Paul and Johnny will bring to Surfers Sunrise. Franz has done an excellent summary below of Paul and Johnny’s presentation – please have a read.
We have a board meeting tonight (Monday) after which will have concrete plans in place in regards to our upcoming fundraisers including the Golf Day, Small Business Expo and Shed Celebration. We will also lock in a date for the Christmas Party. I’ll update you all on this next week.
The District 9640 Membership Summit is on this Saturday starting at 9.30am at Mermaid Waters. Membership is the responsibility of everyone in Surfers Sunrise. Attendees will hear from local Rotarians on how their club can increase membership, retain members and also better engage existing, new and potential members. If you would like to attend please let me know as soon as possible.
As Queensland has a growing cluster of COVID-19 we are obviously watching any developments closely. Everyone’s health and wellbeing should be our 1st priority and as such, if you are feeling unwell please do not attend any meeting or the shed. Franz has confirmed that Surfers Paradise Surf Club has their COVID-Safe plans in place and as such we can continue meeting unless regulations change. See you this Wednesday at the Surf Club for a Social Meeting.
Last Wednesday, Johnny Bueti, who is the General Manager of Go Transit Media Group, became our "newest" member (although not new to Rotary - he transferred from the Burleigh Heads club to be closer to his work place). Picture (from left) PDG Darrell Brown, Johnny Bueti, President Charles Thomasson. Welcome to Surfers Sunrise, Johnny!
Last Wednesday, our newest members Paul Jaffar and Johnny Bueti introduced themselves to our members and guests.
First was Paul Jaffar: Paul grew up on the Gold Coast. He holds a degree in Pharmacy and, for the past 11 years, has been a partner in the Chempro Chemists business. And if that wouldn't keep him active enough: Paul is also a board member of the Australian College of Pharmacy, Vice President of the Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce, a Committee Member of the Queensland Branch of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia. But it’s not all business. His version of relaxation is… to run Marathons! And not just the local one, as massive as it is: he recently ran New York! And if you think that would just about take up all his time: wrong! Paul got married to Bella in December 2018...
Johnny Bueti: Born and raised in Mount Gambier, South Australia (the region of the famous Blue Lake), Johnny’s connection to Rotary goes all the way back to his grandfather Giovanni Bueti, PHF, OAM. Giovanni was the archetypal Australian Immigrant who came with very little and became, as his Order of Australia Medal would attest, a highly respected member of the community. He even wrote a book about it: 'A suitcase full of dreams', a copy of which Johnny donated to the club. “Granddad would take me down the street and introduce me to absolutely everyone”, Johnny enthused. And that, other than the naturally exuberant personality he shares with a lot of people with an Italian background, is probably one of the principal reasons why Johnny has no problem getting along with people whom he has never met before… ☺ His family owned a Caravan Park in Mt Gambier, but Johnny’s aims were entirely directed towards... Soccer! And he wasn’t a wall flower: Starting with representing South Australia in the 14-19 years division, he made it all the way up to A-League. But then he made the decision to embark on a business career. Today, he is the General Manager of Go Transit Media Group (they do the ‘wrap around’ advertising on the Gold Coast trams and buses).
Paul and Johnny both transferred from the Burleigh Heads Rotary Club to be closer to their place of work. Johnny immersed himself extensively in fund raising, among other events organising the ‘Long Lunch’ multiple times to raise money for Polio Plus. from which they transferred to be closer to their work place. Welcome to Surfers Sunrise!
We'll need manpower at the shed to sort out bikes we set aside in the container outside the shed, considered suitable for re-sale. Please set the morning aside if you can and come to give us a hand!
Peter Morgan was at the door (for Ashleigh Symes), Andy Bell was Chairman and Ian Mayberry was Sergeant. We had apologies from Richard Smith, Adrian Crowe, Al Sirovs, Fred Hamblen, Simon Brook and Ashleigh Symes.
President Charles Thomasson welcomed all members and guests Stephen Hamilton (guest of Doug Lipp), Malcolm Griffin (guest of Karen Holland) and Ramez Salib (guest of Paul Jaffar). Charles followed up with the induction into our club of Johnny Bueti, which was followed by Johnny’s and Paul’s ‘Men behind the Badge’ talks (see separate articles above). After their presentation, Charles elaborated on the weekend’s fundraiser, the Sausage Sizzle at Bunnings Southport, which raised a net of close to a grand! He foreshadowed upcoming events: The Project Shed’s 10,000th Wheelchair celebration, combined with a bike sale, the Golf Day, the Small Business Expo. Further, Charles outlined discussions he held via Zoom with four South African Rotary clubs in relation to shipping a container of some 280 wheelchairs into that region. The sticking point is the roughly $6,000 cost of shipping…
Andy Bell thanked Angus Miller and Geoff Croad for their hard work to organise the Bunnings Sizzle on Saturday and District Youth Service Chair, PDG Darrell Brown elaborated on various Youth projects, particularly in relation to Rotaract clubs. There are plans to start one with Gold Coast Rotary. And while Darrell was on his feet: he made the customary donation of $100 in celebration of another grandchild (his 7th)… which prompted Paul Smith to declare that he too had recently become a granddad! Congratulations to both!
Project Shed chief Larry Murray thanked all the workers who turned up on the previous Saturday to move timber out of the shed into the container. We need more volunteers at the shed to assist with the preparation of bikes to get them ready for the 10,000th Wheelchair celebration / Bike Sale, scheduled for 14th November. Further, we are planning to open the shed on Wednesdays as well – Bryan Tuesley will be on site on those days. We are also looking to manufacturing a product which can easily be sold online.
Ray Higgs confirmed that the Lutzy Award presentation will be made at our regular meeting of 30th September. See Events section for more details.
Freshly inducted Johnny Bueti was first cab off the rank: truly Italian heritage is just so clear! Your Editor copped it for a typo in the bulletin, wrongly advertising the bike restoring working bee at the shed for Saturday 5th October. It's Saturday 5th September! President Charles Thomasson - fine number 3 of 26 for not introducing the Sergeant at the Changeover... Peter Morgan, what was really the matter with your Ankle? [it was a genuine injury, but never let truth get in the way of a good story! ☺]Col Laurenson gave me $2, no idea what for? [for last meeting's fine!] Larry Murray, what are you dressing up for? Darrell Brown, that shoes and socks combination! Angus Miller, very kind to call me in Darwin to ask me to help at the Sausage Sizzle... Doug Lipp, are you really planning to be in NSW in mid October? Karen Holland, how much does it cost to bring a friend along? [Can't help the feeling that Malcolm came along quite willingly on his own volution! Ed.]
Duty Roster - note: subject to change - please check every week. Note: Fellowship duty also is expected to be at the Project Shed on the Saturday following the meeting
Karl Marx was a historically famous philosopher, but no one mentions Onya Marx, the inventor of the Starting Pistol.
‘The lie can be maintained only for such time as the state can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the state to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the state.’ Joseph Goebbels, Reichs Minister of Propaganda 1933-1945
Neil Thurlow's post of the week:
My girlfriend is fed up with my constant word play jokes. So I asked her "how can I stop my addiction?"
If you ever think that English is an easy language, just remember that lead and read rhyme and lead and read rhyme but read and lead do not rhyme and neither do read and lead. Aaaaargh!!
Diesel Services Queensland and AB Crane Hire recently provided a truck and a huge mobile crane at no charge to lift a 40' container into our Project Shed area at Arundel. Thank you! Click on the links to go to their website.
First was Paul Jaffar: Paul grew up on the Gold Coast. He holds a degree in Pharmacy and, for the past 11 years, has been a partner in the 
Johnny Bueti: Born and raised in Mount Gambier, South Australia (the region of the famous Blue Lake), Johnny’s connection to Rotary goes all the way back to his grandfather Giovanni Bueti, PHF, OAM. Giovanni was the archetypal Australian Immigrant who came with very little and became, as his Order of Australia Medal would attest, a highly respected member of the community. He even wrote a book about it: 'A suitcase full of dreams', a copy of which Johnny donated to the club. “Granddad would take me down the street and introduce me to absolutely everyone”, Johnny enthused. And that, other than the naturally exuberant personality he shares with a lot of people with an Italian background, is probably one of the principal reasons why Johnny has no problem getting along with people whom he has never met before… ☺ His family owned a Caravan Park in Mt Gambier, but Johnny’s aims were entirely directed towards... Soccer! And he wasn’t a wall flower: Starting with representing South Australia in the 14-19 years division, he made it all the way up to A-League. But then he made the decision to embark on a business career. Today, he is the General Manager of 
We'll need manpower at the shed to sort out bikes we set aside in the container outside the shed, considered suitable for re-sale. Please set the morning aside if you can and come to give us a hand!
Freshly inducted Johnny Bueti was first cab off the rank: truly Italian heritage is just so clear! Your Editor copped it for a typo in the bulletin, wrongly advertising the bike restoring working bee at the shed for Saturday 5th October. It's Saturday 5th September! President Charles Thomasson - fine number 3 of 26 for not introducing the Sergeant at the Changeover... Peter Morgan, what was really the matter with your Ankle? 
