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President's Message
Charles Thomasson
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The Shed has been a hive of activity since reopening in May 2020 post the COVID closure. Our ‘Shed Men’, Surfers Sunrise Rotarians, Broadbeach Rotarians and many Rotaractors have all been in regular attendance as we not only continue to build and ship Wheelchairs but increasingly focus on the Vanuatu Health Centre Project. With the assistance of the Rotaractors we are in the early stages of planning for a new website for the Wheelchair Trust and the process to achieve a USD$10,000 Google Advertising Grant. It is early days but as they say ‘watch this space’.
 
Last week at the Wednesday Social Meeting, seven of us ordered our ‘Rotary Says No to Domestic Violence’ T-Shirts for the Baton Relay. It would be great if as many members as possible were wearing these shirts when we participate in the Rotary Baton Relay on Friday 16th April between 9.30-11.30am at Broadwater Parklands. The shirts are $20 each and I will bring the order form (and the Square Terminal) to the next few meetings. More details on the Baton Relay to follow over the coming weeks and any suggestions welcome.
 
Our next fundraiser is fast approaching, a Bunnings Sausage Sizzle on Sunday 21st March. These regular Bunnings Sausage Sizzle’s are a great way for our club to raise funds for our many projects and Rotary Youth Programs and are also a good fun. If you can spare 2 hours on the day please let Geoff Croad know as soon as possible.
 
Make sure you have a read of the Bulletin below and in particular the articles on Bill Reed and Ben Loots – thanks Bill and Ben for all you have done and continue to do for the Club and Wheelchair Project.
 
This Wednesday morning we have a Formal Meeting at the Surf Club - see you all there at 7am.
 
Charles Thomasson
President 2020-21
Stories
This coming Wednesday: Glen Wallwork
Glen Wallwork is the Program Coordinator - Suicide Prevention at Wesley Mission Queensland. Via Marcus Mission, a division of Wesley Mission primarily concerned with men's suicide, he has set up a network of Suicide Prevention Mentors throughout the South East and the eastern seaboard of Queensland.  See you at the Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club, upstairs venue. 
Meet our volunteers: Ben Loots
Ben spent his early years in Holland (Eindhoven), where he became a qualified Electrical / Electronics Technician and worked for the first 10 years with Philips, the giant international electronics company. At our shed, you’ll mostly find him up a ladder - he is the one who does anything to do with electrical work, as he holds a ‘Sparkie’ license. [Please don’t ask him “what’s the weather up there?”… he has heard it many times before… ☺ Ed.]
 
In 1983, he moved with his family to New Zealand (“for two years” – haven’t we heard that before!), where he worked in Industrial Automation for 7 years, then started his own company, specialising in Voice – Data – Radio communications. In 2002 he sold his business and came across the ditch to Australia, where he specialised in Nuclear Medicine, before coming to the Gold Coast in 2013, continuing in his technical career in keeping medical electronics working.
 
Ben’s interests are very wide: Firstly, he reads “anything to do with technology” [some people might call him a ‘Nerd’… Ed.] Electronics is not just his profession, it is one of his hobbies too. He is an avid photographer – “I have about four cameras... or so” he commented. Add to that Alternative Energy, Environmental Science (in 2014 he won a federal award for his work in cleaning up a waterway in the estate where he lives), even small scale food production. So it’s all technology? Oh no! Ben also sings in a choir (contemporary), and for relaxation listens to 60’s and 70’s Rock n Roll (Beatles, Clearwater Revival), reads good novels (Jeffrey Archer is his favorite author) and (ahem) books, internet posts and magazine articles on Nuclear Fusion, Particle Physics…
Give this man a medal! Bill Reed
Al Sirovs sent me that picture. Despite me having a reasonably regular involvement with the people at the Project Shed, I wasn't aware that Bill Reed had, over the years, made up over 1,600 wheelchairs at his home.  Last Saturday, he delivered the last one (for the time being anyway) - he sold his house and is in the process of "joining the Grey Nomads", according to Al.
 
Over 1,600 wheelchairs? Well, talking about being blown away with a feather! From the Surfers Sunrise Rotary Club, our sincere thanks and best wishes go to you, Bill! We wish you safe travels and look forward to your visit again upon your return from travelling "the long paddock".
 
From Major General (Rtd) Susil Chandrapala: Thank you for the wheelchairs
It's not every day one receives a letter signed by a Major General. You may recall a post some time ago where we reported a load of wheelchairs and hospital beds going to Battaramulla, Sri Lanka. The arrangements were made by Adjit Abeywardena of the Rotary Club of Jindalee. Last week, we received a personal letter from Major General (Rtd) Susil Chandrapala MD, who is the Chairman of his Rotary club's Wheelchair Project. the 11 wheelchairs were delivered to the Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Hospital (RRH) in Ragamana, Sri Lanka.  
 
Quoting from his letter: "On behalf of the President and members of RC Battaramulla of RID 3220 Sri Lanka and Maldives, I wish to sincerely thank you and Members of your club for your generous contribution. These wheelchairs will be used by the poor and needy children who are being treated at RRH."
 
Thank you for the feedback, General. Good to hear that together we are all making a difference!
Gold Coast Ramble coming up: 21st March 2021
Our club has been involved with the Gold Coast Ramble since its inception, regularly fielding teams.  Are you up to it this year? Click on the picture to go directly to their website. At last week's meeting, David Baguley (RC of Gold Coast) the details of this event, to be staged on 21st March 2021, starting on Chevron Island (see article below). With a much more modern App, this year’s event only requires four check points to be manned. We need prizes! Can you assist?
Duty Roster
 
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
 
DateDoorChairmanFellowship/Project Shed (Saturday)
03/03/2021Adrian CroweAshleigh SymesPaul Seymour
10/03/2021N/A (Social Meeting)N/A (Social Meeting)Al Sirovs (Saturday 13/03/21)
17/03/2021Salib RamezPeter MorganPaul Smith
24/03/2021N/A (Social Meeting)N/A (Social Meeting)Richard Smith (Saturday 27/03/21)
31/03/2021Darrell BrownMitch BrownMark Twyford
07/04/2021N/A (Social Meeting)N/A (Social Meeting)Andy Bell (Saturday 10/04/21)
14/04/2021Gerald EastGeoff CroadJohnny Bueti
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Read more...
Inspirations - well, sort of... 030321
Marriage tip #2: When your wife is mowing the lawn, it's not a good time to ask when dinner will be ready.
 
“We love being mentally strong, but we hate situations that allow us to put our mental strength to good use.” Mokokoma Mokhonoana, South African Author
 
I don't want to say I'm gifted, but I have always been able to tell when they use fake dinosaurs in the movies.
 
The real measure of your wealth is how much you’d be worth if you lost all your money. Zig Ziglar
Download Files
Gold Coast Ramble 31 March 2021
Briana Dorrough - NYSF - speech text
Briana Dorrough - NYSF - PowerPoint
Meet Adam & Tash - Team InvincAble
Adam Sheppard and Tash Price Rotarian behind the Badge
Rotary Club of Surfers Sunrise - Summary of 2020
The Story of the Surfers Sunrise Wheelchairs Trust
Why Join Rotary?
Upcoming Events
Jeremy Bishop, SEQ Water: “The Realities of Rain”
Surfers Paradise SLSC
Mar 17, 2021
7:00 AM – 8:30 AM
 
Bunnings Sausage Sizzle
Bunnings Southport
Mar 21, 2021
7:30 AM – 4:00 PM
 
KJ Jewson & Sasha Kimber: RYLA 2021
Surfers Paradise SLSC
Mar 31, 2021
7:00 AM – 8:30 AM
 
Baton Relay - Rotary's 100 years in Australia
Broadwater Parklands
Apr 16, 2021
9:30 AM – 11:00 AM
 
Angie Bell, Federal MP for Moncrieff
Surfers Paradise SLSC
Apr 28, 2021
7:00 AM – 8:30 AM
 
View entire list
Photo Albums
Chinese social dinner and Excellence Awards
The Italian LONG lunch
10,000th Wheelchair Celebrations
Pimpama State College Wheelchairs
Burleigh Heads Rotaractors
Surfers Sunrise Rotary Golf Day Oct 2020
2020 Lutzy Award
Wheelchairs have arrived in PNG and Solomon Islands
X-Ray Unit for Hospital on Pentecost Island
Executives & Directors
President
 
Immediate Past President
 
Vice President
 
Secretary
 
Treasurer
 
Executive Secretary
 
Director - Club Administration
 
Director - Service Projects
 
Director - Membership
 
Director - Public Relations
 
Director -The Rotary Foundation
 
Director - Youth Services
 
Director - Fundraising
 
Coordinator-Vocational Services
 
YEP Club Protection Officer
 
Coordinator - International Service
 
Deputy Sergeant at Arms
 
Fellowship and Social Program
 
Chair - Wheelchairs Trust
 
Liaison - Wheelchair Trust
 
Coordinator - Community Service
 
Sergeant At Arms
 
Vanuatu Program
 
Director - Corporate Membership
 
Coordinator Golf Day
 
Webmaster & Bulletin Ed
 
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Surfers Sunrise Corporate Members and Sponsors

Phone 07 5509 5502
Suite 224, Level 2 Oracle South
17 Elizabeth Avenue
Broadbeach  QLD  4218
 

 
105 Scarborough Street
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(07) 5558 5055
 

 
 
One of our sponsors for the 'Lutzy' Surf Rescue Board being presented this Wednesday.
Phone 1800 464 166 
 

0412 765 717 or 0449 899 806
 

 
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