Surfers Sunrise and ‘The Shed’ have done it, the 10,000th Wheelchair has been packed into a container (and removed – more about that later) and the container has been sealed and is ready to go. What happens next? The container gets picked up Tuesday, sails on the 27th July and will arrive in Honiara mid-August. From there the Rotary Club of Honiara will deconsolidate the container, assemble some wheelchairs for local use and distribute the remainder around the Solomon Islands for those people in need. Well done again to everyone that has contributed to this fantastic outcome.
As I mentioned above, the 10,000th Wheelchair was ‘packed’ then removed from the container. Why? The 10,000th Wheelchair will be assembled, given a special paintjob and plaque and be used to promote the Wheelchair Trust at the Golf Day and other Club fundraising activities over the next few months. Finally it will be auctioned at a celebration later in the year. Thanks to Al Sirovs for this great idea.
I hope you all enjoyed the Changeover Breakfast at Edgewater. We had almost 50 Rotarians and guests and feedback has been very positive. Congratulations again to Geoff Croad for being awarded Surfers Sunrise ‘Rotarian of the Year’, to all the awardees and to the new board for 2020/2021. Franz has published a great summary of the Changeover – please have a read if you haven’t already.
I would like to welcome Johnny Bueti and Paul Jaffar to Surfers Sunrise. It is great to have you on board and we look forward to formally inducting you into the Club over the coming weeks.
We are back at Surfers Paradise Surf Club this Wednesday for a formal meeting where we will hear from Ray Krebs on the NBN. See you there.
On Saturday morning we loaded the 10,000th 'ROUGH TERRAIN' WHEELCHAIR despatched to various developing countries. It is destined for Honiara, Solomon Islands. Picture (by Angela Thomasson) shows some of our regular volunteers at our Project Shed, with Des La Rance (holding up the box), who has been the driving force behind the program since the mid nineties and our logistics guru Col Laurenson (in Hi-Vis Vest in front) "holding it up". Expect more "official" celebrations following later in the year! More photos in Photo Album section on the right.
How often do you hear something truly positive coming from a prison? Most of you would be aware of the long standing relationship we have with Palen Creek Correctional Centre, where inmates have been engaged in manufacturing wheelchairs from discarded bicycles for quite a number of years. So far, they have made over 2000 of them. Recently, Queensland Correctional Services posted a brief video online of this program. Click here to view it.
By the way: this most precious wheelchair (picture right) was painted by one of their inmates. No, it's not for sale! ☺
Well, it all came together, exactly as one likes it: The weather was clear and crisp, the venue was superb, the food was delicious, the service was excellent, the speeches were short and concise, everyone enjoyed the vibrant atmosphere which is provided by a positive, forward looking and highly motivated Rotary club. For the first time in the 33 year history of our club, we had a Changeover Breakfast rather than a luncheon or dinner, largely as a consequence of planning in the COVID era. And for all I know, it could well be that we'll continue this in future!
MC Andy Bell introduced our distinguished guests, including District Governor Andy Rajapakse, Councillor Darren Taylor, our incoming President's father Robert Thomasson, Dr Trent Lipp and Sean Lowry. PDG Darrell Brown proposed a toast to Rotary International, which was responded to by DG Andy Rajapakse. Andy also presented a special recognition to Past District Treasurer Doug Lipp for his long services to the District for some 6 years: A "Rotary Super Hero" pin.
Outgoing President Mario Fairlie summarized the major events and achievements of the past 12 months and projected a beam onto the ongoing major projects of the Sleeping Sanctuaries and the X-Ray Unit for Vanuatu. He then presented the club's awards and annual wandering trophies:
Ben Illes was recognized with a Paul Harris Fellowship Award for his organising of materials, transport and crane hire services for the Vanuatu project, and
Paul Seymour received a Paul Harris Fellowship Award in recognition of his work as Vice President when Mario was absent due to his hospitalisation and overseas travel
The Doug Waller Trophy was presented to Col Laurenson in recognition of his ongoing major efforts in organising overseas shipping of materials from our Project Shed to various overseas destinations
The Quiet Achiever Award: Mario selected Adrian Crowe - in Mario's words: Adrian is the very definition of the Quiet Achiever, he continues to serve the club whenever and wherever he can. He has organised the 'Containers for Cash' collection at his high rise building. But just as important is his work at home, caring for his wife.
The Fellowship Cup went to Franz Huber for his ongoing work producing the club bulletin, the website and Facebook sites and the work in club administration.
Then came the moment of who got the "big mug", the Rotarian of the Year: This trophy is voted on by the members of the club.
Our "Minister for Everything" Geoff Croad was the clear winner, in recognition of his ongoing work in various segments, particularly in fund raising. His originating of the Containers for Cash campaign is just one of his ideas. In addition to the trophy, Mario also presented Geoff with another Paul Harris Fellowship Award (his third) - well deserved!
The change of the President's collar came with an additional highlight: Mario handed over to the incoming President Charles Thomasson, and at the same time presented him also with a Paul Harris Fellowship in recognition of his work of getting the Corporate Membership concept up and running (with the capable legal assistance of Secretary Mitch Brown) and his work on the Wheelchair Trust board. Charles briefly re-iterated his aims for the coming 12 months, as he presented them in detail at last week's club meeting (see last week's bulletin and website). He then presented the new board for the Surfers Sunrise Rotary Club (see photo below, from left: Simon Brook (Membership), Gerald East (Foundation), Mitch Brown (Secretary), John Chirio (President Elect), Mario Fairlie (Vice President), Franz Huber (Club Administration), Neil Thurlow (Public Relations), Larry Murray (Services, incl Project Shed), Doug Lipp (Treasurer), Karen Holland (Fund Raising), PDG Darrell Brown (Youth Services). Lots more photos in our Photo Album section - see right hand side.
Note: the Changeover Report is in PDF format on our Download Section on the right. If anyone would like a hard copy of it, please let me know, I have a few copies still available.
The meeting was recorded on Zoom and will remain available until 28th July. If you would like a link and password, please send me an email.
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
Spock: "You know of course that all protons have mass?" Captain Kirk: "I didn't even know they were Catholic!"
So, I was in my room and I saw a group of 10 ants just running frantically. I felt bad, so I made a small house for them out of a cardboard box.
This technically makes me their landlord and they are... Tenants.
“Man is always more than he can know of himself; consequently, his accomplishments, time and again, will come as a surprise to him.”German historian Golo Mann.
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.
On Saturday morning we loaded the 10,000th 'ROUGH TERRAIN' WHEELCHAIR despatched to various developing countries. It is destined for Honiara, Solomon Islands. Picture (by Angela Thomasson) shows some of our regular volunteers at our Project Shed, with Des La Rance (holding up the box), who has been the driving force behind the program since the mid nineties and our logistics guru Col Laurenson (in Hi-Vis Vest in front) "holding it up". Expect more "official" celebrations following later in the year! M
How often do you hear something truly positive coming from a prison? Most of you would be aware of the long standing relationship we have with Palen Creek Correctional Centre, where inmates have been engaged in manufacturing wheelchairs from discarded bicycles for quite a number of years. So far, they have made over 2000 of them. Recently, Queensland Correctional Services posted a brief video online of this program. 
Well, it all came together, exactly as one likes it: The weather was clear and crisp, the venue was superb, the food was delicious, the service was excellent, the speeches were short and concise, everyone enjoyed the vibrant atmosphere which is provided by a positive, forward looking and highly motivated Rotary club. For the first time in the 33 year history of our club, we had a Changeover Breakfast rather than a luncheon or dinner, largely as a consequence of planning in the COVID era. And for all I know, it could well be that we'll continue this in future!
Our "Minister for Everything" Geoff Croad was the clear winner, in recognition of his ongoing work in various segments, particularly in fund raising. His originating of the Containers for Cash campaign is just one of his ideas. In addition to the trophy, Mario also presented Geoff with another Paul Harris Fellowship Award (his third) - well deserved!
