In my first President’s Report, Covid restrictions and wearing masks were two of the main topics. Twelve months later, nothing has changed. Fingers crossed the changeover this coming Sunday will go ahead as planned.
Well done to everyone that helped out at the Gold Coast Business Expo. We had over 15 members assisting over the 2 days and we raised over $2,000. Special thanks to Darrell Brown for organising what has become a regular and well-attended Surfers Sunrise event.
Thank you to everyone in the Club, the Board and the associates at the Project Shed for your support this year. Together, we have achieved a lot despite many challenges along the way. Best wishes to incoming President Paul Seymour and everyone in the club for the coming year.
Finally, see you at the Surf Club this Wednesday for a social breakfast from 7am and wear your masks!
Last Wednesday, President Charles Thomasson (photo left, with meeting Chairman Johnny Bueti), wearing his hat as a Partner of Wilsons Advisory, gave us a brief run-down on how the stock market reacted after the 6-month reign of US President Joe Biden. As is customary, Charles opened up with Disclaimer – “not designed as specific investment advice”.
“Donald Who?” seems to be the expression not uncommon in his professional circles these days. “Historically, markets perform well under a Democrat President,” Charles said. Certainly, one cannot call it anything other than going strong (see graph on right). Had you invested 12 months ago (should that read: had you dared to invest), you would have had a return of 24% on the ASX, 33% on the S&P, or if you had just bought Iron Ore: 110%! The reason? “There is no other alternative”, Charles quipped. Cash rates are so low (10-year Bond rates are at just 1.7%). Borrowing costs are low. Australians are spending their money locally (Harvey Norman, JB HiFi etc) or on online markets such as Amazon. Charles elaborated somewhat on emerging markets, on the China situation (“the US and China owe each other a lot of money…”), the US Corporate Tax Policy (generally, they go up under a Democrat regime).
And what about our budget returning to Black? In Charles’ view, the handling of the Federal Government’s COVID crisis with ‘Jobkeeper’ made the big difference between massive unemployment, with the result of the economy crashing, vs employees retaining their jobs and businesses staying afloat. With the building and Real Estate industries going gangbusters, there are now substantial issues as a consequence: Building material prices have risen sharply, due to supply chain issues.
Some more detailed information can be downloaded from the Wilson Advisory website: Click here and here.
Excellent fundraising effort last Wednesday and Thursday at the Gold Coast Small Business Expo. A big thank you to the Expo organiser Paula Brand for giving us the opportunity to have a stand and run the Gold Coin collection. 'Bump-in' on Wednesday afternoon, controlling car park traffic and manning the Gold Coin collection stand at the entrance certainly made it worthwhile: Total collection was roughly double that of last year. A big thank you to Darrell Brown for rounding us all up and managing our side of the bargain, and thank you to all who helped (just about half of the club members, as well as 'Honorary Queenslander' Ann O'Connor and Rotaractor Matt Hayward). The new format of changing the Gold Coin collection from the entry to the car park to the entrance door, and deploying a facility for Credit Card payment, certainly made a difference too.
Picture: front Matt Hayward and organiser Darrell Brown; at rear Franz Huber, Adrian Crowe, incoming President Paul Seymour, Al Sirovs). Another couple of pictures on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/rcsurferssunrise
Johnny Bueti is again organising an Italian Long Lunch, this time a 'Christmas in July' event, with plenty of Italian style Christmas dishes. Johnny already has secured a major sponsor: My Carte. The price includes all food, unlimited wine and beer, entertainment. All proceeds go towards the X-Ray Unit and Blood Analyser for Vanuatu. Note: COVID restrictions impose an upper limit of just 120 attendees. First come, best served.
Put it into your diary now: Thursday 22nd July 2021, from 12:00 pm.
… “So you’re retired?” I asked him. Yeah, right! Jimmy is one of these people who will never be inactive!
He was born some 67 years ago in Invercargill, on the very southern end of the New Zealand South Island. (Yes, they breed them tough down there; there isn’t much between that town and Antarctica…) Jimmy's vocation - and passion - is Building Construction, and specifically, the management of major commercial projects. Jimmy is a citizen of the world: his career took him to places such as New Caledonia, Amsterdam, the UK. One of his major projects was with Jacobs Engineering Group in their Singapore branch, where he had a senior role in the construction of a major centre for a Pharmaceutical company. “That was not only one of the most remarkable projects I’d done, but I also learned a lot there about modern construction methods,” he said.
Today, he still keeps fully active, not just at our Project Shed, but he also is in charge of maintenance at the Tamborine Mountain College. But it’s not just large-scale construction: one of Jimmy’s hobbies is fine woodworking. He recently built his own guitar, and is now learning how to play it! To balance the physical work, he follows his other hobbies of Computer Assisted Design, listens to Rock: ”Uriah Heep, Jimmy Barnes (think Working Class Man… ☺) and the like”, and keeps fit. Very fit, working out at the Gym, Martial Arts, walking about 10 Km a day…
Unfortunately, some 5 years ago, Jimmy’s wife passed away quite suddenly, due to a severe Melanoma. “I’m still finding the transition to being single again quite difficult”, he said. His daughter lives in Invercargill, and he is the proud grandfather of four grandkids.
Welcome to the Surfers Sunrise Project Shed, Jimmy!
Again, this year at the recent 'Brissie to Bay' cycle fundraising event for the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, Neil Thurlow didn't only run the 100 Km race on the day but beforehand had committed to ride 400 Km in total, of which he cycled over 300 Km in advance. Howzat for a young fellow! Neil had a lot of supporters, including our club who sponsored him with $500.00 [nowhere near the value of the free printing Neil and his company Accent Copy and Print do for Rotary! Ed.]towards a good cause.
Johnny Bueti was Chairman (for Ramez Salib), Al Sirovs was at the door and Andy Bell was Sergeant. We had apologies from Richard Smith, Graeme Isaacson and Adrian Crowe.
President Charles Thomasson welcomed all members and guests Stewart Vial’l (Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club), Brian Pearson (RC of Broadbeach), Honorary Member Ann O’Connor and Rotaractors KJ Jewson, Howard Harrison, Matt Hayward and Chumani Brooks.
Following Charles’ presentation (see above), Darrell Brown outlined the roster for the upcoming GC Business Expo (see above), and Ray Higgs advised that this year’s winner of the Lutzy Award had been selected. He is Geoff Ferguson. The award will be presented on the meeting of the 4th of August. Col Laurenson advised that 40 wheelchairs have been allocated to be sent to Honiara, Solomon Islands.
Mario Fairlie elaborated on our major project to supply an X-Ray Unit and Blood Analyser to Mauna Hospital. Huge thanks must go to Rotaractors KJ Jewson and Matt Hayward who were instrumental to get the new websites up and running. Mario is also investigating Government Community Funding.
Johnny Bueti, who is organising the upcoming ‘Christmas in July Long Lunch’ (see article above) advised that we now also offer commercial sponsorship tables. We are also looking for items to be auctioned. He expects the upper limit of 120 seats to be sold out soon – time to book is now. See separate article above.
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
<-- not all stockbrokers do this - quite sure this doesn't apply to the Thomasson family... Ed. ☺
It is hard to imagine a more stupid or more dangerous way of making decisions than by putting those decisions in the hand of people who pay no price for being wrong. Dr Thomas Sowell, US Philosopher.
Don’t ever let anyone tell you that magic potions aren’t real. Here is proof: Come on a Wednesday morning to the Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club, get one of their potions made from a magic bean, then join our club meeting and watch how the combination brings you back to life!
We will have to retire the expression 'Avoid it like the plague', because it turns out that many humans really don't want to do that.
Last Wednesday, President Charles Thomasson (photo left, with meeting Chairman Johnny Bueti), wearing his hat as a Partner of Wilsons Advisory, gave us a brief run-down on how the stock market reacted after the 6-month reign of US President Joe Biden. As is customary, Charles opened up with Disclaimer – “not designed as specific investment advice”.
24% on the ASX, 33% on the S&P, or if you had just bought Iron Ore: 110%! The reason? “There is no other alternative”, Charles quipped. Cash rates are so low (10-year Bond rates are at just 1.7%). Borrowing costs are low. Australians are spending their money locally (Harvey Norman, JB HiFi etc) or on online markets such as Amazon. Charles elaborated somewhat on emerging markets, on the China situation (“the US and China owe each other a lot of money…”), the US Corporate Tax Policy (generally, they go up under a Democrat regime).
Excellent fundraising effort last Wednesday and Thursday at the Gold Coast Small Business Expo. A big thank you to the Expo organiser Paula Brand for giving us the opportunity to have a stand and run the Gold Coin collection. 'Bump-in' on Wednesday afternoon, controlling car park traffic and manning the Gold Coin collection stand at the entrance certainly made it worthwhile: Total collection was roughly double that of last year. A big thank you to Darrell Brown for rounding us all up and managing our side of the bargain, and thank you to all who helped (just about half of the club members, as well as 'Honorary Queenslander' Ann O'Connor and Rotaractor Matt Hayward). The new format of changing the Gold Coin collection from the entry to the car park to the entrance door, and deploying a facility for Credit Card payment, certainly made a difference too. 
Johnny Bueti is again organising an Italian Long Lunch, this time a 'Christmas in July' event, with plenty of Italian style Christmas dishes. Johnny already has secured a major sponsor: My Carte. The price includes all food, unlimited wine and beer, entertainment. All proceeds go towards the X-Ray Unit and Blood Analyser for Vanuatu. Note: COVID restrictions impose an upper limit of just 120 attendees. First come, best served.
… “So you’re retired?” I asked him. Yeah, right! Jimmy is one of these people who will never be inactive!
Again, this year at the recent 'Brissie to Bay' cycle fundraising event for the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, Neil Thurlow didn't only run the 100 Km race on the day but beforehand had committed to ride 400 Km in total, of which he cycled over 300 Km in advance. Howzat for a young fellow! Neil had a lot of supporters, including our club who sponsored him with $500.00 
