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Posted by Darrell Brown
on May 06, 2015
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.jpg) Good things come to those who volunteer.RYDA (Rotary Youth Driver Awareness) started up for the year on the Gold Coast with our club hosting the Australian Industrial Trade College from Robina. Isabelle Franich our past YEP student, George Keily our Honorary member & Past President, Geoff Croad & Darrell Brown manned the day. During the event, Isabelle was offered a job as a presenter, a paid position. Well done! Because the school has taken part in the event for the last three years & through circumstances, couldn’t be joined by another school to make up numbers, our Gold Coast RYDA subsidised the school to the tune of $455 - money well spent on the first day of a revised program. The next event with All Saints & another group from the Australian Trade College will be held on the 16th June. Because there will be 270 students, two venues - Runaway Bay Sports Complex & Southport Community Centre will need to be utilised with the Rotary Clubs of Gold Coast & Mermaid Beach manning the days.
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Posted by Franz Huber
on Jul 11, 2015
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Gerald East was at the door (for Julian Price), Mario Fairlie was Chairman and Andy Bell was Sergeant.
We had apologies from Adrian Crowe, Fred Hamblen, Tony Bird, Bob Harrison, Julian Price and Conrad Martens.
President Paul Seymour welcomed all members, Honourable Member Barry Lea and guests Adam Whytcross and his charming wife Jeanette (guests of Terry O'Shea). Adam and Jeanette gave us a brief outline of their projects: they have been living in Fiji, currently in Vanuatu and shortly to move to Papua New Guinea. Jeanette is organizing teams of 'ex pat' ladies to raise funds for local disabled people and to organize materials (such as wheelchairs). Her current project is workign with the Vanuatu Disability Centre, and she intends to set up a similar project upon arrival in PNG.
Paul then gave a brief outline of the previous night's board meeting. Put the following dates into your diary now:
- 29th July: Social Breakfast at the Paradox Cafe, Surfers Paradise (instead of at the Yacht Club)
- 31st July: Australasian Order of Old Bastards 'Big Lunch' - John Franich will collect the money
- [add 1st August: Doug Lipp's first game of Crazy Whist! Ed.]
- 12th August: Joint meeting with Hope Island Rotary Club - at their venue
- 26th August: "Meet a friend" meeting: bring along a friend whom you would like to invite to join Surfers Sunrise
Wheelchair Trust Chairman Daryl Sanderson pointed out the second attempt to get a photo published by RDU in conjunction with the recent despatch of a container full of wheelchairs to Sri Lanka. The container has arrived - see separate article on our website as well as on our Facebook page.
Youth Services Director Chris Thurtell outlined his vision for the upcoming year relating to his department: "We'll concentrate on the local product" in the coming year. Since we currently have two overseas students abroad, there won't be an outgoing one in January. However, we have an incoming student from Italy, Martina, arriving shortly. But the emphasis will be joining forces with Nobby's Beach SLSC and other surf clubs, High Schools etc to find suitable candidates for RYPEN, RYTS and RYLA. Chris also received a letter from Gabrielle Burtscher (Laura's mum) and Laura reported back from Austria: "Nothing has changed...!"
 Fundraising Director Doug Lipp will organize our first event in just about a bit over two weeks on Saturday 1st if August to have a game of Crazy Whist, and of course there is the Race Day on 10th October.
Gerald East invited us all to join the Kokoda Classic on 9th August (organized by the Rotary Club of Broadwater-Southport - see poster on left). Gerald is looking for some team mates to join him. Huh?? Ah, that is for the Suns' Horizon game coming up on Saturday 1st August - more in next week's bulletin... ☺].
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Posted by Franz Huber
on Apr 27, 2015
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.jpg) Sometimes, I wonder what did I do right in my previous life to deserve living in current peaceful times in a place like Australia. And sometimes, I wonder what did I do wrong to be born into a society where, at the time, no one had ever heard of Rotary, not to mention Youth Exchange. One of those moments was when Laura gave us a brief of her experiences on the YE Safari. Imagine: 6 boys and 26 girls. Ah yes, there were also 3 leaders and 2 chefs...
Flying to Melbourne and from there by bus to Bendigo. On to Adelaide, Coober Pedy, the Opal town in the middle of nowhere between Adelaide and Alice Springs, "We stayed in an underground house, which was quite cool" Laura explained. Not sure whether she described 'quite cool' in terms of a teenager's assessment, or in terms of temperature... The tour moved on to the Alice, visiting the School of the Air, seeing and hearing a Didgeridoo player, and on to Ayers Rock (Uluru in politically correct speak) for 2 nights. Living in tents, experiencing sunrise abd sunset. "We weren't able to climb the rock", Laura explained, "but we were able to walk around it". On to Barkley Homestead, Kings Canyon, Mount Isa, Airlie Beach to do some snorkeling and scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef. Great Keppel Island for 3 nights (many, many moons ago, they ran TV Advertisements along the lines "I got wrecked on Great Keppel" - one wonders if this was still the case? Well, they did have a 'Talent Show' where Laura did a German Dance. In its Austrian interpretation...). But no videos seem to have survived or been submitted to inspection by anyone older than 20). On to the Gold Coast and a gig event at Movie World, organized by our Chris Thurtell.
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Posted by Franz Huber
on Jul 11, 2015
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 the " Des La Rance for Pope" campaign has reached new heights: a letter received from a lady named Camille said "...you have humbled me with your love and kindness to humanity..." No doubt about it: Francis, look out! Tania Laird: Now, THAT is sartorial elegance! Those leggings are giving serious competition: sort of Darrell Brown's socks on a lady's legs! [Sorry, no picture, you should have been there! Ed.] Doug Lipp explained to Andy what Crazy Whist is all about. Andy's perception: "People randomly throw cards around, mostly into the middle of the table, and suddenly somebody yells out I've won!!" Gerald East was at the door today, and never have I heard anyone whinging so much: everybody is coming in with 50 dollar bills...! Simon Brook's latest escapade: running the Gold Coast Marathon! |
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Posted by Franz Huber
on Apr 27, 2015
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.jpg) "Revolution to a new democracy": perhaps the wrong word? Alex reminisced. "Change to a real democracy, change to normal" would be a better description. Previously, there was just one party. There was no selection of candidates, there was totalitarianism. They knew best, they controlled everything". No personal opinions were allowed and one would want to be very careful with whom, if anyone at all, one would share one's opinions. One could never know who would spy on somebody else. In some 27 years of hearing god knows how many guest speakers, your editor cannot recall a single event where Greek Mythology was even mentioned, or for that matter, the speaker being somewhat astonished when we hadn't heard the story of 'The bed of Procrustes' (it is a bit too graphic to print in a family publication, so if you would like to know more, simply google it or click on the link).
Yet, Ceausescu really was a patriot, Alexandru claims. He wanted the best for the country in every aspect: industry, schools etc. For example, already in Year 3 (starting at 7 years old), they would teach University level Maths. We had 7 hour classes and lots and lots of homework. Parents were compelled to help to avoid shaming of the family and teachers had the right to physically punish children..
The borders were closed - one was unable to visit other countries, only Communist countries. There was KGB surveillance of phones and mail. Alex had a girlfriend who managed to get to Germany via Yougoslavia. She made the mistake of writing a letter to him from there. Alex had to write a letter back to her, carefully constructed to refute all her ideas and views, in the absolute certainty that the letter would be opened just as all incoming letters would be opened. "We didn't like to be Communists, but didn't know what we could do about it".
After end end of Nicolae Ceausescu's era, Alex moved to New Zealand where he worked as an Automotive Engineer, them moved on to Melbourne where he worked for Toyota in a similar capacity. Ultimately, much to our gain however, in view of his daughter Maria's desire to study Health Sciences here, he moved to the Gold Coast.
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Posted by Gerald East
on Apr 19, 2015
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 Put your name down for Saturday afternoon of 2nd May, where there is a good chance that they will in the game against the Brisbane Lions in
Round 5 on Saturday 2nd May
we have to be at the gate by 2:15 pm for a game that starts at 4:35 p.m.
See Gerald East - help to sell some raffle tickets and you get free entry to the game
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Posted by Franz Huber
on Apr 11, 2015
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 Our Youth Services Director Chris Thurtell is looking for nominations for RYPEN, the Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment.
What is RYPEN? Held from Friday, 22nd May to 1 pm Sunday 24th May at Bornhoffen PCYC, Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment (RYPEN) is a weekend residential experience for youth aged 14-16 years. It is designed to develop skills that will assist them in the transition to adulthood. Participants are involved in a variety of workshops and activities, which provide an opportunity for them to personally develop, gain self confidence, communication skills, challenge themselves, build friendships, and develop life skills. More details on the District 9640 website - click on this link: http://rotary9640.org/SitePage/rypen. Nominations close Friday 24th April 2015.
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Posted by Franz Huber
on Jul 04, 2015
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| Duty Roster - note: subject to change - please check every week |
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| Date |
Chairman |
Door |
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| 15th July 2015 |
Daryl Sanderson |
Larry Murray |
| 22nd July 2015 |
Neil Thurlow |
Chris Thurtell |
| 29th July 2015 |
Simon Brook |
Tony Bird |
| 05th August 2015 |
Geoff Croad |
Darrell Brown |
| 12th August 2015 |
Adrian Crowe |
Julian Price |
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Read more...
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Posted by Franz Huber
on Jul 11, 2015
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 “One of the cheapest commodities in the world is unfulfilled genius. All of us want to be known as a unique individual, the one who broke out of the pack. So, you offer yourself up as a sacrifice, and what you’re afraid of is losing and being thrown back into the pack. One question taunts you. Do you want to have, or do you want to be?” Leon Uris
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Read more...
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