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Aquariums - who knew?
Tim from Advanced Aquariums speaks at Rotary Meeting
 
Its fair to say that the members learnt a LOT from Tim Eldridge's talk on Friday about an amazing company headquartered here in Maroochydore that designs, but who operate world wide with factories in China and operational sites around the globe. Many in public spaces and featuring all kinds of aquatic creatures and designs.
 
Advanced Aquarium unsurprisingly won Business of the Year at the recent Sunshine Coast Council awards, and it was fascinating listening to Tim and to find out what goes on behind the scenes of these HUG acrylic windows that we see in many public spaces around the world. 
The Smith Family Programs 

Smith Family Programs

On Friday Tony and John followed up on how the club may be able to help with The Smith Family and their youth programs. So in ZOOM meeting (what else?) with Marlo we found out that there are two programs where we may be able to help. The first one is "Straight Talk" which is much along the lines of the mock interviews and WorkLife programs where adults and kids sit down and have chats about work and work experiences, opportunities, difficulties and "things you really need to know about work". 
 
 
We've given a list of 12 Rotarians who have about 400 years of work experience behind them to The Smith Family and are willing to help out with this program of coaching kids on the work environment. 
 
The other program John spoke about is the WorkInspiration and Reach Out program (WIRO) and we found out more about this in the ZOOM meeting. It involves selected kids jumping on a bus and going around a few industries / workplaces and seeing what goes on "behind the scenes" and all sorts of jobs that perhaps the kids were not aware of. On the Sunshine Coast this involves visits to Structural engineers, Logistics organisations, Electrical supply organisations, Insurers, and Property developers. 
 
The club is perhaps not so geared for this, but now that we know what its all about, keep an eye open for any businesses who are community minded and who would be happy (With Smith Family and Rotary help) to organise a 2 hour visit from a selected 10 - 20 kids who would benefit from some exposure to different workplaces - it may change someone's life. 
10 funniest April fools jokes

10 funniest April fools jokes

As we found out from Peter on Friday you have to be so careful on April fools day as not everyone is in teh mood for a good laugh (usually at their expense). Anyway here is a selection of some absolutely hilarious April fools jokes. Enjoy!
 
Notes from Board Meeting 

Dot points from Board meeting

  • Welcome 2 new members from IFYS
  • Club container was broken into. Nothing valuable was found. sad
  • Club added donation of $250 to fundraiser to deliver total of 4 iPads for Indigenous kids projects
  • Club donated $50 towards Rotoract conference travel costs 
  • Walk for Polio on 14th August approved by SCC
  • Permit request for solstice swim on 26th June lodged
  • Sponsors needed for solstice swim
  • Club advancing discusions on gardens, Ruby Care and Intergenerational.
A garden for young and old

Intergenerational Garden anyone?

The club heard from Mag at Shepperton South on how they had taken to heart the BBC program about mixing kindergarten kids and old folks.
 
They asked the kindergarten kids what they liked about visiting their grandparents at the local old folks home. Answer? "Nothing". So they decided to do something about that and set about building a play area for young and old. 
 
At recent board meeting the club decided to investigate it further, and will look to take it up as a project in this year, subject to more research and planning. 
 
So here's some pics of how the Shepperton Rotary approached the task and what they achieved. 
 
Brilliant. Stay tuned for more developments.
 
 
Trivia questions you WILL get wrong

What'dya know?

Question: Which mammal is known to have the world’s most powerful bite?

Answer: Hippopotamus

Question: What is the most common present given by a male penguin to a female penguin in order to win her over?

Answer: A pebble

Question: How long does it take an elephant to become pregnant before giving birth?

Answer: 22 months

Question: What was Walt Disney afraid of?

Answer: He was scared of Mice.

Question: What were the first ice hockey pucks made out of?

Answer: Cow dung.

Question: In what state was fried chicken invented?

Answer: No state, it was made in Scotland! (really?)

This months GIST will all district information..
 
Swim Date claimer 

FAQ'sRotary Winter Solstice Swim Sunday 26th June

 
The annual fantastic Rotary Winter Solstice Swim is on !! 
 
 
 
 
 
This year you can enter as an individual or get a few mates and enter as a team.  
 
And this year we'll have some novelty prizes to add a more fun to the event.
 
We cannot guarantee that the 5km swim will have a photo finish like last year, but we can guarantee great weather and lots of fun, and that you'll be helping Rotary and Alex SLSC support some great local Sunshine Coast Community groups.
 
Ukraine - A Rotarian's story

A personal story on Ukraine

We're very fortunate to have Philip from Pontefract as a member of our club, and he brings this perspective on the recent Russian / Ukraine catastrophe. Phil's club is actively involved in the community and has some interesting links to the region, not least that Philip's daughter has relocated from Moscow to UK because the recent invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces. Her story below.
 
A message from The Rotary Club of Pontefract:
 
“It is a tragic and sad time for the people of Ukraine and the world.

We have all witnessed over the past few days the devastating situation including the escalating loss of life and humanitarian hardship in Ukraine.  Many of us have friends in Ukraine and feel helpless as we watch the situation unfold. As one of the world largest humanitarian organisations, Rotary has peace as the cornerstone of our global mission.

District 1040, of Rotary in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, has a long-standing history with Ukraine. Between 2002 and 2012 we worked together to transport medical aid and educational goods to Uzhgorod in the west of Ukraine. Over the years we have transported millions of pounds worth of redundant, refurbished, and discarded NHS equipment together with essential supplies for the local orphanage. All have been well used and saved many lives.

Since 2014 we have welcomed young people from local schools in Uzhgorod to our district, providing accommodation, arranging visits to local schools and museums. The young people have described these trips to the UK as “the best visit they have ever had.”  Plans are well under way for this year’s trip and students are due to arrive here on the 27 March. We don’t know if the trip will be able to go ahead but we do know the people of Ukraine desperately need our help and support now like never before.

As Rotarians and Inner Wheel members we pride ourselves on being people of action. 

For our Ukrainian friends now is the time for us to act.” 

On March 4th there was a joint appeal by Rotary District 1040 and Inner Wheel district 4 (Based in Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire in England) to support humanitarian work in Ukraine.

    There are also appeals through the disasters emergency committee consisting 15 charities including Oxfam, Red Cross, Disaster Aid Christian Aid. And Save the Children. However, the Rotary network probably has lower costs. 
     
    My own club are organising a collection this Sunday (13th March) at a local shopping outlet. See photos above.
     
    And a personal reflection from Philip..
     
    Putin controls the press in Russia. Laws exist to prevent anyone calling this a war or criticising his actions. My daughter and her family were working in Moscow and thought this was just another sabre rattling exercise because it has happened before. We could see their exits being closed as Russian airlines were banned from various countries and Putin, in turn, did tit for tat.
     
    A flight they booked through Finnair was cancelled, but they had also booked a flight with Turkish Airlines as backup, and they got out. The rest of the family had been putting pressure on them because in Moscow the situation was downplayed.
     
    In the meantime, Visa and Mastercard withdrew support for Russian Credit cards, the rouble has fallen in value and there were queues for cash at Russian ATM’s. If my daughter had waited they may have found they had no means to pay for their flights because of the credit card sanctions. Even those airlines still operating to Russia will reduce flights.
     
    At an airport all planes have checks done and sometimes a spare part is needed. An airline sending an Airbus or Boeing plane may find that there are no parts available in Russia so their plane may not be able to fly safely back from Moscow.
     
    The rich people sending children to the school where my daughter teaches will not be able to pay their fees and there was a very real risk of my daughter, son in law and granddaughter being stuck in Russia with no job or income. 
     
    The sanctions are going to hit the ordinary Russian hardest of course. Putin’s rich mates in Londongrad have been given ample warning to transfer their wealth into more accessible accounts.
     
    Phil
     
     
    * Shelter box was started by Rotary in the UK but is now a separate charity. One shelter box contains a tent, cooking facilities, various tools etc to provide emergency shelter after a disaster such as an earthquake or flood, or bombing.
     
    PS. As a postscript the collection raised £284 ($500) and another is planned in Pontefract Town Centre on Saturday
    Phil
     

    “In the meantime, talks are being held with Rotary Assistant Governor’s in your area and Inner Wheel members to explore how we can best get help to where it is needed the most including:

    1. Direct to Rotary Clubs we have contact with in the area. They have already told us that there is an urgent need for food and medical supplies.
    2. Through the Ukrainian Centre in Bradford who have launched a ‘Help Ukraine Emergency Appeal’ to provide medicines, food and critical services. They are part of The Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain, the largest representative body for Ukrainians in the UK. 
    3. Building upon what individual Rotary clubs and areas are doing. This may include collecting items that can be sent via secure routes.
    4. Shelter Box* and Disaster Aid UK have launched appeals. We can also direct resources to them.”
    Great work Pontefract Rotary!
    Rotary DG's message to clubs on the SE Qld floods

    Our amazing District Governor has sent us this message...

    Good morning Presidents and Secretaries

    This morning we are waking to a time when many of those living in our District are facing uncertainty.

    Our District in this year has already encountered significant challenges – drought, COVID, the isolation of our Island clubs.

    Now we’re in the midst of what’s being referred to as  a weather bomb ….. significant rain over a long period …… and more than 75 of our Clubs are in communities in the firing line. This flooding is more than significant.

    We are going to need to show the Rotary spirit, the Rotary and Rotaract connections and be there to help our fellow Rotarians, Rotaractors, friends, colleagues and community members.

    We need you and your members to keep your eyes open – As a Club you may have already decided to take action and support your community.  If you see someone or something where you’d welcome broader help then let us know.  There will also be a need for general mud army support – and it may be that we decide to focus on particular areas.

    We’re putting together a small team to coordinate where we will give some of our focus. We’re aware there’ll be clean up needed in Gympie, we know that there are homes to clean up in Grantham and fences to build, we imagine there’ll be help needed in Toowoomba, in the areas to the north of Brisbane, the south of Brisbane and then Brisbane itself. And that’s not all.

    In the next day or two we’ll be asking you to identify situations where we may need to coordinate more help. We’ll also be asking you to give us the names of those ready with some time and personal energy  to join together in a coordinated group to move as Rotarians/Rotaractors.

    Most importantly of all though – we ask that you take care of each other. Take the time to make contact with everyone. Ask if they’re OK, ask if their family and friends are OK.

    I thank each of you who’ve made contact over the past three days to share thoughts, ideas and just because you needed to talk.

    Please start the conversations with your members. Let them know we care

    Thinking of you all – you can contact DGE Tim Keeler, DGN Paul Roger, our IPDGs Patrice Robinson and Neil Black or me. Otherwise you can make contact with your Assistant Governor – they’re a resource for you.

    This is one of our chances to ‘Serve to Change Lives’

    Yours in Rotary 

    DG Wendy   (Protheroe)

    Click on image to go to the links

     
    • Don’t you hate it when someone answers their own questions? I do.
     
    • My wife told me to stop impersonating a flamingo. I had to put my foot down. 
     
    • I went to buy some camo pants but couldn’t find any.
     
    • I failed math so many times at school, I can’t even count.
     
    • I was wondering why the frisbee kept getting bigger and bigger, but then it hit me.
     
    • I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather… Not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car.
     
    • When life gives you melons, you might be dyslexic.
     
     
    Upcoming Events
    Club BBQ for IFYS at the Hub in Kawana
    Jun 30, 2023 6:18 PM
     
    NO CLUB MEETING
    Jul 05, 2023
     
    Club Change Over Dinner 2023-2024
    Alexandra Headlands Surf Club
    Jul 05, 2023
    6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
     
    Community Walk to D-feet MND
    Aug 06, 2023
    9:00 AM – 11:30 AM
     
    Guest Speaker: Fiona Simpson
    Aug 16, 2023
    6:45 AM – 8:00 AM
     
    View entire list
    Club Information

    Our Meeting Details

    Wednesdays at 6:45 AM
    Alex Surf Life Saving Club
    Alex Beach
    Alexandra Headland , QLD 4557
    Australia
    Enter from the beach side, next to Coffee kiosk. Magnificent morning views of sun rising over the pacific* (Technically it's the earth falling...but that took us a while to figure out. Ed)
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