Great work on Saturday at the Working Bee, and great to see so many volunteers. Over 20 turned up on Saturday morning to finish off the work and can rightly be proud of their efforts..as you can see from teh pics.
As Errol mentioned on Friday, this is the 3rd Garden that Rotary has "revitalised" or in some cases, completely reconstructed for Youth and Family Services. It all started with a popcorn machine request, and a major garden redevelopment, a renovated kind area, and now a Youth complex is looking great. We have a fantastic bunch of willing helpers and many thanks to all of them.
Stay tuned for more Rotary "green jobs" to make a difference to the community...
Hard at work
Paved area in the background...weedmats and mulch making the place look GOOD!
The Alex Community association comes through with Xmas party for kids !
Alex Community have put out this information for the local media...please share with mums and dads to let them know that the "Christmas at Alex" is keeping the tradition going...
"When it proved too difficult to meet covid arrangements for our traditional concert in the park with fireworks finale (a lovely family event that we have run for the past eight years in partnership with the Alex Surf Club) we looked for some way to bring joy to the many children of Alex (and neighbouring area - it is not a restricted event).
In combination with Alex Surf Club and the Alex Rotary Club we will now host ALEX KIDS CHRISTMAS on Sunday December 13th in the afternoon in Buhk Park (between the Surf Club and the Skate Park) in hourly shifts from 2-6p.m.
Predominantly it is a chance for kids to say Hi to Santa, and to each receive a small gift from one of his elves, and to have a socially distanced photograph taken with a beach background.
We have also booked a number of fun fair rides, which thanks to generous sponsorship from Council and our local business community, we can offer at a very fair rate (5 rides for $5).
So no music, no fireworks - but a fun time for kids, in the lead up to Christmas.
Our event has been approved under a covid safe plan, so Buhk Park has to be fenced, and people have to register and sign in.
The link to Trybooking.com is available on our facebook page - Alexandra Headland Community Association.
People are still welcome to turn up and register at the gate, but we would prefer to know who is coming, to speed up entry. The entry gates will be managed by the experienced team from Alex Rotary Club.
Families will be encouraged to pre - book for one hour, so we can rotate the kids through Santa, and control the numbers. Normally we encourage picnicking in the park, but hope this year they will go visit some of our local businesses on the way home."
With the "revitalisation" of the Foreshore, we're keen for Rotary to be involved, and a certain scribe noticed these signs for the Foreshore walk that obviously had Rotary involvement. If you know the background to the signs please let John or Wendy know as we are in discussion with Council about artworks in community spaces.
Holly, Graeme, Tony and John kicked off the job club at Kawana Sports Hub accommodation block trial during the week. It was really inspiring to see and hear from folks who are really trying to put themselves back on their feet, and engage with trying to get on the job ladder and put a roof over their head.
Also, John found out that you're never to old to learn...just ask him about salad preparation.
"Before these places were mountains, before they were volcanoes, they were actually people" "There was a breathtakingly beautiful woman called Maroochy "who walked like a girl who knew where she was going". Then there was a handsome muscle man called Coolum who was famous for his generosity. The golden couple met and fell in love at the Bunya dreaming, a festival held every year. But Ninderry, a powerful rich and crazy man, wanted Maroochy for himself. The battle between Ninderry and Coolum lasted 3 days and ended badly for Coolum. Maroochy's tears became the Maroochy river, and she turned into Moorookutchi, the black swan."
(From the weekend Australian travel guide on Sunshine Coast 21/22 November).
With the clubs push to join the 21st century with IT systems, there's is still the problem of changing the paper on the EFT processing machine. Not to worry with the combined brains and dexterity of Wendy, Val, Steve and Wallis it was done in no time. (well....almost no time)
The very important business of the club AGM is on 4th December and rumour has it that President Wendy is expected to beat the time of 1 minute 30 seconds it took up last year. But seriously although in many ways the AGM is a formality, there is the important business of the new board for 2021.
We're fortunate to have Stuart Aird as our President Elect, and Wendy has volunteered to continue as treasurer, and Val is taking up the reins as Secretary, so that brilliant! However we do want as many people involved as possible so also delighted to hear that Skye is offering to be an office bearer, and if anyone else is able to offer a few hours every month, please let President Wendy know.
Carmel stunned us all on Friday morning in our Rotary minute when she entered into political territory with her enquiries into USA presidents past Rotary involvement, touching on fake news. Who would have believed it!
However, it is interesting to reflect on the how the cornerstone of Rotary culture ...the 4 - way test ....would impact on politicians:
1. Is it the truth?
2. Is it fair to all concerned?
3. Will it bring friendships and goodwill?
4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
How would you rate the current political leaders? and how well do you do in your day to day activities?
A few brave souls from Alex Rotary are heading off to South Brisbane to help out the Rotary world community service group thorugh their "Donations in Kind" (DIK) operation at Kingston.
Regular readers will recall that Alex Rotary (Graeme Hight) organised the donation of school desks as part of an overseas donation to school in PNG.
This year Craig, Sandi, Charmaine and Wendy are heading off to the warehouse to help with the freight preparation of donations from around the regions.
Its a bit of a trek, but a great experience if you can spare some time on Saturday 5th December to join with other club members from the region and get necessary supplied off to the communities in teh region, and make a difference to their lives.
Chianda School benefits from Sunshine Coast Support
What on earth is a school in Zambia doing wearing Mathew Flinders and Unity College school uniforms?.
The answer is found in the generosity of the Sunshine Coast past senior citizen of the year and his partner Cherie and the folks behind "our Rainbow House".
On Friday David was our guest speaker (surprise !) and he spoke of the great work that the Sunshine Coast does in the school at Chianda just outside Lusaka. Also it was great to see that the Rainbow House ambassador was on other than our very own Kasey Chambers who is a great supporter of the project. You can find out more on the link above and here are some slides from Dave's photo album...note the Sunshine Coast school uniform...
Great to see one of our members "making a difference" in other parts of the world..
Friday 13th November Anthony Miller from Miller Sockhill Lawyers is our guest speaker on all things to do with wills and the law
Saturday 14th November is working bee for the Rotary Cluster at Kirsten Court for our Maroochydore mini care garden
In November we also want to do formal presentation of our donations to The Board Meeting, Salty Souls Legacy and Care Outreach and run a couple of Job Club sessions at the Kawana Sports Hub.....so look out for that.
Also during November we will be donating our BBQ trailer to Maloolaba Rotary who are holding a community BBQ for The Board Meeting Surf Charity if anyone is interested in helping Geoff and his team.
Friday 27th November is the Rotary District Governors visit to the club
Friday 4th December is club AGM
Friday 11th December is club Christmas Dinner at Alex SLSC
Sunday 13th December "Christmas at Alex" for the kids (TBC)
A certain scribe took the opportunity on Thursday at the Maroochydore High School "mock interviews" to ask the 25 volunteers there if they would be interested in doing something similar for adults who need a bit of help on approaching work too.
So what's involved in the job club?
Basically its providing a bit of support in the form of tips and suggestions on how to grab that all important first step on the job ladder. So its things like mock interviews, talking and body language skills, some coaching around investigating jobs and knowing what to say and do when you start work, how to interact with the boss and workmates and all the other small things that make up your reputation at work.
Rotary and IFYS will prepare the materials in the form of one hour sessions, which are typically broken up to 4 X 15 minute activities, designed to get discussion going on whats important in getting and holding down a job.
In previous sessions we've also put in some short video's to help keep interest..here's one that worth a view..it will make you laugh...
