Bulletin 3 October (Sep 22, 2019)

Our September 5 meeting had 56 in the room, 35 members and 21 guests. I know our guests enjoyed the evening and I am hoping they will join us again on Thursday 19 September for our next dinner meeting and consider Rotary and membership of our Club is for them.

We welcomed our 57^th member, Louise Davis (Occupational Therapist) and heard from Members Behind The Badge Sue and David Geelan who provided a snapshot of who they are and why Rotary is important in their lives. Thank you David Baguley for the wrap up of our first and very successful Botanical Bazaar. We connected with over 75 local exhibitors, 15 food and beverage vendors, over 3,500 patrons and over 50 volunteers, including more than half our Club members, Nerang Rotary Club and a few members of the new Gold Coast Passport Rotary Club. And net profit was $31, 863.

And to Kate Kimmorley, Lucy Sperling, Tammi Mayfield, Kathy Hogan, John Davis and Nev Davis, Gold Coast Rotary Leaders who shared what this Club’s plans are for our Projects and Programs in 2019/20 and beyond, thank you for your leadership and commitment to connecting members and those individuals and communities we will impact on.

Our September 19 meeting will hear from Members Behind the Badge Tammi Mayfield, Nev Davis and Past President Kate Kimmorley. We have 1 new member to induct (welcome Andrew Beshara) taking us to 58 members. We will be further developing our Club Projects and Programs planned for 2019/20.

I am hoping we can involve every member in at least one project this year. 30 members to date have expressed interest in getting involved. To assist all members, I have provided the names and phone numbers of Project Leaders for you to contact before our next meeting. They would love to hear from you.

Club Projects - Nev Davis Mob 0418 185 128
Botanical Bazaar & Gold Coast Ramble - David Baguley Mob 0411 470 947

Vocational Service - Luciane Sperling Mob 0405 255 169

Vocational Excellence Awards - Kathy Hogan Mob 0417 634 029

International - Tammi Mayfield Mob 0490 101 199

Community Service - John Davis Mob 0411 373 722 (overseas Sept) Contact me on Mob 0421 915 818

Each week I catch up for coffee with either a member or potential member and chat about life, work and Rotary. If you and I haven’t done this yet, please call me on 0421 915 818 and we can arrange this.

Last week over a coffee Niko Alfaro shared with me that under the Australian working holiday visa he has that provides him with full rights to work in Australia for a year, to extend this to a second year he must undertake specified work for 88 days. Due to his Chilean passport he can only work in hospitality and farming. These jobs must be done outside major Australian cities. He would love to undertake farm work around the Gold Coast or Brisbane areas. If not he must head off to Central or Northern Queensland to work in hospitality. If you know of someone that could have work, please contact Niko immediately on 0450 548 356 as he plans to head North on September 25 if he can’t land work locally. Niko will be attending our September 19 meeting.

This Sunday 15 September we are joining other Rotarians and Gold Coasters for the “Rotary “Walk Against Ice” in Broadbeach with the $10 entry fee going to the work of the Australian Anti-Ice Campaign. We are also celebrating our club’s achievement of staging the inaugural Gold Coast Marathon in 1979 on its 40^th Anniversary as we walk around Broadbeach and then lunch at the Kurrawa Surf Club after this to welcome the 24 new members who have joined us in the past 13 months. Click https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid to find out more and book your walk.

To reserve your seat for lunch, email Chawki Gazal at chawki@akgaz.net or call 0410 002 403 today.

And on Wednesday 25 September the End Polio Movie Night for 2019 is on at HOTA Gold Coast (6.30pm) This is the advanced screening of “Ride Like A Girl”, the incredible true story of Michelle Payne, the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup. Tickets are $20 each and will go quick so grab a partner or a buddy and book online at https://goldcoasttickets.com.au/event/10278?fbclid=IwAR2NE24cQVyEA9ppljXt7WVCAeHwu-fBhD7SHwrYA6T2eTA4gwWuSRoQZDI

Look forward to catching up.

Rowan Johnstone

President 2019/20

M. 0421 915 818

E. johnstonerowan@gmail.com

This Meeting

Thursday 19 September - Gold Coast Rotary Club Projects & Programs Dinner Meeting

5.45pm for 6.15pm at Southport Golf Club, Slatyer Avenue, Southport

Members Behind the Badge – Tammi Mayfield, Nev Davis & Kate Kimmorley

$30pp for plated meal, tea or coffee and a raffle ticket. Members inviting partners or friends @ $20 per person. Children’s meals $10 per person To prepay BSB 124 022 Acc No 21667645 Ref: Your Name

RSVP by Friday, 13 Sept to mark_urq@yahoo.com.au or 0411 693 814

Upcoming Meetings & Events

Friday 13 Sep Gold Coast Rotary Board – Lev 2. Kay House, 35 Scarborough St Southport (1pm)

Sun 15 Sep Walk Against Ice & 40^th Anniversary GC Marathon – Broadbeach (Walk 10am/Lunch 1pm)

Wednesday 25 Sep “Ride Like A Girl” End Polio Movie Night –HOTA Gold Coast (6.30pm)

Thursday 3 Oct Gold Coast Rotary Youth Forum - Southport GC (5.45pm for 6.15pm)

Thursday 17 Oct Gold Coast Rotary Foundation Forum – Southport GC (5.45pm for 615pm)

Thursday 7 Nov Gold Coast Rotary Vocational Excellence Awards – Southport GC (6pm)

Friday 15 Nov Gold Coast Rotary Board – Lev 2, Kay House, 35 Scarbourough St Southport (1pm)

Thursday 21 Nov Gold Coast Rotary Anti Drugs & Addiction Recovery Forum - Southport GC (6pm)

Thursday 5 Dec Gold Coast Rotary Christmas Dinner - Southport GC (5.45pm for 6.15pm)

Friday 13 Dec Gold Coast Rotary AGM Breakfast – GC Regional Botanical Gardens (8am)

Saturday 14 Dec Broadbeach Christmas Carols – Kurrawa Park, Broadbeach (4pm)

Botanical Bazaar ticks all the Boxes

These comments on our Facebook page sum up a fantastic event:

Was the best day of the year for me so far! A truly wonderful and community connecting day filled with tonnes of valuable information we should all be seeking to strive toward for a healthier planet. I picked up some great tips and ideas to use less plastic in my life. My daughter picked up some gorgeous plants and my son received some free trees to plant. Thank you everyone.

I could not have said that better myself. What I loved the most was of course the 'nature of it, all natural' but definitely the traditions. outside those gates its back to normal but there it was very special few hours thank you all so very much.

Had an amazing day yesterday, great information Great stalls, good food and great music, such a lovely relaxing day😀

This event was fantastic! My friend and I arrived at 9am and stayed until 2pm, so much to see and do. Highly recommend going if you want a mix of very reasonably priced plants, great music, interesting talks and a wide variety of stalls! Will be back in 2020 for sure!

The Rotary International Theme for 2019-20 is Rotary Connects the World. Gold Coast Rotary’s Botanical Bazaar embodied that theme on many levels –

we connected with over 75 local exhibitors, allowing them to showcase and sell their products;
we connected with a number of not-for-profit organisations, allowing them to educate the wider community about their causes;
we connected with 15 food and beverage vendors providing a captive market of hungry and thirsty festival goers;
we connected with over 3,500 patrons coming through our gates to be educated by an impressive line-up of speakers and entertained in a relaxed and natural environment;
we connected with gardeners, finding a wonderful array of plants and garden products at reasonable prices all in one place;
we connected with and provided plenty of free activities for kids, including a never to be forgotten interaction with Costa Georgiadis;
we connected with the local community gardeners, allowing them to showcase their wonderful market garden;
we connected with the volunteer Coast Guard Gold Coast, providing them with the opportunity to raise much needed funds and ensure site parking was well managed;
we connected with over 50 volunteers, including more than half our club, Nerang Rotary Club and a few members of the new Gold Coast Passport Rotary Club;
we connected with environmental sustainability by working with the new wastage system Greg and the Eco Angels from Climate Wave Enterprises implemented at this year's festival providing a stellar 92.59% diversion from landfill!

Blessed with wonderful weather and an event full of happy people, what better way to fundraise for worthy causes. Special thanks to Event Director Stacey, our main supporter Councillor Peter Young and, of course generous, in-kind support from members Eddie and Andy. Approximately $32,000 will be available to invest in the event for future years and support local worthy causes.

Check out our website and Photo Album.

Event Plans for the year ahead

BOTANICAL BAZAAR

Following the success of the Botanical Bazaar this year, the club will be committing to staging this event as an annual event. The venue at Country Paradise Parklands has been booked for the 1st Sunday of August each year so mark your diaries now!

GOLD COAST RAMBLE 2020

Partnering again with Surfers Sunrise and Griffith Gold Coast Rotary clubs, the Gold Coast Ramble will be staged on Sunday 22 March 2020. The start site will be Macintosh Island Park and the event will be held over 2 hours starting at 10am. Ramblers will explore the streets of MainBeach and Surfers Paradise. Members are urged to promote the event to their work colleagues, clients and families asa fun day and an opportunity to support local charities. The Salvation Army and the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia have already signed up.

ROTARY BALL AND CHARITY AUCTION

To accomodate the above events, our annual charity auction will be moved back to later in the year, October or November 2020. Other formats for the event will be explored.