Our Last Meeting - Assembly and AGM

Elaine - Guest Speakers - The line up is a bit tight on speakers - there are three coming up, then it gets a bit “lonely"

 

Bob told us that Youth is busy busy busy -  He noted Issy’s letter - NYSF  “made a big difference"

Outbound exchange student Katie
Year 11 to NYSF
RYLA - not this year
RYPEN - “looking at”

 

Elaine- “part” of pancreas makes insulin - can be transported to another organ

 

Mark admitted that he got a bit “tanked" - that is, he dropped his scuba tank on his foot (which is probably best done underwater) Anyway long story short he found the Significant Achievement Award 2006/7 from Ron Strong’s year as President at Caloundra Hospital- we did a mobility garden and Tranquility garden at the hospital. The latter unfortunately got demolished and enclosed within a building.

 

Bernie reported that Hon Member Keith will be undergoing cataract surgery - thinking of you Keith

 

Ian had been waiting patiently to give his account of Queensland weather at its best
Included in full later

 

Sally has a bed for sale

 

The making was closed and we did the AGM

Ready, Set, Go! - accuracy is important

 

Minutes thanks Tracey - highlights as follows:

 

1. President from July 2025 Roger Todd
2. President Elect from July 2026 Sally Cowen
3. Vice President None
4. Treasurer Dave Elliott
5. Secretary Tracey Rose
6. Membership Richard Doodson
7. Rotary Foundation Judy Clarke
8. Public Image Renae McPhee
9. Vocational Service Darryl Laing
10. Community Service Renae McPhee
11. International Service Mark Ward
12. Youth Bob Ainsworth
13. Sergent at Arms Richard Doodson
14. Welfare Pam Snyman
15. Program Director Elaine Almond
16. Youth Protection Officer Mark Ward

 

The meeting was reopened

Deborah talked about Sunshine Coast FM104.9 and their plugs for Rotary

 

Richard shared his story of snorkelling at Tangalooma with his second eldest grandson who is "on spectrum" they had a nice moment under the jetty, with gropers and butter bream around the pylons

100 meter "ditch" to swim across

 

Judy talked about her mum in the 1980s on a snorkelling trip off Cairns

 

Pam's 2 1/2 year old granddaughter went missing at Underwater World - found in a tunnel "leave me alone – I'm talking to the fish”

 

Richard – anyone can snorkel

From: Jane - Your Travel Agent <jane@thetravelagent.net.au>
Sent: Monday, 20 January 2025 2:49 PM
To: Darryl - Your Travel Agent <Darryl@thetravelagent.net.au>
Subject: Rotary Club - from Issy which I was meant to send to you weeks ago.....
 
Dear Caloundra Rotary,

I hope everyone has had a wonderful and relaxing Christmas break.
 
It has now been about 12 months since my last visit to the club.  I thought I would reach out to update the club on my progress and exciting things ahead for me, as your support in my attendance NYSF really made a big difference in the opportunities that have come my way.
 
I have recently completed my final external examinations and graduated high school.  I was extremely happy with my ATAR of 97.9 out of 100
 
I also received several awards and commendations, including an Academic Commendation for achieving straight  A’s across six subjects, a subject award for achieving 100% in all Design assessments, and a Physics Award for achieving over 95% in internal assessments. This was very exciting as all the hard work paid off.  Soon after graduation, I received an offer from the University of Queensland (UQ) to study a ‘Bachelor of Biotechnology’ which I am very much looking forward to. Biotechnology is technology that utilizes biological systems, cellular processes and living organisms or parts of this to develop different products such as insulin, vaccines or gene therapy. I hope to specialise in medical biotechnology in my second year.
 
I will be staying in Brisbane at the ‘Women’s Residential College’ at UQ which I am very excited for! This is a shared student accommodation just across the lake from UQ with a lovely community of young women and is a wonderful place to reside. As much as I am looking forward to college life, I will miss my family and dogs, but luckily, I can come home most weekends.
 
Soon after I graduated in mid November, I was able to join my mum on an incredible trip to Europe. The entire experience was incredible, and I had the absolute best time. Paris was the absolute highlight for me!
 
I would love to hear how the club’s fundraising activities are going. My sisters and I would really enjoy being apart of some initiatives with you in the future.
 
I wish you all the best for 2025!
 
Warm regards,
Isabelle Topalian

 

Diary of a Caloundra Summer
Thanks Ian

 

August 31st
Just moved into our new home in Caloundra!! Now this is a city that knows how to live!!  Beautiful sunny days and warm balmy evenings . I love it here.

 

September 13th:
Really heating up. Got to 35 degrees today. Not a problem. I live in an air-conditioned home, drive an air-conditioned car. What a pleasure to see the sun everyday .

 

September 30th:
Had the backyard landscaped with tropical plants today. Lots of palms and rocks. What a breeze to maintain. No more mowing the lawn for me. Another scorcher today, but I love it here.

 

October 15th:
Fell asleep by the pool. Got 3rd degree burns over 60% of my body. What a dumb thing to do. I learned my lesson though. Slip Slop and Slap on the sunscreen .Got to respect the ol' sun in a climate like this.

 

October 20th:
I missed the cat sneaking into the car when I went to Kings Beach for a swim this morning. By the time I got back, the cat had died and swollen up to the size of a shopping bag and stank up the $3,000 leather upholstery in the BMW. I told the grandchildren that the cat ran away. The car now smells like Wiskettes . I learned my lesson though. No more pets in this heat

 

October 25th:
 To-day feels like a giant blow dryer!! And it's as “hot as hell”. The home air-conditioner is on the blink and  Barkers air-conditioning charged $200 just to drive over and tell me they needed to order parts.

 

November 8th:
If another wise arse cracks, "Hot enough for you today?" I'm going to strangle him. Bloody heat. By the time I got to Rotary this morning, the car's radiator was boiling over, my clothes  were soaking wet, and I smelled like a baked cat!!

November 9th:
Had to run some messages to-day. Wore shorts, and sat on the black leather seats in my car. I thought my bottom was on fire. I lost 2 layers of flesh and all the hair on the back of my legs. Now my car smells like burnt hair.

November 10th:
The weather report might as well be a recording. Hot and sunny.   Hot and sunny.  Hot and sunny.  It's been too hot to do anything for 2  months and the weatherman says it might really warm up next week. Will it ever rain again?  Unity Water will be introducing water restrictions next, so my $2,000 worth of palms just might dry up and blow into the swimming pool. Even the palms can't live in this heat.

November 14th:
Welcome to HELL!!! Temperature got to 38 today. Now the air-conditioner's gone in my car. The repairman came to fix it and said, "Hot enough for you today?" Vicki had to spend the $2,500 mortgage repayment to bail me out of jail for assaulting the repairman.  Caloundra. What kind of a sick demented idiot would want to live here?

 

December 1st:
WHAT?????   This is the first day of Summer????   You've go to be kidding me.....