On Friday we renewed our friendship with Eve Fraser, Director of OzSwim Aquatics. Members will recall that a few months ago our club was successful in getting a $4,000 grant to help Eve and her team save lives in Uganda though a water awareness program. Since that time, Eve has been super busy and has created a Rotary e-Club that has tasked itself with engaging with Rotary to save 2,500,000 lives around the world. That's the number of lives that the United Nations estimate are lives lost in water incidents, that could have been prevented.

 

So Eve, being a "can do" sort of person has set out a plan of 6 project clusters to break down this mammoth task into achievable parts. ..

 

 

 

The club is delighted to have Eve as a neighbour on the sunny coast, and a friend of Alex Rotary and already we're exploring ways of supporting this worthwhile cause through club projects. The Solstice Swim is an obvious collaboration that we're exploring. 

 

 

President Skye and Judy dropped off these pressies at Care Outreach with Melissa....but our resident photographer has spotted something wrong...can you guess?

 

Club meetings will be changing over to WEDNESDAY mornings for a trial period starting in November. Stay tuned. 

 

Club is renewing its acquaintance with Maroochydore State High School and The Smith Family on Wednesday night at the VERG dinner.

 

Surf Show and Shine has been put on hold for now, stay tuned for more details. 

 

..and from the wider Rotary Community (click on link)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Folks will remember Tom Handyman's loss to childhood sarcoma and the amazing support the family received from the Sunshine Coast Community.

 

Well, I am pleased to let you know that on Saturday Andrew and Ben flew out of Australia for the Himalayas. They are now climbing Mt Mera in remembrance and fundraising for Tom.

 

It's been a long few years but Andrew and Tom never gave up and now join a band of climbers in the Himalayas to complete their commitment.

 

We wish them well.

Many of you will remember Andrew O'Connor coming to the club to talk to us about Children's Sarcoma and how it had affected his family. Andrew, and his son Ben, decided to do something to support the fight against this terrible disease that had affected Ben's cousin Tom Hardyman. They put together the "Summit for Sarcoma" funding call out, intending to raise $60,000 by climbing Mount Mera at $10 / metre. 

 

I'm sad to let you know that Tom succumbed to the disease last Thursday and that his funeral  is being held today.

 

Andrew and his sin Ben raised almost twice their original target  for Sarcoma research. Here's the link if you wish to donate to help eliminate Sarcoma. Everyday Hero. 

 

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The Alex Community Association folks are again hosting the iconic and world famous (really?) "Christmas at Alex" on Sunday 11th December. The weather is guaranteed to fabulous, and there is a rumour that a man in a red suit will be there to spread some joy and create some bedlam among the kids (well done JH) ..after a few tough years. 

 

 

On Friday Rex gave his former Rotary Club a big plug for their amazing Murgon Music Muster week. Any caravaners or country music fans out there (and who doesn't love a "pub with no beer?" ) are guaranteed an entertaining week at Murgon, in support of this great event.

 

 

 

At the Rotary District 9620 conference in March, Angie Mansey was a guest speaker who captured the attention of all attendees and mostly because her story was so natural and one with which we could relate. Not that we had been down her path but because of her life experiences and how she overcame them to move forward.

  

 

 

Angie's second son required bucket loads of medical attention which drained all their cash reserves and more!!

 

When Angie and Luke were able to get their head above water, they established a charity to support families in need.

 

When then District Governor, Wendy Protheroe heard the full story she made Angie a recipient of a Paul Harris Fellow -- an award that recognises great contribution to the community. It involves quite a story but the Award was delayed and became available only a couple of weeks back. Wendy was not able to attend and present the award which was made by Past District Governor Patrice Robinson at Alexandra Headland Rotary just last week.

 

A "Paul Harris Fellow" Award is named after the founder of Rotary and requires a contribution of $1,000 US to The Rotary Foundation which uses the money in humanitarian projects around the world. The Rotary Foundation has all-but eliminated Polio; has installed water and sanitation in developing countries, built low-cost housing for people in need, worked on drought and emergency relief projects, built schools, educated kids in need. 

 

Rotary Foundation projects are mostly completed by Rotary volunteers which means very low administration costs are incurred.