Thanks for the photos Irish
 
 
Ian welcomed us to our first Rotary meeting of 2021
Welcome to guests Terry, Isaac and Ian
 
 
President James asked us all to have a "meaningful new year"
Special mention to Kath returning after her hospital stay, and Brian's return
 
Jim introduced his guest Terry, who he met at 1/3 French
Terry is a Rotarian from Inverloch, Victoria
 
 
Bernie introduced Isaac.  His father-in-law worked with Ron
He is now with Caloundra City Realty.  His partner is Angie and he has two sons
 
President James' International Toast was to RC London
The Club was chartered in 1911, the first club outside the USA
The UK is doing it tough with over 32 thousand in hospital and 81,000 deaths from Covid
 
James spoke to his friend Cody who is an Australian paramedic in London - of four of his friends, three have Covid
The wait for an ambulance is 10-12 hours
 
Rotary Clock
 
To celebrate 100 years of service to the London community, Rotary clubs in London are donating $100,000 to install a 14-foot illuminated clock in the tower at Covent Garden Market.
 
James called for a round table of Christmas news
There were some interesting revelations, including about Genta's 3.5m viewers on Tic Toc, and Richard's new grandson.
And we got a few left-over Christmas cracker jokes too!
 
Directors
 
Darryl gave the details for the Centenary of Rotary function at Maroochydore RSL, Sat 17th April, $100pp
ADG Wendy is working on the monument
 
All holes for the Golf Day are now sold
 
Judy announced our "first for a while" Bunnings BBQ on 30th Jan - there will be some Covid inspired changes to the operations - the list went round
 
Kath - The clubs have been repaid and parents repaid half  by insurance for the cancelled NYSF programs.  Amelia is set for th Brisbane NYSF
 
Deborah - Program suggestions please.  CalPac ROMAC Trivia registrations please.  She will liaise with Merv re membership
 
Darryl reported on the 50% decline in Main St visitors due to the Brisbane lock-down
 
 
Welcome back Kath
 
James started a discussion around innovative fund raising.  On-line raffles seem to be working well
The Mooloolaba trailer raffle netted $28K, CalPac had a similar one
The Salvation Army Christmas collecting worked well this year (4 shops 2019 - $14K, 2020 - $21K) $6.5K collected in Beerwah
On line raffle prizes need to be "memorable" - Darryl mentioned a vintage car example
 
Sgt Ian did his worst
 
 
Great photo Irish - guess who? - I think my foot fetish is finally cured, but at least the thongs are the same brand
 
Issac had the last three minutes to talk about himself and Caloundra City Realty
Isaac was born 43 years ago on 7-7-77.  CCR is a family owned business established in 1993 - They sell & list the most properties in Caloundra, and work as a team - salary not commission. In the last quarter they sold 100 properties in 100 days
 
James' thought for the day
"Challenges are what makes life interesting, and overcoming them are what makes life meaningful"
 
 
These questions about Australia were supposedly posted on an Australian Tourism Website and obviously the answers came from a fellow Aussie.
 
1.    Q: Does it ever get windy in Australia?  I have never seen it rain on TV, so how do the plants grow? (UK)
        A: We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around watching them die.
 
2.    Q: Will I be able to see kangaroos in the street? (USA)
        A: Depends how much you've been drinking
 
3.    Q: I want to walk from Perth to Sydney - can I follow the railroad tracks? (Sweden)
        A: Sure, it's only three thousand miles, take lots of water...
 
4.    Q: Is it safe to run around in the bushes in Australia? (Sweden)
        A: So it’s true what they say about Swedes.
 
5.    Q: It is imperative that I find the names and addresses of places to contact for a stuffed porpoise. (Italy)
        A: Let's not touch this one.
 
6.    Q: Are there any ATMs (cash machines) in Australia? Can you send me a list of them in Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville and Hervey Bay? (UK)
        A: What did your last slave die of?
 
7.    Q: Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Australia?  (USA)
        A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe. Aus-tra-lia is that big island in the middle of the Pacific which does not... oh forget it.
            Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Kings Cross.  Come naked.
 
8.    Q: Which direction is North in Australia? (USA)
        A: Face south and then turn 90 degrees. Contact us when you get here and we'll send the rest of the directions.
 
9.    Q: Can I bring cutlery into Australia? (UK)
        A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do.
 
10.   Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys' Choir schedule? (USA)
        A: Aus-tri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y, which is...oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in Kings Cross, straight after the hippo races. Come naked.
 
11.   Q: Do you have perfume in Australia? (France)
        A: No, WE don't stink.
 
12.   Q: I have developed a new product that is the fountain of youth.  Can you tell me where I can sell it in Australia   (USA)
        A: Anywhere significant numbers of Americans gather.
 
13.   Q: Can I wear high heels in Australia? (UK)
        A: You are a British politician, right?
 
14.   Q: Can you tell me the regions in Tasmania where the female population is smaller than the male population? (Italy)
        A: Yes, gay nightclubs.
 
15.   Q: Do you celebrate Christmas in Australia? (France)
        A: Only at Christmas.
 
16.   Q: Are there killer bees in Australia? (Germany)
        A: Not yet, but for you, we'll import them.
 
17.   Q: Are there supermarkets in Sydney and is milk available all year round? (Germany)
        A: No, we are a peaceful civilisation of vegan hunter gatherers.  Milk is illegal.
 
18.   Q: Please send a list of all doctors in Australia who can dispense rattlesnake serum. (USA)
        A: Rattlesnakes live in A-meri-ca which is where YOU come from.  All Australian snakes are perfectly harmless, can be safely handled and make good pets.
 
19.   Q: I have a question about a famous animal in Australia, but I forget its name. It's a kind of bear and lives in trees. (USA)
        A: It's called a Drop Bear. They are so called because they drop out of gum trees and eat the brains of anyone they land on.
            You  can scare them off by spraying yourself with human urine before you  go out walking.
 
Q: I was in Australia in 1969 on R+R, and I want to contact the girl I dated while I was staying in Kings Cross. Can you help? (USA)
        A: Yes, and you will still have to pay her by the hour.
 
22.   Q: Will I be able to speek English most places I go? (USA)
        A: Yes, but you'll have to learn it first.
 
Sign of a bad day