Our Last Meeting - Quinton Litchfield

Sgt Richard gave Chair for the day Chris a Royal introduction

 

Chris introduced guests  - Friend of Rotary Di, Ron, and soon to be a Rotarian Sally

 

Thanks for the photos Roger

 

President Deborah delivered her report

We move on to the induction new member Sally

Her classification is midwifery (is she being induced or inducted?)

 

Welcome to Rotary Sally

 

Chris introduced Quentin, the Manager of Gateway

 

Quintin, born and raised in the hills area of Sydney, and his wife Susann, originally from Sweden, have four adult children. After spending 16 years living in Sweden, they recently returned and are now happily settling in on the Sunny Coast.

With 30 years of experience in working, pioneering, and leading in the non-profit (NFP) sector, Quinton and Susann bring a wealth of knowledge to their community. Quinton currently serves as the Group Relationship Manager at Gateway Care in Caloundra.

Today, we have the privilege of hearing a glimpse of their journey and the remarkable growth they've experienced at Gateway Care.

 

Quinten noted that he is also Gateway’s  "relationship manager”

 

Last week’s "childhood stories" reminded of the time he taught to swim as a child in Gosford - His dad asked him to jump into the pool, and that he would catch him – but he didn't. He stood back instead.

 

He first met his wife in Hollywood at a children's home – that is where his journey started. He met her again in Sweden and then came to Australia had four children then went back to Sweden to establish their Australian church.

 

It was ”hard" - the Swedish are very secular

Sweden is open to immigration however Denmark is closed. Sweden has problems with gun violence – a big challenge.

They started the charity helping immigrants into the "system "in Sweden
They decided to take kids for the "short term" about a year – his best job ever

 

They moved back to Australia and were preparing their house, but fate intervened with the beginning of the war in the Ukraine. They took a van and picked up Ukrainians and helped them with work and housing – it took took two months.

 

When they arrived on the Sunny Coast, they were told that Tom Lew needed "someone like you”

He was the project manager for the food centre and cafe – They have 7-10,000 members

 

Demographic – these are people who never needed help before
36% of Australians have food insecurity - "a shock”
20% (that’s 50,000 people) live in poverty

 

He wants to create a nonprofits alliance – his wife works for the Salvation Army
He suggested a youth centre in Caloundra is needed "taking all comers”

 

Sally asked if a membership card was needed to buy a gateway. Answer – anyone can buy here. You could also buy vouchers which can only be redeemed here

 

The food centre is involved in distribution around the state, including food rescue

There are expansion plans – a “pop-up”

 

Land at Currimundi is available – they would need Grant money from the Federal Government and Council help

 

Bob - Meeting with the Meridan State College Guidance Officer, and is waiting for a call back from the Caloundra SHS officer

 

Elaine - Knowledge is knowing that tomato is a fruit, wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad

 

Darryl informed us that Mission Brown was the first acrylic paint.

 

The roster has disappeared – where is Sergeant Richard when you need him?

 

 

 

An Englishman and a Dutchman are sitting in a pub. The Dutchman says to the Englishman, “Every time I see you in here you walk out with a different girl. What’s your secret?”

The Englishman replies, “It’s really easy. As soon as I walk into the pub, I casually toss my Rolls Royce keys onto the bar, and the gals practically throw themselves at me.”

The Dutchman says “Wow, you’ve got a Rolls Royce?”

The Englishman replies, “No, I’m just as poor as you. I bought this Rolls Royce key fob on Amazon for £10, and the ladies are none the wiser.”

So the Dutchman goes on Amazon and buys the exact same key fob. He then goes to various pubs across London, with no luck whatsoever. A few weeks later, he runs into the Englishman again. He tells the Englishman “Your key fob trick is bogus, I went to at least 20 pubs, no lady looked at me twice, please take this bad luck charm off my hands.”

The Englishman tells him, “Maybe it would work better if you took off your bicycle helmet first.”

 

Courtesy Rod Karolys