Warm Welcomes & Opening Traditions
Clive Seymour opened the Meeting
Our meeting began with a heartfelt welcome to all attendees, followed by the Loyal Toast to the King and the people of Australia, the Rotary Grace, and the Four-Way Test.
Members were encouraged to share the evening’s highlights on social media, spreading the Rotary spirit beyond our club walls.
Guests & Visiting Rotarians
We were delighted to host several guests and friends, including Wendy, Sylvia, and Adrienne (mother of guest speaker Kate). A special welcome went out to visiting Rotarians Roger, Tracy, Renee, Bob, and Deborah from the Caloundra club. Our gratitude also extended to the host families supporting exchange student Terka: the Bates, Hoveys, Lee Archers, Ashers, and Ainworths.
Celebrations
Birthday cheers went to Dan (currently in the Philippines) and Alan Stephens, whose birthday is on January 28th. We also look forward to celebrating Terka’s 18th birthday on February 6th.
International Toast
This meeting’s International Toast honored the Rotary Club of Suva Central in Fiji, a dynamic new club chartered on August 1, 2025. With a youthful and diverse leadership team, they’ve already made an impact through fundraising and community service.
Directors’ Reports
- Community Service: The recent Bunnings BBQ was a sizzling success, raising $1,800 after GST thanks to 11 dedicated volunteers. Plans are underway for another BBQ in March and possibly more throughout the year.
- International: Ross updated us on the teacher accommodation project in the Philippines—funding is secured, and Dan is set to sign documents soon.
- Convention News: Barb encouraged members to consider attending the International Convention in Taipei, June 13–17.
Member Announcements
- Win invited members to submit questions for next week’s guest speaker, Councilor Terry Landsberg.
- Tony announced the annual Golf Day, scheduled for October 9th. Over the past decade, this event has raised more than a quarter of a million dollars for our causes.
Exchange Student Stories
Kate O’Farrell: A Year in Osaka
Kate captivated us with tales from her 2025 Rotary exchange in Osaka, Japan. She described the city’s vastness, her experiences with five host families, and the challenges of adapting to Japanese school life—including tackling advanced subjects and mastering three writing systems. Kate’s adventures included trips to Kyoto, Tokyo Disneyland, Hiroshima, and her first encounter with snow. Despite her immersion in Japanese culture, her dream remains to become a pilot.
Terka: Seven Months Down Under
Terka shared highlights from her first seven months in Australia, from visiting the Australia Zoo and climbing Mount Ngungun to earning her boating license and celebrating her first Aussie Christmas. She reflected on differences in school technology, uniforms, and the Czech alphabet. Horses remain her greatest passion, and she’s embraced every opportunity to explore and learn.
Fun & Fellowship
- Riki Tiki Quiz: Win hosted an Australia Day-themed trivia session, with Les emerging as the winner.
- Sergeants Session: Fines were humorously handed out for everything from excessive speaking to missing name badges and BBQs. Mike was recognized for recovering a long-lost mobile phone.
- Raffle: Congratulations to Win, Ray, Bronwynne and Mike on their raffle wins.
Looking Ahead
Our next meeting on 29th January, will feature Councilor Terry Landsberg, who will address local issues.
Members are encouraged to send their questions to Win in advance, for Terry to address .
