Dan Thomasson, Chairman of the Rotary and University of the Sunshine Coast Community Fund (RUSCCF), opened the well-attended meeting and welcomed all guests. Dan gave a special welcome to the three 2025 RUSCCF scholarship awardees, Tyson Alker, Riley Banaghan and Melina Keane, and to Professor Ross Young and Chris Du Plessis from UniSC.
Garry Galutera from the Philippines was another notable guest, along with youth exchange student Terka and Rotarians from Maleny, Caloundra, Mooloolaba and Alexandra Headland clubs.
After the Loyal Toast, the Four Way Test and Rotary Grace, Greig Lee-Archer proposed the International Toast to the Rotary Club of Nairobi, Kenya. RC Nairobi was chartered in 1930, the first club in East Africa and the ‘mother club’ of the many Rotary clubs in the region. Inter alia, RC Nairobi has provided over 120,000 bed kits across Kenya. An active club.
Les Pontin celebrated his 88th birthday and was recognised for his remarkable long-term fundraising work for St Vincent de Paul. Hayley Mill, coordinator of the annual Vinnies CEO Sleepout, presented Les with a well-earned certificate acknowledging his 2025 work which raised over $11,000.
After dinner, Garry Galutera thanked participants from Caloundra Pacific and Caloundra clubs who contributed to our Philippines project.
Garry presented an award to the club, accepted by International Director Ross Harrison on behalf of President David Wallis and the tireless Malou Deakin.
Chairman Dan introduced the scholarship awards by outlining RUSCCF’s background. The Rotary Clubs of the Sunshine Coast have awarded $202,500 for more than 60 scholarships since 2001, with each of the three 2025 scholarships set at $5,000 with no strings attached.
Professor Ross Young then updated us on UniSC’s activities, aimed at “Creating a Better Tomorrow.” He outlined the top ten risks to 2034, accepted worldwide, which are all environmental and not economic or geopolitical, and spoke of UniSC’s research work to address those risks.
UniSC is among the top 25 universities globally in a number of these areas. Ross concluded by reminding us that UniSC is a small university with global significance.
Then to the awardees. First up was Tyson Alker, whose PhD work titled ‘Gendered Dynamics and Masculinity in Policing” is related to mental health issues. Mental illness has affected 42.9% of all people aged 20 to 85, with these police interactions now about 30% of all police workload and resulting in high fatality and incarceration rates. Existing research is generalised, so Tyson is undertaking three studies including public perceptions and police officer experiences.
Riley Banaghan’s PhD work is “Fish-Light” and deals with East Coast inshore fisheries, currently worth $24.7M to the Queensland economy and supporting over 300 jobs. Existing gill net fishing is effective but controversial because of by-catch and social & market pressures. Riley is researching reforms involving trials in 2025 to 2027 of innovative fishing gear including ten new fish trap designs, new net types, line fishing and electro-fishing. The idea is to achieve low impact selective fisheries that are sustainable and remain economic.
Melina Keane’s PhD is called “The Blue Biosphere Project” and deals with human/wildlife interactions with iconic marine species. Little data exists. She is conducting surveys and interviews 2025 to 2027 in order to help research four components: whale entanglements from 1962 to now, dolphin occupancy, shark ecology, and social/economic impacts. Her work includes using acoustic tags and receivers to gain objective data, with outcomes to include quantifying the economic value of our interactions with these species.
Youth exchange student Terka gave us a brief review of her recent activities before Graeme Bowden and Les Pontin conducted the raffle.
Appropriately enough, the first draw was by awardee Melina Keane – who drew her own ticket.
Dan summed up the evening with his thanks to all clubs represented tonight – and his request for more donations to RUSCCF for future scholarships.
