Rotary Club of Ashmore
Club Bulletin
13th October 2026
 

Hi All,

Great to see a strong turnout for the meeting on Wednesday with Cr Paterson and some lively questions and answers. 

Looking forward, we have a busy end to the year

Working Bee – Wednesday 14th from 9am

We are cleaning out the shed with the trailer and having a general clean up. This is to prepare for the Halloween Movie night, but also to prepare the trailer for its donation to Ability beyond Choice. It should only be 9-11am. Will you come along?

Sat 31st October - Halloween Movie Night – Can you help?

We need volunteers for the sausage sizzle, raffle and also the set up team. To set up a couple of marquees, tables and chairs. If you haven’t already, contact the relevant team leader:

·         Brian McAllan – Sausage Sizzle

·         Elaine Williams – Raffle

·         Brad Francis – MC & Best Dressed

Halloween Movie Night – We have outside help too.

·         QAHS Interact club is helping Brad in organizing the best dressed competition. 

·         Stewart Estate Agents sponsoring the popcorn machine as part of fundraising. 

·         Rob Molhoek’s team are running the lolly stand. 

·         Ashmore SS P&C running the drinks stand to raise funds for their P&C.

·         Oh, and we have about 8 different sponsors and their support. These include Gold Coast City Council, Stewart Estate Agents, Ashmore Red Rooster, Rob Molhoek, Bunnings, Coles, Sporty’s Warehouse. 

Promotion 

·         Ashmore SS and Benowa HS will help promote to their network. 

·         Facebook and Instagram Marketing has started with an event created and reels have started being released.

·         We have filmed a special video with Sporty’s for the event and will film several more. 

·         If you have more promotional ideas, please let President Owen know.

Christmas Party

We don’t have a date yet, but organizers have started discussions with the Golf Club. 

President Owen Caterer

Meeting notes from meeting 07.10.26

The chair for the meeting Heather Yarker opened the meeting at 6.30 pm.

Guests were:

Councillor Brooke Patterson Division 6 GCCC

Pat Fleming’s Partner Peter

Anita Whimpey’s father Peter

Our new RYE student Rieke. 

Food

We experienced a beautiful meal prepared by Kumar that included Calamari, Chicken Schnitzel and Tiramisu

Meeting

Chair Heather suggested our exchange student Rieke talk about her latest adventures. Rieke spoke about meeting up with an Argentinian Exchange student, visiting the Australian zoo and visiting the Money Market at Eumundi.

Chair Heather then spoke about our successful barbeque at Bunnings on October the 5th. Thanks, got to Brian for successfully organizing another fund-raising event.

Heather then mentioned a famous quote “They say time you can give but it’s the only thing you can’t give back.”

Heather then introduced Brooke Patterson a councillor from Division 6 Gold Coast City Council.

Brooke’s priorities have been Enhancing the City and Roads Parks and footpaths. Brooke represents Southport, Ashmore and parts of Benowa. Brooke mentioned that she tries to represent the whole of the city and that at present it is the second largest Council in the country. Brooke mentioned that there is always tension around making the right decision and that our green spaces are our most extraordinary asset. Brooke is a third generation Coasty, and she has a 51% green space target.

The council is presently investigating the setup of a CBD and will soon visit Parramatta to see how they have dealt with the problem. The council will soon be investigating a new City Plan due for release at the end of 2027. Brooke believes that we will need to come up with new solutions for car parking in the future.

Mention was made of a previous councillor Dawn Crichlow and how she truly represented the Southport Community.

Mention was also made of the dangers presented by the homeless in Southport and how one of our members has moved her college to make for a safer studying environment for the students. Brooke suggested that the Local State Member of Parliament Rob Molhoek is presently trying to move legislation to help with this issue and is grateful for his help. Some of the homeless are acting against the law.  

It looks as if there may be redevelopment of Sir Bruce Small Park to cater for the expansion of AFL, Cricket and Netball.

In the future the residents of the Gold Coast may need to ride their bikes more.

The meeting was then handed over to our president Owen who then passed over to David Grant from the Ashmore men’s shed. David said that the Men’s shed opened about 9 years ago and now has around 70 members. Lots of their work is community based and covers things like cutting up soap for overseas, making possum lairs, fixing up furniture, rejuvenating Rocking horses and they are now seeking to expand their facility with an awning out the front of their entrance. Rotary needs to decide on what they need to do with their outside pavers as part of this expansion.

There will be a working bee to clean up our shed next Wednesday the 14th of October from 9.00 am – 11.30.  

Close - President Owen closed the meeting at 8.05 pm.    

Rotarian Brad Francis 

Councillor Brooke Patterson

Rotarian David Grant explaining what the Mens Shed are doing now.

Our KIVA statistics

Made 5 loans this month and have a balance of $147 in the bank

Attached are the stories of each borrower.  All running businesses and trying to build a better future

Rotarian Pat Fleming

Vanuatu  - Anna

Helps to pay for large bags of raw kava to prepare and sell fresh kava juice.

Anna, 41, resides with her partner, who is employed at a firm that sells electronic gadgets. She has three kids, all residing in a region away from the city.

She is currently making a living by selling fresh kava juice.

Her drive to start this venture two years prior arises from wanting to aid her family financially, create extra income and fulfill her daily needs. She aims to grow her business by acquiring more bags of green kava to create fresher kava juice for her customers. Her current approach is to increase the number of bags of fresh green kava to produce fresher kava juice for higher profits. Nonetheless, she is facing financial strain.

Anna is looking for a loan to support her business by buying more bags of fresh green kava, which will allow her to create additional fresh kava juice. The profits from the venture will provide financial support to her family, help her manage her daily costs and she plans to save some for her upcoming business needs

Mongolia - Batnasan

Helps as working capital to purchase necessary tools and equipment.

Batnasan is a married man who is recognized for his diligent, and energetic character.  For 15 years, he has performed a diverse range of work on his own, including construction tasks, taxi driving services, and serving as a security guard for a private organization.  He serves 30 to 50 individual customers, organizations, cafeterias, and restaurants daily who actively demand his taxi services. 

He will use this loan for working capital to purchase necessary tools and equipment.  By expanding his business operations, he aims to boost working capital, achieve financial stability, improve his overall family livelihood, and build wealth to leave an inheritance for his children.  His dream and future plan is to expand his business and equip himself with proper tools and machinery.

Samo - Fotu

Helps to purchase additional stock, retail supplies, and other essential items needed.

Fotu is a 33-year-old married woman and mother of three children who has been running her retail business for the past year. She started the business as a way to create an income for her household while providing convenient access to everyday goods for people in her community. During her first year, Fotu has worked hard to build relationships with her customers and keep her business operating consistently.

She now hopes to strengthen the business by increasing her stock and making more products available to her customers. With financial support, Fotu believes she can improve her sales and turn her retail business into a stronger and more reliable source of income.

The income from the business is important in helping her and her husband cover their family's daily expenses and provide for their three children. Fotu is determined to continue developing her business so that her family can enjoy greater financial security and a better standard of living in the future

Dear Rotary friends and family

We would like to invite you and your club members, family and friends to join us for an inspiring discussion with Mel Arnost, CEO of Queensland Domestic and Family Violence Alliance (QDFVA).  Mel is also one of our club members.  

We hope you can join us and would appreciate your support in sharing this event.  All are welcome to attend and there is no cost.  

Details are in the attached flyer.  

Kind regards

Lisa 

Lisa Hunt

Hello there, my wonderful fellow Rotarians! 💛

As many of you know, another organisation very close to my heart is the Jack Beasley Foundation, where I’m proud to serve on the board.

This Saturday night, I’ll be swapping my District Governor duties for the microphone as I host our annual JBF Trivia Night – DISCO FEVER! 🪩💃

And I’d absolutely LOVE to see a few familiar Rotary faces in the crowd!

So, here’s my challenge to your club…

Could you please share this invitation with your members and see if you can hustle together a table of 6–8 Rotary brainiacs? Or maybe even two or three tables if your club is feeling particularly enthusiastic! 😂

There’ll be plenty of laughs, some fantastic prizes, a little friendly competition and, most importantly, a great night supporting a wonderful cause.

📍 Nerang RSL
📅 Saturday 17 October
🎟️ Just $20 per person!

It’s always an absolute blast, and I’d love to see a few Rotary clubs represented on the night. We might even get a little friendly interclub rivalry happening! 😂

I’ve attached the flyer and booking link below, so please share it with your club members, rally your trivia champions (or just your most entertaining members!) and come along for a fabulous night!

Hope to see you on Saturday!

Big love,
Deb xx 💛🪩

*************

Coming up soon.  Please help out where you can.

Wednesday 21st October - Red team - John Walters and Eddy Saroff “A history of Broadbeach” - Ashmore Tavern

Wednesday 4th November - Gold team - Casey Evans “Scams, screens and investigations. Lessons from a digital spy” - catered at Centre

Wednesday 18th November - Green team - Rotary All rounders - Ashmore Tavern.

Wednesday 2nd December - Red team - Joanna, Julie and Anita “Behind the badge” - Catered at Centre.

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