Alex Rotary July Newsletter - Swim, Changeover, Plans, Tasks, Community, Calendar - its all here !! 

Solstice Swim "Wash Up"

So we maxxed out again at the 2024 Solstice swim with over 300 swimmers registering to have fun at Alex Beach on the Winter Solstice Event. Everyone is asking when is the next one, and one bewildered swimmers asked why don't we have the solstice later in year when it is warmer? Doh! Unfortunately the control of celestial bodies is beyond the ability of the club and we're sort of obliged to have it on the shortest day of the year because of the name. Which happens to be in what is (laughingly) called "winter" in these parts of the world. 

 

 

HUGE thanks to all the supporters of the swim, especially the lifesavers, led by Chris and Lex, Amy and admin team, volunteer community groups such at Mooloolaba Rotary and Mooloolaba Yacht Club, individual volunteers from the community who helped with ushering and time keeping, our great MC Ken Boulton, the Sunshine Coast businesses who sponsored the swim, led by Grant at North Coast Boating, Anthony at Miller Sockhill Lawyers, James and Sheree at Innovative Planning Solutions, Stephen at Blackburne Jackson Architects, Sean at Seaborne Clothing, Grant at Sunshine Coast Business Solutions, Scott at Structures Engineering Design, Tiffany at Suncorp, Mayce at RipCurl, Debbie and Kirsty at Okinja ELC, Dion at Masterverse, Dean and Sophie at Cricks VW, Belinda at BFresh, Sunshine Coast Council and of course Helen and the amazing team at Alex Surf Club who looked after us so well at the Solstice Swim and then later at our Changeover dinner. 

 

Thank you all. We will be having a small thank you function later in the month that we hope all can attend so we can thank you personally.

 

 

 

Other suggestions, are to build on what was originally a tongue-in-cheek suggestion that we charge for the sugar babies who want to wear a wet suit. So the new suggestion for next year is we take that suggestion further and charge our amazing swimmers an extra $20 if they choose to wear a swim suit. EEK! what a great idea. 

 

We'll run the idea of making swimsuits optional past Council for next year and see what they say. ....??

 

 

In the post swim survey we carried out the club was told that 99% of the swimmers rated the swim "very high" in terms of enjoyment and 99% said they look forward to joining next years swim. So everyone give yourself a pat on the back. 

 

Some suggestions for improvement were taken on board, and we will do better with our timing equipment next year, consider age awards for swimmers, and improve some safety aspects of the swim. 
 

A fantastic day...thank you all.  

 

We've posted some photo's (thanks Alex Polizzi) on our Solstice Swim page which we will update as we head into the next ....more successful.... swim.

 

We'll also keep our regular readers updated with the good that you have done in the community by supporting the Inclusive Kids "Fuel for School " program.

 

The kids won't know you, but we know you've "made a difference"

New Club Board 

As it's the end of the Rotary year, we have a new board. Here they are below.

 

A great mix of enthusiasm, & experience and all with a "Can Do" attitude.

 

Not quite sure what's going on here, Monique seems to be stabbing Michelle (??), who is taking it in good spirits. 

 

Club receives District Award for membership growth.

Inclusive Kids gives a big Thank You

Club gives Garden Expo support 

Frankly, it's not the most exciting job in the world, but it did give a certain scribe great amusement directing traffic in a mudbath after incessant rain on some of the Expo ground. After parking the hundred or so cars in the quagmire he was seen heading off to alert towing contractors to some upcoming business heading their way. 

A big thanks to Mooloolaba and Nambour Rotary for inviting Alex Rotary to assist with this community event. We hope it all went well. And if you could advise where to send the dry cleaning bill that would be great. 

MND reaches out to Alex Rotary - and we say YES

Club reaches out to Care Outreach with offer of Support

Bunnings this month - are you a Masterchef?

A reminder to all members that we have a Bunnings BBQ on the Friday 23rd July at Bunnings Maroochydore.

Major Domo Craig will be away, so we will be looking for junior Major Domo's to take up the reins. (Should that be Sergeant Domo's?)

Mock interviews this 25th of this month - want to help a student with their first job?

Trailer BBQ renovation for Blaze Aid 

A bit of re-scheduling has been done in relation to the renovation of our club BBQ trailer, before we present it to Charmaine and the Blaze Aid team for their work at the Gympie muster.

There is a timing clash with MND support, so our support for MND takes precedence and we'll schedule that work for another day, but make sure the BBQ spic and span with new electric and parts for the Blaze Aid volunteers.  

Where did the raffle prizes go?

Not to a certain scribe thats for sure. Well the main prize of a Rolls Royce Z grill smoker BBQ went to local celebrity, community minded business man, and (allegedly) a part time Santa Claus,  John Hutchinson.

Congratulations John on winning on main prize.

Big thanks to President Geoff and Jo-Anne and helpers for phoning round and delivering the HUGE number of raffle prizes in the Multi draw. A big thank you again to our supporters who provided the club with over $8,000 worth of prizes to give away.

Who won the RipCurl $1,000 prize?  

What are Urban Angels up to?

On the Sunshine Coast we are lucky to have many community minded business people who are willing to support local causes and help folks who need a hand up.

We also have a precious brand in Rotary who are known for being the force behind so many life changing local and international projects. We pride ourselves on "making a difference" whether it be at a women's refuge makeover in the middle of Maroochydore, or eradicating Polio on the global stage.