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Rotary News Feed
Rotarian brings home mental health support

Rotarian brings home mental health

The Wisdom of the Hot Flash

Many women approaching midlife wonder if they should consider hormone replacement therapy. The evidence on the benefits and risks is clear.

Rotary projects around the globe May 2025

Learn how Rotary clubs are taking action in the United States, Mexico, Austria, Australia, and South Sudan.

You’re the perfect messenger

Katharine Hayhoe explains the enormity of our climate crisis, how it magnifies virtually every other serious challenge, and how all hope is not lost. Not by a long shot

A profitable path

With minority business awards, a Texas Rotary club lifts the fortunes of enterprises with heart, itself included

Rotary helping you transition to work
Here is a link to the complete WorkLife booklet developed by Alex Rotary as a mentoring guide to anyone starting work for the first time. (Also not a bad read for anyone going back into the workforce who would like a bit of inspiration and advice. 
 
We've also found that local businesses use it as a friendly support for their employees to help discussions along on the importance of work, (and how to be happy at work while making the boss happy!!)
 
 
Blue Card Connections
2025 Solstice Swim 
 
 
  • Iconic Sunshine Coast Community Swim
  • 500m dash, 1km, 3km and 5km swim distances 
  • Swim inside bathing reserve - fully chaperoned by Alex Lifesavers
  • Anklets and instant GPS timing by Multisport, rolling wave starts
  • All swimmers receive T shirt, swim cap, fruit, water
  • Free cancellation up to day before swim
  • Ample parking
 
 
Register here
 

Welcome to the Rotary Club

of

Alexandra Headland

2025 Solstice Swim 
 
 
  • Iconic Sunshine Coast Community Swim
  • 500m dash, 1km, 3km and 5km swim distances 
  • Swim inside bathing reserve - fully chaperoned by Alex Lifesavers
  • Anklets and instant GPS timing by Multisport, rolling wave starts
  • All swimmers receive T shirt, swim cap, fruit, water
  • Free cancellation up to day before swim
  • Ample parking
 
 
Register here
 
Club News
Solstice Swim News

Is the SunnyCoast Solstice Swim going Nude?

This ABC news report has raised eyebrows at the Alex Rotary Club, whose 8th Solstice Swim is on Sunday 22nd June at Alex Head SLSC.

Nude solstice swims are part of a growing travel trend known as "noctourism" that's injecting hundreds of millions of dollars into Australia's economy each year.” (ABC news 17th May) 

Is it being considered for this years swim? 

 

 

The Tasmanian Solstice attracts over one thousand folk who take a very short, very quick dip, every year in their birthday suits.

“We are aware of the popularity of nude solstice swimming in Australia, and we have considered (very briefly) approaching the council. ” Alex Rotary commented. “Some members are very keen on the idea - it will raise more help for the local community.” 

“As the Sunshine Coast is a lot warmer, everything would be bigger, for the swimmers, crowds etc. I think its a great idea.” A cheeky beach swimmer commented.

Follow developments here SunnyCoast Solstice Swim

Pride of Workmanship Gala Dinner

Pride of Workmanship Awards

Great to see a full house at the Alex SLSC restaurant for this years Pride of Workmanship awards.
 
There was a few surprises on the night, including a Paul Harris award for our long suffering Bunnings supremo Craig, and a warm welcome for Ian Brown, past adjudicator at The Surf Show and Shine Kombi show from Cricks VW and great to see Bill and Melissa joining the club for a celebration of their staff.
 
The winners...
 
 
We welcomed Bill and Melissa from Care Outreach..
 
..and Dean and Ian from Cricks VW...
 
 
...and our mates from IFYS were well represented with Sarah and corporate member Tanya and team
 
 
Craig receives his surprise Paul Harris...btw he seems to have attracted a few admirers in Megan, Jo-Anne, Monique and Michelle. laugh
 
 
 
Well done everyone who received an award, and big thanks to those who arranged the evening and Alex SLSC for putting on a great evening. 
 
Rotary Saving lives on the road

RYDA team supports road safety experts saving lives

On a (surprisingly) dry Tuesday, these volunteers,  led by Graham, supported the Rotary RYDA program at Nambour. Two schools attended, Mathew Flinders, and Burnside. Its a brilliant program that will save many accidents, injuries and deaths by engaging young people with the right tools to make good choices when they are on the road. 
 
Well done also to presenters, who include the QPS, Drive examiners, psychologists and one lady who spoke about her very serious road accident when she was in Grade 12. Very powerful messages to the kids. 
 
Here's the team ....Graham, Sandra, Megan, Graeme, Jon, Sandra,  John, Doug and Greg  ...well done everybody, and BIG thanks to the RSE experts, and of course Ken Mills Toyota for supplying the demo vehicle. 
 
...and special mention to Graeme, who resumed his Principal's role for a short while to address the 200 kids. Goodonya Graeme, hasn't lost his touch. ...as you can see below..
 
 
 
 
Club Helps Out with Donation to Flood Relief
Like most Queenslanders,  Alex Rotarians have been saddened to see the flooding catastrophe affecting the outback. So we were really please to donate $2,000 towards the flood relief fund established by Rotary District. 
 
But wait, there's more !! When member Les found out about this, he chipped in another $500. Rounding up the total donation to $2,500. 
 
Good onya Les, that is just fantastic, and very generous of you.yes
 
 
That's the great thing about belonging to this club, while at the moment we are busy raising funds for our annual fundraiser to help the Sunshine Coast, we rise to the need when we can see funds are "going to make a difference". 
 
And wasn't it very telling when Bill and Melissa from Care Outreach thanked the club for the clubs donation, Bill mentioned that he is seeing a LOT more folks on the coast (not outback) availing themselves of Care Outreach's support. Much more so than in previous years. 
 
So well done all members, and a BIG special thanks to Les for adding to the pot, which will go to family support in the flooded area. 
 
Urban Garden gets a helping hand from Alex Rotary 
We had 2 guests join us this morning to discuss Homelessness on the Sunshine Coast - Michael Chittiick and Chris Cooper. It is a major problem on the coast with the number of homeless on the increase.
 
While difficult to have actual numbers the estimate is 1,378 people homeless of which 202 are aged between 12-24 which is a terrible statistic. They provided some good news in that there is hope of Sleepbus being resurrected after its recent demise.
 
It was great to meet some of the team from Urban Garden on Friday at Bunnings. Craig had been in touch with Simon prior to Christmas but it wasn't till now that the club was able to show its support for the great work this NFP does in teh community and in turn supporting the Maroochy Neighbourhood centre. 
 
It was coincidental that Michael and Chris , Sleepbus volunteers were present as guest speakers.
 
They were most appreciative of our Christmas Sleepbus donation, albeit the company is in a bit of bother we received from very, very, welcome news that steps are being taken to resurrect this great community cause.
 
We are looking forward to Simon from Sleepbus talking to the club, and meanwhile your club will be making a donation to the Urban Garden at the Maroochydore centre to show our support for the great team of volunteers.
 
Here's the afternoon shift - front of office Meghan, with Chloe, Catherine and Yoku with head chef Graeme, and dogsbody John in the background.  
 
 
 
Michael and Chris..
 
 
Well done girls, and boys. 
 
...and don't forget this Wednesday there is a Mothers Day drive in support of Care Outreach...
Youth Science Forum - changing young lives

Inspiring New Scientists

 
A few months ago Sarah and Maddie spoke to the club about their aspirations is attending the National Youth Science Forum in Brisbane. At that time they were very impressive young students who had a passion for Science and a curiosity about what was going on in the scientific world around them.
 
Today, Maddie and Sarah spoke to the club about their experiences at the Science Forum held in Brisbane. 
 
 
It's fair to say that they were blown away by the overall 9-day experience, from visits to Forensic labs, Computer labs, Robotic labs and state of teh art medical labs. From the pics you can see the group from all over Australia who attended the forum, and who met various leaders in their fields in Brisbane. 
 
Maddie and Sarah were put up at UQ Kings College Halls of residence which added to the experience of future student life. 
 
Thank you Maddie and Sarah for your talk today, Alex Rotary is delighted to have sponsored you to go to NYSF and look forward to hearing about your journey ahead in the scientific field.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Australian Rotarians Against Malaria

Who knew about this killer?

Neil Bradley represented ARAM (Australian Rotarians Against Malaria) to bring us up to date with latest information.
Australia has been declared Malaria Free, but with malaria being a major problem in PNG it could filter into Australia.
Malaria kills about 600,000 people a year around the world which is why Rotary has a focus on malaria eradication.
 
 
Three types of vaccine are being used …. The first is reported as being effective at about 10% and if that saves 60,000 people a year it is worthwhile.  The second is about 75% effective.  The third vaccine is still undergoing tests but is considered valuable because it  allows mosquito population to produce more males and it is the female mosquito which bites looking for blood!!!
 
Neil is a retired educator and a member of Loganholme Rotary.
 
​​​​​​​
 
 
Year in Review ...Can YOU help us this year? 
Big thanks to Ray S who has done a fabulous job of summarising The Alex Rotary year in Review. It's been one of the busiest and most productive years in the clubs history.
 
To the amazing guest speakers we have had at the club, thank you to every speaker who shared their community programs and interests with us.
 
It is truly a great part of being a Rotarian to hear directly at our meetings what is going on in our community. We heard from all sorts of speakers through the year, from tourism executives, local education leaders, artists and writers, disability advocates, overseas volunteers, mental health professionals, etc. etc.
 
We also heard from inspiring local students that we have sponsored to go on Rotary development programs. They are following on the path of the many Rotary exchange students, scientists and exceptional boys and girls who have benefitted from Rotary Australia and International opportunities.
 
It was a HUGE year for fundraising and helping the Sunshine Coast community. The thousands of dollars in donations that our members generated for local causes, (club record) was great testament to the "can do" attitude of our members and supporters.
 
Our donation program continued through the year, and we were pleased to make substantial donations to local volunteer clubs who are primarily working with folks suffering through cost of living issues. 
 
Also, it was pleasing to see the wider Rotary organisation recognising Alex Rotary for its work in helping others and our increasing club membership. 
 
In summary ....A great year ....and we extend an invitation to folks on the Coast who may be considering "making a difference" to their community in 2025 by joining Alex Rotary. The only requirement is a "can do" attitude and to be available (now and then) for a breakfast meeting at Alex Surf Club where we meet every Wednesday morning between 6.45 - 08.00.   
 
Here's some pics from Ray's presentation...
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Scouts stop over and enjoy Alex Rotary and Inclusive Kids Hospitality

RCAH provides breakfast for 300 Jamboree - bound scouts and their leaders 

The Rotary Club of Alexandra Headland recently hosted 300 scouts and their leaders for breakfast when they stopped off at the Sunshine Coast on their way to Maryborough for the for the 26th Australian Jamboree (AJ2025). The three yearly event was held at the Maryborough Showgrounds and Equestrian Park January 6–15, 2025. 

Six buses left Canberra at midday on Sunday January 5 and travelled through the night, planning to arrive at the Sunshine Coast at 6:00am. You can imagine the surprise for the Rotary Club of Alexandra Headland members who arrived just before 5:00am to start setting up and found two buses already in the carpark! A better run than expected partly explained the early arrival but the main reason? – they hadn’t taken daylight savings into account, or the lack of it, in Queensland! 

 
 
 

As more buses arrived, the scout group patiently waited as the Rotary Club of Alexandra Headland volunteers feverishly set up for breakfast. No doubt the scouts were just grateful to be out of a cramped bus and able to walk around in the pleasant Queensland morning air – and go to the toilet!

 
 

Breakfast was served and the Scouts enjoyed a hearty meal of pancakes and spreads, a choice of cereals and milk, juice, and fresh fruit. 

 

 

They then settled in for what initially appeared to be a longer than anticipated wait to depart as they were not required to be at the jamboree site until their allotted time, due to many buses arriving that morning. However, an earlier time slot was arranged and scouts were quickly assembled to express their heartfelt thanks for the breakfast that had been provided. They promptly boarded the buses for departure and set off for Maryborough. 

All that was left for the Rotary Club of Alexandra Headland crew to do was clean up. This took no time at all and was made much easier due to the negligible amount of rubbish left behind. All of our volunteers commented on the spirit, politeness, and helpfulness of the scouts group.
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Special thanks to our hard-working volunteers and our long-standing partner IFYS Inclusive Kids, who very kindly assisted us with sourcing the breakfast foods required for this event. 

Monique Kelsey, RC of Alexandra Headland

Alex Rotary WorkLife Coaching Program 
 
Community Projects
Who helps our club to "make a difference"??
Here's some of the amazing folks who help us with our community fundraising. ..
 
The Sunshine Coast is blessed with businesses small and large who want to give back to folks "doing it tough" and we would love to hear you if you are already supporting a local cause (we maybe can help) or of you are looking for cause to support.
 
We generally support Sunshine Coast VOLUNTEER organisations who have some amazing locals just looking for a hand up with their project activities. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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RIP CURL MAROOCHY
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Who we've helped...
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SPECIAL OLYMPICS SUNSHINE COAST
 
Rotary / USC Community Fund
 
 
 
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Helping save lives in Uganda. See YouTube video
 
 
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