Heart of Europe was the venue, and a great choice from all reports. About 40 members and partners enjoyed the celebrations as we farewelled 2025 and look forward to 2026 - after next week's AGM. Thanks to Mona for organising and Gavin for photos.

MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL

A very successful Lighting of the Christmas Tree at Raby Bay 28-29 November 2025 with a very special visit from Michael Carrigan's  grandaughter. Thanks to Cleveland Rotary members for their efforts in providing Hamburgers and sausage sandwiches for the Friday and Saturday evenings. Great crowd and very supportive customers many asking us to keep the change. 

Last night we attended the draw of the Bendigo Bank Community Raffle. No, we did not win any major prizes, but thanks to the efforts of all we sold the most tickets out of 78 local community groups participating!! Thanks to all who supported this effort and bought tickets - your money will be shared with the Redlands Coast Museum and Cleveland District State High School for the First Nations Education Centre and the NEXUS Program.

On Friday night we combined with Variety Queensland to serve a sausage sizzle at the opening of the renovated Grand View Hotel. Of course the huge thunderstorm affected our results - but a good night was had with Darryl Braithwaite the lead entertainment, followed by fireworks.

Many thanks to Albert & Alison Benfer, who once again opened their mountain top garden and home so we could celebrate 50+ years of Rotary service by Mario Piva and James Pollock. James was also recognised for his 20 years of work with the Bowelscan program - invaluable in the countless lives that this program has saved. Tributes by DG representative PDG Annette Richards to both Mario & James, and a tribute by Tony Wills on behalf of Bowelscan covered the formalities, but overall the camarderie between the number of past members who attended, right down to the newest member, made the afternoon a delight. Thanks once again to Alison, Albert & their family members whho assisted.

Tropic Thunder - the Best Dressed Team once more!! The 24th Annual Charity Golf Day on October 17th was another fantastic day of fun and fellowship in our beautiful Redlands community. The generosity of the teams and individuals playing, the hard work by all the volunteers, made the day another great success. Local charities will benefit from this generosity of spirit and funds - THANKS TO ALL.

Many hats of different styles were on show last night as we had a fun night to raise funds for Mental Health, to be donated to Australian Rotary Health. Ian Crane donned his Auctioneers hat to sell off some wine and a snazzy set of Rotary braces! Grant Mitchell was the winner of that auction - will be interestting to see what happens in the future with those Grant!!! Check out the Photo Gallery for lots of pictures.

A more sober side to the evening was our guest speaker, Cindel Richardson, from QPS, speaking about domestic violence in all its forms. Truly very informative, interesting  speech, completely without notes except for quoting unsettling statistics. Would be lovely to have Cindel back again - I am sure she has much more to say on this topic.

Thank you to Albert Benfer who arranged for 10 of us to attend the Malaria Symposium at Sanctuary Cove Golf Club on Saturday evening and hear Emeritus Professor Michael Good speak about the progress of the fight against malaria and the work being done at Griffith University. The Black Tie event hosted by the Rotary Club of Hope Island was an excellent evening, with most of us coming away with raffle and silent auction items, but more importantly the opportunity to contribute to this valuable scientific work. 14th November we received the latest Malaria Vaccine Project newsletter - a total of $86,443.28 was raised on the night! Malaria_Vaccine_Project_Newsletter_Edition_3_2025.pdf

So pleasing to see the fantastic turnout by members of our club, and their families and friends, for our rostered packing day at RARE. A total of 16 people signed in as Cleveland based, out of a total of 60 volunteers from variouis clubs. Books were sorted and packed, linen folded, school unforms sorted and packed, crutches paired, containers packed (including a vehicle destined for Uganda to be used as an ambulance), rubbish removed into skips...and delicious morning tea devoured. Lovely to see our Exchange student Amanda there and our newest member Greco with friends to help. Thank you one and all!! See the photo Gallery for more snaps.

Announced at our changeover in June, PP Robert Wesener was voted as Clubman of the year by members. However, he was overseas at the International Convention, and President Clive was ill, so on Tuesday night the shield was presented - for the last time in this format. As it is now full, Clive will seek assistance from his Men's Shed to mount it on another shield, so we can continue into the future to award the person the members feel have embodied the Rotary spirit during the year.

Our guest speaker on the night was End of Life Transition Doula,  Dr Jaqui Williams. Jaqui spoke about those essential processes we need to perform, to ensure that when the end of our lives is approaching, we have all in place to ensure our loved ones and carers know our wishes - while we are in the mental and emotional space to clearly explain them. Thanks Jaqui - a very informative evening. End of Life Services For You | Brisbane and Redlands

Our speaker last night was Dr Thao Doan, who has recently moved her dental practice to Paradise Gardens Shopping Centre in Thornlands. A Vietnamese refugee, arriving in Australia in 1979, Dr Thao has achieved so much in her life, and given so much to others with heart and compassion. She has gone on missions to Peru and Vietnam, providing dental service to the underprivileged, both children and adults. Her enthusiasm for this area of work is amazing, and there is such a need in countries where dental clinics are virtually non-existent. A truly inspiring evening, thanks Barry for hosting her.

Redlands Coast Museum was the first major project of the Rotary Club of Cleveland in 1968. The management of the Museum was passed to a community committee in 1972.  We have a long standing relationship with this excellent local museum.

Members volunteer each Thursday morning and regular Saturday mornings to sort, pack and ship containers of repurposed medical and educational equipment and supplies.