It’s difficult to believe that one year ago there wasn’t a single Rotaract club in district 9600. One year after our first club in the district celebrated their successful charter, we are holding our first district event. The Rotaract Clubs of Brisbane CBD, Brisbane Rivercity, the Sunshine Coast, and North Lakes were all invited to attend a weekend away full of fun, frivolities, and relaxation. The event was held on Queensland’s Bribie Island, a midway point for all th
District dinner featuring Brisbane CBD members Merinda Speedy & Alex Jenkins, Brisbane Rivercity members Josh Cunningham, Alicia Van Woensel, & Gareth Seeto, Sunshine Coast member Joseph Davies, and potential member Lisanne Verhoef. e clubs.
District dinner featuring Brisbane CBD members Merinda Speedy & Alex Jenkins, Brisbane Rivercity members Josh Cunningham, Alicia Van Woensel, & Gareth Seeto, Sunshine Coast member Joseph Davies, and potential member Lisanne Verhoef.
After a few initial hiccups, including finding a suitable date, we met at the beach on Saturday afternoon. This open timeframe allowed Rotaractors to arrive when it was suitable for them. Saturday night we met for dinner at the local surf club, carpooling with members from the other clubs. This was our chance to meet and chat with people we don’t normally get to see.
Thanks to a connection one of the Rotaractors has with the Bribie Island Scouts we managed to stay at their den for $15 per person. A bargain price which made the event accessible to all, particularly our members currently on student wages. That night we played Exploding Kittens, and started a (somewhat short lived) bonfire. The next morning was spent playing more games, including a heated match of mini ping pong, Brisbane Rivercity’s incoming President Josh Cunningham versus Sunshine Coast’s current President and DRR-elect Ada Gain. Ada won*. Being Easter time, we also held an Easter egg hunt and finished with a swim at the beach.
Ping pong heats up between Josh Cunningham (Brisbane Rivercity) and Ada Gain (the Sunshine Coast)
Meeting in an informal environment gave us the opportunity to network in a fun and safe environment, and was also a great start to our ongoing district relations. Following the success of the weekend we plan to host another weekend away sometime in Spring, before the Australian Rotaract Conference comes to Brisbane.
*Note – The author is incredibly biased. Officially it was an agreed ‘tie’.
Ada Gain
President Rotaract Club of the Sunshine Coast 2015-16
DRR-Elect 2016-17
