Youth Exchange Student Cindy Wu from Taiwan and President Elect Craig Clarke catch up with Rotarian Laureen Vanderwolf from the Rotary Club of Warwick Sunrise at the “Gladfield Driver Reviver” on the Darling Downs between Cunninghams Gap and Warwick.What a fabulous job the service clubs and other volunteers do at these establishments.

ROTARY TRIVIA NIGHT RAISES FUNDS FOR DROUGHT APPEALThe Rotary Club of Brisbane Taylor Bridge held its annual Trivia Night recently at the Sherwood AFL Club, raising over $5,000 to help Queensland farmers cope during the drought.Over 130 attendees were thoroughly entertained and challenged by Quizmaster, Kirsten Binnie (Club President). The theme for the night was ‘country’ and everyone went dressed appropriately, the prize for best dressed going to the Dis-Graceville Hillbillies (pictured, left to right, Lauren Ryan, Carmel Floyd & Jo Butterworth). Prizes and auction items were generously donated by Club members and local businesses.Funds raised will go to the Rotary District 9630 Drought Appeal, where drought affected farmers are given vouchers to purchase essentials from local businesses, thereby helping not just the farmers and their families, but also the local businesses that rely on the farming community. 

Cindy gas arrived from Taiwan and is looking forward to meeting everybody.

She was met at the airport by YEP Chair, Wendy Howitt.

‘LUCKY SOUP STORY’ EVENT A BIG SUCCESS
An audience of around 200 listened intently to the ‘Lucky Soup Story’ at Corinda State High School recently. Hosted by the Rotary Club of Brisbane Taylor Bridge and compered by Kelly Higgins-Devine from ABC Radio, the captive audience heard about the lucky escape by the group of 8 Australian trekkers during the earthquake in Nepal on 25 April.
Stephen Ganko, one of the trekkers and a member of the Rotary Club, talked about the lead up to the trekking expedition, the training and meticulous preparation for the quite demanding planned trek to Base Camp. Beginning full of excitement and trepidation, the party trekked for several days until reaching a point just short of Base Camp when their Sherpa guide insisted, despite some mild protest, they stop for a rest and some potato and garlic soup. A stop that in all likelihood saved their lives.
After resuming the final leg of the trek, they were about 30 minutes from Base Camp when the earth started to rumble, then shake quite severely to the extent that they could hardly stand up. A deafening roar followed, described like being surrounded by jet engines. Above them up the mountain they could see the huge white cloud of snow rumbling towards them. It became very clear that they were about to be engulfed in an avalanche.
Dashing for any cover they could find, particularly a large boulder nearby, the members of the party experienced fierce winds and driving snow, the force being severe enough to blow the lenses out of one of the trekker’s glasses. Visibility was non-existent. Breathing drew snow into their lungs. After what seemed to be an eternity but probably only minutes, it passed. In another twist of luck, the avalanche’s progress was slowed by a valley in front of the trekkers’ location. They were fortunate that only the fringe of the avalanche reached their place of refuge. 
Miraculously, there were no real injuries. After dusting themselves off and confirming that each member was OK, it was decided, again at the insistence of the Sherpa, they should not go any further and should head down the mountain instead. A very wise decision as it turned out.
Backtracking, the severity of the earthquake soon became apparent. Death and destruction were witnessed. Historic buildings now in ruins. Nepal had suffered a major earthquake, the worst in about 80 years. The death toll amounted to over 8,500 with 17,000 seriously injured. The earthquake left Nepal in disarray. In addition to the human casualties and the destruction of thousands of homes, the economy is also in ruins. At the heart of Nepal’s economy is tourism, now drastically curtailed due to the earthquake. Livelihoods have been destroyed along with the local infrastructure.
Accompanying Stephen Ganko on a Q&A panel moderated by Kelly Higgins-Devine, were the 7 other members of the trekking party.  Special guest for the evening was Michael Groom, the very accomplished mountaineer who led the trekking party. In 1995, Groom became the fourth person ever to summit the four highest mountains in the world without the aid of bottled oxygen. He has been to the top of Mt Everest twice. Michael gave a short talk about Nepal and its beautiful people.
The main aim of the ‘Lucky Soup Story’ event was to raise funds to assist the Nepalese people. Rotary has committed to building 1,000 low cost shelters as well as social infrastructure such as schools. Each shelter costs about $US3,000-5000. Our ‘Lucky Soup Story’ evening raised around $10,000 in ticket sales, donations, raffles, etc. These funds will go direct to Rotary in Nepal to assist in the recovery efforts. Clearly, more funds are needed. If anyone wishes to donate to the cause, please contact Ted Crowe, Rotary Club of Brisbane Taylor Bridge, on 0415 515 000.

Congratulations are due to Past President Ted Crowe upon the recognition of his team at Brisbane Taylor Bridge by the Past District Governor, Phillip Charles, for the direction the Rotary Club is moving.

At the District Changeover dinner the Club’s new President, Kirsten Binnie, was on hand to collect the District Governor’s Award for the club he considers best upheld the Rotary ideals during 2014-15.
WELL DONE TEAM TAYLOR BRIDGE.

As sad as it maybe, this morning President Kirsten, Immediate Past President Ted with Margaret, Jamie, Debbie and I said au revoir to Chloe as she boarded her flight for her home in La Loviere in Belgium.

As she departed, she once again sent her thanks to the club, especially her host parents, Stephen and Rhonda, Ted and Margaret, John and Susan, Jamie and Jackie and their families.

We here at Brisbane Taylor Bridge would like to thank the YEP Chair for District 9630, Wendy Howitt and the country coordinators for Belgium, David & Anna Bray for their support to both our club and to Chloe through her exchange year.

Wendy says goodbye to Chloe.

At last night’s club meeting the members approved accepting an Inbound Youth Exchange Student from July 2015 to July 2016.

Hsin-Yi (Cindy) Hu was a reciprocal exchange from District 3470 in Taiwan for anOutbound student in District 9675 (Greater Sydney and Surrounds).Due to some problems in their District they are no longer in the position to acceptCindy and several other inbound students.
Many other clubs, like us, are raising their hands to fill the void so as these students are able to come to Australia on exchange.

This past weekend saw a large number of our members out working in the community.

The weekend started with members and friends filling two shifts, involved in car parking duties at the Gregory Terrace, St Joseph’s College Sporting Grounds at Tennyson for their school sporting fixtures.
Sunday morning started at 0500 for some of our members and supporters at the Annual Fun Run held at UQ St Lucia.
Later Sunday morning we had a team back at the Tennyson sporting grounds directing traffic for a Football (Soccer) Tournament for Refugees hosted by Gregory Terrace.
Well done to all who participated in any of those teams, helping the public to see Rotarians At Work in the community.

Welcome to the newest member of the Rotary Club of Brisbane Taylor Bridge.

Margaret Willis is a fulltime busy professional in the IT industry.
If you would like information about membership please email tto the address on this page.

Thank you to members Mary-Ellen and Dee for introducing us to the Days for Girls charity and for organising the upcoming Girls Day Out High Tea on Sunday 31st May to help fundraise for the cause. Days for Girls is a grass roots charity with a network of teams and chapters around the world that provide quality and sustainable sanitary hygiene kits to girls and women who would otherwise go without due to poverty or a lack of access. 

Going without these products results in missed days at school and work putting these girls and women at risk of infection and exploitation. The Days for Girls sanitary hygiene kits contain washable and reusable sanitary products which last up to 3 years and to date the charity has provided over 100,000 kits to girls and women in over 75 countries. In addition to providing these kits, the charity also provides reproductive and hygiene education and encourages and supports locally made hygiene kits to help generate income for local communities. Funds raised from the High Tea on Sunday 31st May will go towards the purchase of fabric, underwear, towels and soap for the kits for direct distribution to girls and women around the world. If you are also able to help with the sewing of the kit components see Mary-Ellen about starting up our very own Days for Girls Team! Visit www.daysforgirls.org for more information.