Small Business Forum a Huge Success

By all reports, the Small Business Form sponsored by our Club was a resounding success. In the style of the ABC’s Q&A program, the four guest panellists were asked to respond to various questions posed by the moderator, Graham Young, a well known journalist, pollster and political consultant. The panel included prominent guests, Kate Carnell (National Small Business Ombudsman), Terri Cooper (Small Business Manager, Brisbane City Council), Wilma James (Innovation Adviser, Profitable Innovation) and Gerard Murtagh (Businessman and Telstra Small Business Award Finalist 2017). 
The forum promised to be informative and entertaining and it certainly lived up to expectations. The topics covered included the many challenges faced by small business; the qualities and practices of successful businesses; the need to adapt to changing times; the issues around industrial awards; the failures of universities to prepare students for the real world, and much more. Most stayed afterwards to chat with the panellists and for general fellowship.
The Forum was organised by the Club in support of local and nearby businesses, in recognition of their importance to the community and the economy at all levels. 

It seems like only yesterday that Jacqueline Rashad left our shores to embark on her adventure as a Rotary exchange Student in Solthurn in South Central Switzerland.

It was in fact almost 12 months ago.
Last night Jacqui jetted back into Brisbane to complete her exchange year.Met by her family, friends and President Craig Clarke at the airport, the first thing she commented on was the heat.Jacqui left -12 celsius temperatures 24 hours earlier, so it was a shock.
Also on the same flight from District 9630 were five other returning students.

Left to Right: Kate from Roma (France), Katie from Morningside (Sweden), Casey from Bayside (Denmark), District YEP Chair Wendy Howitt, our Jacqui, Laura from Toowoomba (Switzerland) and Lachlan from Tennyson (Germany).

This morning, members and friendsof the Rotary Club of Brisbane Taylor Bridge gathered for the Annual Changeover function.At this function the 2017 – 2018 Club President, Margaret Willis, was inducted.

Immediate Past President, Craig Clarke, passes the “Chain of Office” to President Margaret during her induction.

Newly inducted President Margaret Willis addresses the gathered members and friends.

President Margaret introduces the members of her Board od Directors, that were present at the function.

Yesterday we farewelled Emily Relf. our Outbound Rotary Youth Exchange Student who is heading to the Slovak Republic for 2017.

Pictured here at the departure gate at Brisbane Airport Domestic Terminal with her father Adrian, her mother Natasha and sisters Isabel and Charlotte as she was catching her flight to Sydney to meet up with the rest of her student cohort who are travelling to the same area of Europe as she is.
Also leaving on the same flight where three other students from our district.

Pictured (Left to Right) here with District 9630 Youth Exchange Program Chair, Wendy Howitt, are Jarrod Pretorius (Redlands Bayside) who is heading to the Czech RepublicEmily Relf, Ellie Richards (Chinchilla) heading to Spain and Ehlayna Jacob (Beenleigh) who is off to Austria..