Redcliffe Hospital Urology Department fun run was conducted in September 2021 at 6.30am and was very successfull with about 86 runners and walkers from Metro North, Rotary and individual teams and 18 of our members manned the three drink stations at Woody Point Jetty, Margate and Redcliffe Jetty. Most drinks (water only) were consumed at the finish where participants needed more than one. Thanks must go to Dr Reece Phillips who organised the run and the stirling efforts of our media officer John Dowling. These guys arranged all the raffles and the MyCause funding as well as media editorials. Thanks is also necessary to the group members who volunteered to be marshalls very early in the morning at 6am (Peter Ham, Peter Wilson, Joy, Garry, Ian, Penny, John, Greame, Lindley, Marnee, Tim, Jacquie, Rosalyn, Larry, Lindley, Keith and Fred).

Shirts for the runners were provided by Genesis Care and the great breakfast at the Belvedere Hotel was sponsored by Mundipharma. These 2 sponsors have already indicated their intention to repeat their generous donations again for 2022.

We are presently in the planning stages for the 2022 run to be held in August.

There’s been a big change with our meetings in that we have had to change our meeting room and we now must meet on the 2nd THURSDAY of the month instead of Tuesday but at the same time at 6pm. YMCA is trying to recover costs so we now have to pay for the room.

This venue was brand new in 2020 and our entrance is at the car park in Linear Drive, Mango Hill. It’s presently the tallest building in Mango Hill.

We’ve been operating out of the new venue since October 2020 and these meetings have been very successful with 35 to 45 men and partners attending most events. We’ve had  a variety of talks such as immunotherapy, Decision making, erectile dystfunction, penile implants, latest treatment updates, mindfulness, hearing, podiatry and stroke information.

While we had our first annual general meeting in September 2021, our second AGM will be in September 2022. Our constitution is now firm but always subject to improvements where necessary in keeping with our registration as a not-for-profit charity with the Australian Charities and Not-For-Profits Commission and the Australian Tax Office. This will give us registration as a not-for-profit group and also allows us to assist donors with tax concessions..

It is our aim to be practicing ethically and, hence, our move for recognition by this Commission.

There are no Covid restrictions at the moment but The Y will advise us if there are any changes as the pandemic continues. Joy and her team continue to provide refreshments free at 6pm adding to a very social outcome for our evenings. Some other changes may be expected as activities start to increase and there are more tenants at The Y’s brand new building.

In October 2020 we were fortunate to be offered a Bunnings sausage sizzle at North Lakes. With COVID self distancing restrictions in place, we had to establish a facility for paying by card. It went well but only because of the stalwarts efforts of Ian Millard in arranging all the necessary banking and card approvals before the facility would work. We also usually have a lot of members helping but, this time, the helpers were restricted to 5. Unfortunately, Bunnings events have been restricted during the pandemic issues.

However, we managed to acquire other funds  during the Redcliffe Hospital Fun Runs in  2020 and 2021 as well as a MyCause event developed by the Urology Department and our own John Dowling. These have assisted in the procurement of new business cards and new brochures to show our new venue and contact details. We have also managed to make donations in support of the RBWH Foundation and two organisations assisting with depression (Beyond Blue and the Black Dog Institute)  Further, we now have to pay for our venue tenancy and these funds have assisted there also. Other equipment requirements are looming as we progress with our marketing requirements.

We now have a good group of committee members with Tim McNickle taking on the role of leader after the foundation leader, Fred Travis, stepped down. Peter Ham continues as our Co-Leader and Treasurer. So, our succession planning is working. On the contacts page you’ll see that we now have one phone number and one email address as part of this planning. The operational procedures manual developed by Fred in 2018 allows all committee members understand what is required for various group activities.

Group committee comprises Tim McNickle as leader and Peter Ham as Co-Leader. Tim McNickle has also taken the role of Speaker Aquisition & Welfare while Peter is the Treasurer. Joy Ham is the Social Event Leader and Larry Hamilton is the Special Events Officer

Other committee members include, Brian Stegman (Induction Officer & Mail Organiser), Garry Dingley (Induction Officer & gift card organiser), Lindley Deslandes (Induction Officer), Penny Millard (Ladies Induction Officer), Keith & Joan Penman  ( Group Apparel Acquisition) and Jenny Gehrke (Minute Secretary).

Previous group leader, Fred Travis, is continuing to provide assistance to the group as the newsletter editor and membership database controller. John Dowling is also providing assistance as the media specialist and fun run organiser.

We’ve had a total of 25 new active members since October 2020 meaning that our induction officers have been busy at meetings. Joy Ham offered to help Penny Millard when more than one new lady partner turns up.