With some of our partners present, it was a joy to hear from two of the programs we support and in which we are participating: Rotary Friendship Exchange and our own School Exchange. Past District Governor Dick Jones from District 5520 in New Mexico U.S.A and teacher Craig McPherson from Campbelltown High School, Tasmania, each introduced us to their team members.
School Exchange
The exchange between Campbelltown and Hawthorn Secondary College was begun by our club some years ago and has been enthusiastically supported by both schools ever since. This team of Kirsten, Josie, Jessie and Jacob was drawn from years 9 and 10 at that school and were making their first trip to the “mainland”. They spoke of their eagerness to see as much as they could, and of the differences in culture they were experiencing.
We don’t think of the differences we experience in parts of Australia as cultural differences but they clearly are, and this group is learning from those that interest them and will help them in future. They are each staying with students from Hawthorn College, so they will have made friends that they can keep in touch with and keep up the value of the exchange, as well as the friendship.
From the enthusiasm expressed in speaking to them and the fact that some of them have had brothers or sisters on previous visits, demonstrates the worthiness of this program.
DG Keith Ryall (D9800)
We were further privileged by having our District Governor, Keith Ryall present to tell our visitors about our District 9800, which is the oldest in Australia with the Rotary Club of Melbourne having been chartered in 1921. It now has 69 clubs and is enviably the most successful District to sponsor Peace Scholarships having been successful every year since its inception with our nominees.
He went on to describe some of our achievements and finished with the prediction that the District would show a 10% increase in membership this year.
Rotary Fellowship Exchange
P.D.G Dick Jones had no less a story to tell of District 5520 from which all the members of his team were drawn. Those members are: Lynn and Donna Willard, Gary and Karen Thompson, Lonnie and Ardeth Leslie, Geri Wootten and Barbara Chambers. All of whom are staying with members of our club.
District 5520 is geographically the largest District in the U.S.A and has 71 clubs with 28,000 Rotarians. It conducts a unique Annual Bi -District Conference, taking in clubs from Mexico and New Mexico.
Some outstanding projects undertaken by District 5520 include the provision of wheel chairs; and combating the use of methamphetamine; and establishing a Botanical Gardens. They are particularly proud of the work they have done in Copper Canyon in North Mexico with an impoverished population of Native Americans restoring the local economy and repairing the school and getting the school system working again.
Thanks to Jack Ings for this report