Sonora Sunrise student exchange
A Twenty Five Year History of Student exchange with Sonora USA
It has been twenty-five years since The Rotary club of Ballarat West had here first short term student from Sonora USA.It all began when the club received a letter from Richard Rohrbacher, the president of The Rotary club of Sonora Sunrise who had researched clubs all over the world looking for a club with a similar background. He, a historian was able to find both clubs were charted in the same year 1986 and both had a history of gold mining in the 1800’s.
Then it transpired that PP Frank Doherty and his wife Maureen while travelling in the USA met Richard Rohrbacher and his wife Frances. They discussed further similarities and made a decision to each send a student for a duration of four to six weeks on a cultural exchange to be hosted by each of the clubs.The first student sent in the Christmas holidays in 1992 by Ballarat West was Simon, the son of Leo Versteegen a club member. Sonora Sunrise’s first exchange student was Wil Hodges in June same year. Since that time Ballarat West has sent 21 students and Senora 19.
This program has been so beneficial to all involved the students are home hosted in both countries by Rotarians and each club shows them the sights of their respective regions and give them some understanding of the lifestyles and customs.
The current exchange person Teddy Griffin was a 25 years old who works in Strategy and Project Management at a local hospital in Sonora. He has experienced a wide variety of activities during his four weeks stay. These included some of the Australian indigenous culture in the Grampians, two Australian Rules football games, beautiful scenery along the great Ocean Road, and wildlife parks both in Ballarat and Healesville.
He had a trip to Queensland visiting Garry Harrowfield and the beaches at Palm Cove and spent two days sight seeing in Sydney. In his presentation to the Rotary club he said “I have been surprised and over whelmed by the natural wonders I have seen in this Country”.
Lidia Aitken, Secretary, the Rotary Club of Ballarat West 2106-17