President Trevor Williams welcomed everyone and wished all those who weren’t present last week, a happy New Year.  Thank you Mal and partner Vicki, a very good night last week at the Warrnambool Gun Club.

 

Welcome George and Alex from Rotaract, one of you claimed a target last week, well done!

 

Club guests - our resident exchange students Ben and Toni, together with mini safari adventurers;

Steve Giddens introduced Carly returning to Australia.

 

Rotarians - Carmel Brinkworth (Warrnambool East) & Phil Ritchie (Central)

 

Unfortunately, myself (Trevor) and Michael are not available to attend the Vice Regal Reception at Government House. Rotarians attending are; Brian Trenery, Judy Ross, Rachel Furnell and Marie Bennett.  Hope you enjoy the day.

Raffle books, volunteers required for 26^th January (Australia Day).  Please return sold books to Louise Brennan as soon as possible.

 

RYLA - Rachel Furnell reminded RYLA Rotary Youth Exchange is 8-13 April 2018, please see me if you’re interested in the camp, application forms are available.

 

Coffee Morning - Robbie Blackmore asked the meeting who would like to put their name down for a coffee morning this Saturday January 20^th at Café Lava, numbers taken.

 

Yesterday Phillips and I paid a visit to Iris at Gillin Park and she looks wonderful.  Feeling well, not moving to Mercy Place, now a permanent resident at Gillin Park.  Iris is maintaining her previous ‘phone number 5562 7643.  Sends her love to all, would enjoy visitors (lunch 12.00 dinner 5p.m. no restrictions to visitors)

 

5cent jar is available at the attendance table for contributions.

 

John Hunt conducted the fines session, asked for interesting Christmas presents, response was many and varied.  One present was really appreciated by exchange student Ben, a two-hour surfing lesson.

 

Previous Exchange Student - Astrid from Denmark return visit on Friday, thinks she likes it here!

 

BBQ Dates – Tony Austin updated the meeting on 2 BBQ’s we have been requested to host;

Car Raffle - Delia congratulated everyone who has already supported the Club with the raffle raising in excess $2,200. Unfortunately, last Friday was washed out, more opportunities to sell this Friday 19^th at Figtree & Hopkins River Caravan Parks.  Gaps in the roster were filled as follows;

Former member - Marie Bennett met a former member Elizabeth Nolan last week in Melbourne (Elizabeth had moved to Queensland)

 

Swindle - Keith McLeod won the swindle $9

Louise Keogh reported we have lots of exchange students here.  Our out-bound girls have returned, home a week ago, “welcome home Carly” (back from Austria).  Presentation in a month or so … small presentation tonight.

 

Carly said “it’s really good to be home, made some very good friends to carry those friendships through for the rest of my like, I’m really happy to be home. Family visited for a month, we travelled together. I only staying with one host family throughout my trip, I was living out of town, had to work out a lifestyle for herself whilst away”.   Presentation to come. 

 

Clara from Denmark, 16 Bordertown Rotary

Toni from Austria, 15 Warrnambool Rotary

Jenna from Finland, 17 Nhill Rotary

Capacine from France, Stawell Rotary

Ben from Germany, 15 Warrnambool Rotary

Morgan from Canada, Millicent Rotary

Anita from Denmark, Naracoorte Rotary

Paulina from Germany, Ballarat South Rotary

Venessa from Germany, Horsham East

Fadri from Switzerland, Portland Rotary

Chun-Yi from Taiwan, Geelong Central Rotary

Johanna from Germany, Geelong Rotary

Amanda from Brazil, Stawell Rotary

 

Memorable moments experienced by the exchange students … host Dad is a pilot, flying a lot has just been amazing … first 4 days of mini safari have been absolutely amazing … meeting my host family for the first time … going down to the beach … just being in Australia is just the most amazing thing … surfing when I came to be Australia …

 

Australian Rules Football understand the rules? Better game than soccer? Jury is out on that one!

 

What have you been up to on mini safari so far … started off in Mt Gambier … after dinner the first night went to a sink hole … pretty cool host family … canoeing the next day interesting cool … Portland sand boarding … Cape Bridgewater surfing & seal watching … fun on the waves with host family … Portland Visitors Centre tour of what happened in local history … lawn bowling good experience not played before … Subway for lunch … Gannets (birds) … Council Offices, league of nations with many countries represented ... Port Fairy walk out onto an island saw a lighthouse … surfing … swimming

 

Aussie BBQ’s all good, still appreciate sausages after several BBQ meals? No comment

 

Biggest changes in lifestyle here in Australia … Denmark no school uniform which is good, no decision to make on what to wear ...  no saunas like in Finland, luckily warm = hot & when 43 degrees it was like my saunas …  timetables at school are different, easy curriculum ...  like being near the ocean, very nice ...  Australian standards are easier at school than in Germany ... hot Christmas, snowing minus 5 degrees back home in Germany, temperature is vastly different, didn’t feel like Christmas … Toronto very big place and am experiencing Millicent as a tiny town ... bread is different … lot of public transport in my country, driven everywhere here by host family, wild country, many things to kill you ...  7am – 5pm school in Taiwan, long days … finish school at age 17 not 18 like in Australia.

 

Louise Keogh reinforced to the exchange students, enjoy your time here in Australia, because in the blink of any eye your time will be over and you will be flying back home again.

 

President Trevor thanked everyone, and the exchange students have ‘rock to reef safari’ later in the year to experience.

 

Programme next week Doreen Risby who teaches English to 457 visa holders (migrants).