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My Rotary Youth Exchange Year in Australia 2017-2018
Louise Keogh (Youth Exchange Coordinator) introduced Toni, who we have been hosting during the past year. Toni is a young Rotary exchange student, her family heavily involved in Rotary in Austria (her father a founding club member AND her mother Pres. Elect.)
Toni commenced by listing the host families;
- Svet Lineham (Counsellor)
- Keogh
- Forbes
- Taylors
A fantastic experience travelling around, attended first football game, visited the Otway’s, camping which is not something my family do. Austria is a landlocked country and the beach has been wonderful.
Attended Warrnambool College and part of Flagstaff House team. Tried new subjects; maths, English, creative drawing and architecture, other subject’s history, psychology, English. Being at school was the biggest challenge at first, but now I can say I enjoy going. Leaving in two weeks will be sad, have come to love it.
Wildlife is amazing we don’t have the wildlife at home, camping with my host family I had the opportunity to get close to kangaroos.
Snorkelling in the great barrier reef, a childhood dream come true. The tropical Barrier Reef is a paradise.
On my first trip to Melbourne asked my host family Svet to go home via Great Ocean Road, we went via Port Campbell and fish'n chips in Colac.
I had the opportunity to catch up with friends from Austria on safari.
Snorkelling tour in Queenscliff, no dolphins but great memories from that trip.
Christmas in July, and being able to travel to Melbourne on my own.
‘Mini safari’ in January, one of the most fun times in my life; Mount Gambier, sink hole to Portland dam boarding. Surfing, stood up once which was a highlight, on to Warrnambool and onto the Great Ocean Road.
April ‘big safari’ (49 students in total, many German) travelled through the red centre, met so many amazing people from all over the world. The experience feels like a dream (past 11 months), making friends I will keep in touch with for the rest of my life. Can’t believe it is over now, thank you very much.
Q & A – I will be commencing Year 11 when I arrive back home, after 2 month’s holiday (great timing, our summer break)
I have learnt to be more confident with myself, how to be independent and deal with problems, improve my skills and language.
When I finish school, I would like to study psychology and become a clinical psychologist.
I barrack for Richmond now
Louise presented Toni with an anti-malarial certificate and pin, an Akubra hat & club banner to pass on to Toni’s parents. Artwork commissioned by Joey Chatfield; the centre is a person - green (representing youth/young). The outside branches are Austria, the four Rotary Clubs and host families.
A gift was presented to Svet for her role as Counsellor. Svet thanked Toni for the gift and recalled the 11 months which has been a learning time for all with different challenges.
Toni gave a gift to her host families; Forbes, Taylor and Keogh.
Toni reiterated, without the host families this would not have been possible and has been the best year of her life so far.
Our Rotary Club has seen Toni grow over the past 11 months; a happy, confident young woman, able to cope in another country over the other side of the world.
