Louise Keogh thanked the three Rotary Clubs and acknowledged Tom (from France), an exchange student present tonight with his host ‘Mum’.
The three exchange students – Mathilde, Axelle & Tim have been shared across the three clubs, acknowledging “it takes a village to raise a child” and affirming they have a home here and would be welcome back at any time throughout their lives.
A slide presentation with accompanying soundtracks followed, chronicling the adventures of all three students.
Ian Cairns introduced Anne Alice from Daybreak to interview the students on significant memories.
- Q When you go home, what is the first thing you will tell your friends?
Mathilde; the people I have met, things I learnt and friends I have made.
Axelle; lots to tell, not easy speaking a new language, new home, new best friend.
Tim; Surfing and AFL (Crows).
- Q Scary experiences, up close and personal with Aussie animals?
Axelle; lying on grass, gazing up and there is a huge kangaroo right in front of me!!!!
Tim; not too many scary experiences, big spiders here.
Mathilde; On safari, I’m in my sleeping bag on a mattress and felt something biting me, big enough to kill a dog or cat …. had to tell my counsellor straight away Louise and Steve. A big thank you to them.
- Q How would you describe Australia?
Tim; talking (Central Rotary Club) a lot of rubbish.
Axelle; Australia is very clean.
Mathilde; laid back.
- Q Learnt anything at school?
Axelle; ???
Tim; yeah surfing, about the only thing.
Mathilde; legal studies, law system … I was trying!
- Q Do you reckon Australian’s are different from French, Danish & German people? Other words you may have picked up?
- Brekkie
- Fair enough
- Heaps
- “me” instead of “my”
Tim; AFL, tackling not like soccer.
Axelle; went skydiving, definitely do it again.
Mathilde; gym membership, took money out of my account … “what”!
- Biggest challenge?
Mathilde; meeting host family, get close to them and then move on. Challenge, sad, meet more people. Challenge is not a negative word.
Axelle; speaking English, talk & talk, try and learn. Even if not correct, others will understand.
Tim; learning how to surf!
A slide video presentation from Tim, Axelle & Mathilde.
The students made ‘thank you’ presentations to host families, counsellors and Rotary Clubs.
Axelle; read words of thanks realising how much she has changed, considering her host family as extended siblings. This is not goodbye but “see you later”. Thank you for making the year so special.
Tim; thank you to Rotary, travelling across the world and Rotary for making it all possible.
Mathilde; thank you to all the host families for what they have done for us, part of extended families now. My counsellor, it meant so much to have you there. Louise Keogh thank you for caring, taking the time, there will be letters in the future.
Gift presentations of red geraniums made to counsellors; Louise Keogh, Terry O’Neill, Jules Threlfall-Ryan, Rachel Furness and host families.
Presentations from Warrnambool Central Club were made to each student.
Daybreak & Warrnambool Clubs made presentations of Akubra hats, an icon of outback Australia.
Joe Chatfield, an Indigenous Artist was commissioned to paint individual art pieces for each student depicting their journey in Australia. The artwork will now be travelling to different parts of the world, Joe will have international status. The tracks and circles represent the journey (green = students, larger blue = adult male, smaller brother = host family). Joe explained each students pattern (journey) is similar, circular pattern - footprint (home country, national colours, Mother earth).
Representatives from each Club presented the students with host Club banners.
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