Is there no better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than at the Rotary Club of Warrnambool Daybreak’s Long Lunch? The smiles say it all. Fine food, great wine, excellent service, wonderful ambience and the chance to raise funds for local charities. Yay to the committee for a fab day @wboolracingclub
A new building is the hope and destination of the Surf Life Saving Club of Warrnambool. The very tired and antiquated building has outgrown its use. The club has a concept and plan for a spectacular building that will meet the community’s needs well into the future. We hope the community will support this venture.
This year, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Rotary Youth Exchange as an official program of Rotary International. For five decades, we’ve enabled students to experience new cultures, develop lasting friendships, and become global citizens. We’re grateful for the dedication of the Rotary members and host families who make the program possible.
If you’ve worked on Rotary Youth Exchange in your club or district, you’ve likely noticed that it takes a tremendous effort to prepare students and volunteers for an exchange and support them during it. Creating a valuable, positive experience for students hosted abroad requires time and planning by both the students and the volunteers.
What does that mean on a global scale? Since 2018, on average, we’ve sent and hosted 7,500 exchange students each year, and it has taken 25,000 volunteers to make it happen. When we discuss Rotary Youth Exchange, we often think only about the students’ experience, but both their home and their host communities are enriched by an exchange, too. Connections and understanding are built between cultures. And the massive effort volunteers have made through the decades is part of what we celebrate this year. Read more about 50 years of service in Rotary Youth Exchange.
Returning to Warrnambool, where I spent my 2012–2013 exchange year, was an incredibly meaningful experience. During my time there, I attended Warrnambool College, joined the school basketball team and the local volleyball team, and made lifelong friendships with both Warrnambool locals and fellow exchange students from around the world. I was lucky enough to live with three incredible host families—the Penningtons, the Dennises, and Cheryl Bellman—each of whom welcomed me with open arms and made me feel like a true part of their family. Every household gave me a different perspective on Australian life, and I’m endlessly grateful for their kindness, generosity, and the lasting bonds we formed.
One of the highlights of my exchange was the unforgettable “Rock to Reef” safari—a 21-day journey through the Outback all the way up to the Great Barrier Reef. From sleeping under the stars to swimming in crystal-clear waters, it was a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that deeply impacted me. We also had the opportunity to go on a “mini safari” throughout our Rotary district, visiting the towns and homes of the other exchange students. It gave me a greater appreciation for the diversity of the region and brought us closer as a cohort.
Coming back more than a decade later—this time with my husband by my side—was surreal in the best way. Reuniting with my host families, my counselor, and the members of the Rotary Club that made it all possible reminded me just how powerful and lasting this program is. The foundation Rotary provided not only shaped my teenage years but continues to influence who I am today. I carry these experiences and relationships with me always, and I’m so thankful to be part of something that changes lives in such a lasting way.
Brooke Wilkison
Rotary shares an interest in protecting our common legacy: the environment.
We are committed to supporting activities that strengthen the conservation and protection of natural resources, advance ecological sustainability, and foster harmony between communities and the environment. We empower communities to access grants and other resources, embrace local solutions, and spur innovation in an effort to address the causes and reduce the effects of climate change and environmental degradation.
Large-scale adoption of Plant-rich Diets is the SECOND most effective solution to keep the global temperature rise below 2˚C by 2100! A global shift to a diet rich in plant sources and fewer animal products is crucial in tackling the climate emergency.
