Guest Speaker

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today it was the turn of our much loved Exchange Student Franzi Treber to reflect on her year with our club and what a year it was!

 

She was introduced by Wollundry Youth Director, Darren Wallace who described Franzi as dedicated, hard working courageous and a host of other positive attributes. 

 

Franzi had a power point presentation of a wonderful travelogue around Australia that she has enjoyed over the past twelve months. She also showed a video of her Safari, with other exchange students, to Central Australia and the Whitsundays. 

 

Franzi's presentation was in Chronological order commencing with her stay with Mark and Chrissy Hillis. Her trip to Canberra was her first venture outside of Wagga and she was very excited to see the National Capital. 

 

During this time she went in a "small plane" for the first time with Andy Irvine. She says she was nervous at first but soon gained confidence in Andy's skill. 

 

She went skiing at Thredbo, visited John Ireland's farm, visited Sydney with the Roberts family and attended a game of Aussie Rules Football, went motor bike riding and went to the Gold Coast for a week.

 

Franzi's second host stay was with Chris and Angela Metcalfe.

​During the next three months Franzi reported:

going to  Horse Race Meeting, - flying to Kunnunurra with Geoff Hamilton in his "small plane", including flying over Uluru and fishing, - attending the Australian Open Tennis with John Ferguson, - going to Callala Beach with the Pintos - and experiencing a hot Christmas including plastic Christmas Trees. 

 

David and Kaz Hodge were the next host parents and Franzi.

​

Once again Franzi extended her outdoor activity and this time it was water skiing, starting on Lake Albert, then Talbingo and finally Mildura where her skill level had noticeably increased to riding a single ski. She particularly enjoyed have some host siblings of a similar age.

 

She also enjoyed making chocolate with her Counsellor Jackie Stumpel.

 

During this period she enjoyed a highlight of her exchange the Safari, with other exchange students to outback Australia. She also enjoyed a week in Sydney with the Hodges.

 

Her final three months are with Colin and Jenni Duff. 

 

Once again Franzi has not been idle. She has traveled to Melbourne and Tassie with Geoff Hamilton, - been to Sydney for a weekend and nursed a Koala at Taronga Zoo and witnessed the Light Show on Sydney's icons.

 

Franzi said she has made many good friends at school and will miss them greatly. She was very thankful of the opportunity afforded her by Wollundry Rotary and especially the generosity of her host families and those who have given her many wonderful new experiences. "This has been the best year of my life" said Franzi.

 

A heartfelt vote of thanks was given by Mark Hillis who described Franzi in glowing terms as as gracious, loyal and loving and with a good sense of humour. He asked Franzi to make sure she thanks her parents on her return home, for bringing up such a beautiful girl.

 

Members showed their appreciation with a round of applause.