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GROUP STUDY EXCHANGE
Team - 1440 DENMARK at Rotary Club
of Irymple
(April 26 - May 2, 2012)
Photo Gallery
(click here..)
What is Group Study Exchange?
The Rotary Club of
Irymple was fortunate to have been able to secure the hosting privileges for a
Group Study Exchange Team from Denmark in April 2012.
The Group Study
Exchange (GSE) program of the Rotary Foundation is a unique cultural
and vocational exchange opportunity for young business and professional men and
women between the ages of 25 and 40 in the initial years of their professional
life. The program provides travel grants for teams of participants to exchange
visits between paired areas in different countries.
For four to six
weeks, team members study the host country’s institutions and ways of life,
observe their own vocations as practiced abroad, develop personal and
professional relationships, and exchange ideas.
Irymple is a regular
participant in the program and in recent years has hosted teams from Finland,
the Philippines. South Carolina (USA) and Brazil.
"Team Members
enjoying the work of Val Robinson."
TEAM DENMARK
The 2012 Team
consists of a Rotarian Leader and 4 young Team Members. Their profiles were:
-
Egon Jensen (Team Leader)
- a Doctor with interests in the wine industry
-
Mai Sandgaard-Laursen -
Language teacher at a senior school
-
Bertha Flemsborg -
building engineer and an interest in sustainability
-
Gitte Pedersen - manager
of financial services in the banking industry
-
Michael Villekjaer -
engineer in electronics and technology
The Team's visit was
from Thursday 26th April until Wednesday 2nd May. Normally hosting is for four
nights but as in 2012, our Hosting coincided with District Conference in Mildura
the Team spent six 6 nights with us.
Home Hosting a Team
Member is the most often quoted as a highlight of Rotary life by Club Members
who become Host Families, spending the time with Team Members and sharing their
experiences in a different family environment.
The Denmark Team was
hosted by:
-
Rotarian Russell and
Bernadette Witcombe
-
Rotarian Craig and Loris
Beruldsen
-
Rotarian Lyn and Michael
Faulks
-
Rotarian Wayne and
Dorothy Hodges
-
Rotarian Max and Val
Robinson
"Enjoying the
fellowship at an evening meal with Club Hosts"
A Busy Week of Activities
The Team was
transported to Mildura on Thursday by members of District 9520 GSE Committee.
They were greeted at the 2012 Conference House of Friendship and each spent the
evening in the company of their Host Families.
On Friday the Team
was escorted on a local tour of history and culture by Rotarian John Fitzgibbon.
A highlight of the tour was guided visit of the Australian Inland Botanical
Gardens with host Rotarian Wayne Hodges.
On Friday evening,
Rotarian Max and Val Robinson hosted a Club Family Dinner at their home with a
meal expertly prepared by Rotarians Vince Congiusta, Nick Kiapekos, Paul Gibbons
and Neil Hammerton. The evening saw lots of fellowship with the sharing of many
stories and experiences.
"Happy Birthday
to you. Happy Birthday Dear Bertha!"
District 9520 Conference
Saturday was
Conference day for the Team. Their presentation on their country and their
backgrounds was one of entertainment and education. It included with the whole
assembly singing 'Happy Birthday' to Bertha who accepted the thoughts with
embarrassment.
On Saturday evening
the Team and several Hosts joined the other 600 revellers in the Airport Hanger
for the formal Conference Dinner. The Members of the Team and their Hosts were
last to leave!
With no time to
recover from the night before, the Team was collected early on Sunday morning to
be hosted by the Rotary Club of Robinvale-Euston. The day was a busy tour of
local sites and industries in the Club's district.
"Thank you from
District Governor, Bruce Richardson"
Vocational Service
With the beginning of
the working-week, Monday was another busy Vocational day. The morning began with
a presentation on North Mallee by the Mildura Development Corporation. Then each
team member was hosted a various business locations to examine aspects of their
own vocation in Sunraysia.
Some of the local
business to assist us on that day were: the Mildura Development Corporation,
Andpak, the Commonwealth Bank, Zilzee Wines, St Joseph's College, the Mildura
Senior College, The Mildura Fruit Company and Mildura Fruit Juice.
Following a very busy
long weekend, all the Team appreciated the opportunity on Tuesday to relax
during a
long and lazy cruise on the beautiful Murray River. This was again through the
generous hospitality of Max and Val Robinson.
"The finer points
of horticulture from Gardening Guru, Alfie!'
A Club Dinner
The final night of
their visit with us meant that it was time for the Team 'to sing for their
supper'. They presented to a large Club Meeting attendance which was bolstered
by many Rotary Partners and Visiting Rotarians from Robinvale-Euston, Red Cliffs
and Mildura.
Clearly buoyed by the
large and enthusiastic audience, the Team's presentation was again a highlight
and generated great enthusiasm for the GSE program.
"Rotarian John
Fitzgibbon introduces Team Denmark to a large Club attendance"
Farewell
On Wednesday, amid
some regret, Rotarians Russell Witcombe and John Fitzgibbon joined the Team for
Lunch at Banrock Station before handing the baton to the Rotary Club of Waikerie
who would be responsible for the next leg of their tour.
Once again the Tour
and their time, albeit short, with us was a highlight on our Rotary Calendar.
Our participation in GSE is always a valuable experience for individuals in the
Club and therefore for the Club itself.
Of
one thing we can be sure, that by being a committed GSE Host, the Rotary Club of
Irymple most certainly will build GOODWILL and BETTER
FRIENDSHIPS…..
Download the Official Team Booklet here:
Download the RC Irymple Planner here:
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