Australian Friendship Exchange~Jim Peters author
In June 2017, four couples from Australia visited District 7090 as part of an exchange. They stayed in the Brantford, Paris and the Simcoe area for 3 days. In October 2017, six couples returned the exchange, visiting Western Australia for 10 days.
Every year our Rotary District organizes an exchange and all Rotarians are invited to apply. Having been on four exchanges, New Zealand, Brazil, Wales and now Australia, I have enjoyed the opportunity to not only meet people but to understand how they see the world. It is also an opportunity to study how their Rotary Clubs raise and spend their funds.
The attached photo shows our 7090 team at the entrance to a fundraising dance. The Rotary Club of Bunbury has solved the problem of expensive dances. Each of us had to visit a store that sells donated clothing, dress up and attend a Woodstock themed dance featuring a great live band. Starting at 7:00pm, the concept was to bring your own snacks and drinks so that the cost was only $40.00 per person. They also had a live auction, door prizes, prizes for the best dressed as well as a prize for the cheapest outfit, provided that the price tag was still attached. With 150 people attending, besides making a profit of over $4500.00, it was a lot of fun.
If you have the opportunity, I think all of us on the exchange would encourage you to see a part of the world this way.
