Group Study Exchange Team From Australia

The Group Study Exchange (GSE) program is a cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for young business and professional men and women.  This program is designed to develop professional and leadership skills among young adults so that they can address the needs of their communities and an increasingly global workplace.  Teams consist of a Rotarian team leader and 4-6 non-Rotarian team members that stay in the homes of Rotarians while making vocational visits, experiencing culture and fellowship opportunities.

Richard Booth, team leader from the Rotary Club of Wollondilly North in Australia, told how his club does not sing and has 21 members. Richard was president during the 2009-2010 Rotary year.  His club has been involved in bringing fresh water to schools and the ShelterBox project.  He has 4 sons and 2 daughters and lives in a small country town in northern New South Wales.  While in Australia, people should beware of sharks, spiders, snakes, crocs, sting rays, Aussie men and they should make sure to drive on the left side of the road.    About 80% of the country is dessert so people tend to cling to the coastal areas.  Australia has a population of about 22 million people and is called the “land down under”. 

Alexander Lynch is a health policy officer for the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, a medical college dedicated to training specialist physicians and pediatricians.  He talked about the diverse pockets of ethnicities within Australia.  One-fifth of Australia’s population was born overseas.  Alexander lives with his dad and brother in Haberfield which has a strong Italian population and is called “Little Italy”.  Mining is important to the GDP in Australia.

Kate Gould is an attorney with Marsdens Law Group in Campbelltown.  Marstens has a staff of 100, 11 partners and 4 offices in the metro region.  Kate does estate planning law and does pro bono work for terminal cancer patients.  She grew up in Ingleburn and was raised by her mother and grandmother.  Kate enjoys theatre, singing and travel.  The first time she saw snow was visiting her Godparents in Alaska.  They have since moved to Phoenix.  Wollongong is 42 miles south of Sydney, the third largest city and a trading port in Australia.  In 1770, the British claimed Australia by a “land grab”.  There are two major parties:  the labor and liberal.  Australia does not have a Bill of Rights since they are already in its Constitution.  Canberra is the capital city of Australia. 

Anna Habeck is a rescue team leader for the Kiama unit of the New South Wales State Emergency Service.  Anna is also finishing her PhD in fluvial geomorphology at the University of Wollongong.  She enjoys going to the local cafes, riding her mountain bike, surfing and eating chocolate. 

Ben Cook is a teacher with an organization called Father Riley’s Youth Off the Streets.  He teaches at a small school called Key College which is setup for the education of homeless and disadvantaged teenagers in the Sydney region.  The school has a family atmosphere and everyone is on a first name basis.  Last year, Rotary sponsored a trip for members of the school and they are also involved in the ShelterBox Project.  Ben grew up in rural Australia and after completing university moved to London for 2 years to begin his teaching career before returning to Australia and living in Sydney.  There are 5 main sports in Australia:  rugby league, cricket soccer AFL and rugby union.