Here are the remaining pictures from the rest of our travels through Australia. Well…at least a small sampling of them. As we finished Part I, we had just met our new host families from the Appin Park Rotary club in Wangaratta.
Rural Wangaratta City officials greeted us in the morning and provided a tour and an overview of their operation. The council actually governs the city as well as a rural area surrounding the city. This was part of the forced amalgamation of all of the nation in the early nineties. It would be same as if there were no county governments in South Dakota and the area or regional city council was the governing body.
Visiting the local TAFE (Technical and Future Education) branch of the Goulburn-Ovens TAFE, the team observed programs similar to those offered in the technical institutes in South Dakota and in technical colleges in other states.
After a day of vocational visits and tours, the team met at the farm of Masie Enders, a women who cares for animals in need of rehabilitation. Whether sick or injured, she nurses them back to health. From baby wombats, to cockatoos to kangaroos, the menagerie covers the gamut.
A ride uphill for the team and Rotarians from Everton Station to Butterworth ended at the local bakery and variety of sweets as well as the famous meat pies. This would be called an ‘intergenerational’ ride…..under thirty and over fifty and in some cases, over sixty.
The team at the Appin Park Rotary club meeting and Chris with his hosts, Wilma and John Emslie.(John is a competitive cyclist.
Attending the sportsman banquet at the District Convention with the French Team.
Some of the displays by local Rotary Clubs touting their projects at the District Convention.
The view from high above Geelong.
Dinner with the Rosanna Rotary Club in Geelong. District 5610 Rotarians will remember Tim Douglas, the policeman from Sunbury,Victoria in the picture in the upper left hand corner.
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Around the corner and over the next hill is the ocean………..
There it is!!! Driving along the Great Ocean Road is a must for any visitor to Southern Australia
Here’s the man who made it all happen, GSE Coordinator, Don Hamilton and his wife, Ann. One more group photo with the ocean in the background.
On the road to Alexandra. Charred trees, burned and mangled buildings.
Unable to do any white water rafting, the team opted for a round of golf followed by a picnic near the Gouburn River. New GSE team rules. No one scores more than eight on any hole. The caddy obliged…..and then some.
The Alexandra Rotary Club entertained the team by singing “The Black Hills of Dakota.” Most Rotarians knew the words to this song first sung by Doris Day in the movie “Calamity Jane.” More than being asked about President Obama, the team was asked if they knew this song.
Hosts from Alexandra transported the team to the Healesville Sanctuary via fire-ravaged Marysville.
The Healesville Sanctuary, where hosts from the Diamond Creek Rotary Club met the team and transported them to their last host families for their last visit.
Arriving at Diamond Creek – a day at the mall. Clothes, washers (not many dryers since everyone hangs their laundry on a clothes line to dry); and fresh produce.
Australians have a great sense of humor when it comes to naming their wines.
The team with the host families after the Diamond Creek Rotary Club meeting. Chris with Geoff and Glenda Swan. This ! time the team sang “Black Hills of Dakota.” District 5610 Rotarians should be prepared…..this song will resurrect itself at the District Convention. So….start practicing!
En route to the southern most point of mainland Australia to see the Little Penguin Walk at Dusk. Macy gets close to the kangaroos. Ryan makes his initials out of chocolate at the Chocolate Factory.
A trip to the Nobbies by the ocean and never let it be said that this team wasn’t fashionable.
The Little Penguins intrigued the team and their hosts as they returned from their time at sea.
It’s “Footy” day at the incredible Melbourne Cricket Grounds(MCG) – seating capacity, 100,000 fans! The Collingwood Magpies (Pies for short) were the favorites. Over a hundred minutes of continuous running, kicking, and tackling.
One last toast; one last dance; the last host family.
Farewell to Australia. Host families, District 9790 GSE Coordinator, Don & Ann Hamilton and Mani Seneviratne, District 9790 Foundation gather at the Melbourne Airport for a mid-day departure.
Daddy’s home!! Someone brought roses.
Back in the USA! Hope you enjoyed the picture blog!.
