The Rotary Club of Narromine is sponsoring two exchange students from Narromine to New Zealand during 2013. The students’ matches arrived in Sydney on April 6, for term two in Narromine, and both students return to New Zealand in late June in time to begin term three.
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Lana Monaghan will be hosted in Auckland on the North Island with her match Breanna Dr Goew and her family. Cooper Anning will be hosted on a farm just outside Ashburton on the South Island in view of Mt Hutt.
The two Narromine residents are part of a 28-person exchange program to all parts of New Zealand. This is a cultural exchange program that has been running for 24 years and the program has been used by several Narromine students during this period.
Local Rotarian and mentor for the students, Geoff Smith, said the students would attend school as part of their exchange and they would be exposed to several experiences only available in New Zealand.
“The students have accepted a challenge they will remember for the rest of their lives,” Mr Smith said.
“They will make lifelong friends, experience a different culture, a different school and another family lifestyle. The benefits these young people gain are immeasurable.”
Narromine Rotarians are grateful to the Principal of Narromine High School, Angela O’Callaghan, for her co-operation with this exchange.
A Nevertire student, Isabell Hamblin, is also exchanging with the group and Isabell will be hosted at Auckland, not far from Breanna. Isabell has a matched exchange with Amanda Sadler who is enjoying Australian life on a Nevertire farm and attending Warren Central School.
The three students plus two New Zealand students hosted in Dubbo, Tegan Dew and Sarah Tomlins, presented their power point presentations to Narromine Rotarians on May 8. Also attending the evening were students with their parents from Dubbo and Narromine, interested in exchanging in 2014.
The gathering was impressed with the presentations and the students’ method of delivery.
The following quotes were supplied by the students.
“Choosing to do the Rotary Exchange was the best choice I have made in my life,” Tegan said.
“You learn so many things and I have so many great new experiences.”
“Living in another country and being part of another family, was a life-changing experience,” Sarah commented.
“My time in New Zealand was amazing. I have gained so much confidence and independence and made so many life-long friends.”
Isabell stated: “I gained so much confidence and perspective from the exchange and I made so many friends.”
“The exchange is going well. It is not as hard to adjust as I thought it would be,” Amanda added.
Narromine, Peak Hill, Gulargambone and Dubbo students have nominated for the 2014 program.
Anyone wanting to know more about Rotary’s New Zealand Exchange program is asked to contact Geoff Smith on 6889 5447.
