What an amazing first 2weeks its been in Oz! From Body boarding and diving with Sharks to hearing some incredibly inspirational speakers at the District conference it seems like we've managed to cram a lifetimes worth of experiences into just 2weeks!
The programme has been jam packed full of visits to sugar mills, tea plantations, brewary tours as well as days touring the marina and then experiencing the high life cruising down the broadwater river system in a variety of boats!
My vocational visits have also been fun with trips to the local hospitals with a couple of future job prospects emphasising their desperation for doctors out here I think as every hospital I visit seems to find difficulty trying to recruit enough doctors. This is especially true of the Gold coast where the population is booming!
I also manged to visit pharmacists, Physiotherapists and particularly enjoyed my visit to a naturalists where I was almost sick after trying some of their tea to help boost my immune system. However I must admit it was an incredible afternoon spent with them and one of my most unusual and interesting visits so far.
Anyway gotta go on another vocational visit today to a GP practice, Physiotherapy dept and a well being health centre which should be interesting - not gonna drink any tea this time though!
Monday, 31 March 2008
Sunday, 30 March 2008
week one part 2
Thursday 20th March
Spent the morning at Marymount College a catholic secondary school. It was really interesting to find out what they do in science. I was impressed by their range of extra curricular studies run by the science department. In the afternoon we went to Cotty's farm (owned by one of the Rotarians) We saw loads of animals including peacocks, birds, horses and poisonous spiders! In the evening we went to 'Outback Spectacular' a musical show which was really good fun - have the authentic cowboy hat to prove it. Iain, Mark and I then went for a cultural exchange in Surfers Paradise - aka a pub crawl which ended at four in the morning.
Friday 21st March
Got up early after a little sleep to go on a cruise of the broadwater. What a day! My favourite of so far! We sailed to South Stradbroke island to one of the hosts holiday house. We did a mini safari through swamps and bush to the far side of the island which was beautiful unspoilt pacific coast. We then headed back for a barbeque lunch then went jet skiiing and got pulled along in the doughnut. We also traipsed through the six star versace hotel with wet clothes and lots of bags. I'm sure we blended in!
Saturday 22nd March
Change of hosts today. We had lunch at greenmount surf club, then did a bit of sight seeing. Went for a wander around Murwillumbah then had an early night
Sunday 23rd March
Easter Sunday! Diagnosed by our medical colleague with laryngitis. Cant eat or drink anything - not even chocolate!. Iain managed to blag some antibiotics from the chemist. Went body boarding but it was really rough so I played in the baby waves with the body board. Had a barbeque at Anne and Jeffs where I did my best to join in but felt awful. Started to feel better though so have faith in Iains medical capabilities.
Spent the morning at Marymount College a catholic secondary school. It was really interesting to find out what they do in science. I was impressed by their range of extra curricular studies run by the science department. In the afternoon we went to Cotty's farm (owned by one of the Rotarians) We saw loads of animals including peacocks, birds, horses and poisonous spiders! In the evening we went to 'Outback Spectacular' a musical show which was really good fun - have the authentic cowboy hat to prove it. Iain, Mark and I then went for a cultural exchange in Surfers Paradise - aka a pub crawl which ended at four in the morning.
Friday 21st March
Got up early after a little sleep to go on a cruise of the broadwater. What a day! My favourite of so far! We sailed to South Stradbroke island to one of the hosts holiday house. We did a mini safari through swamps and bush to the far side of the island which was beautiful unspoilt pacific coast. We then headed back for a barbeque lunch then went jet skiiing and got pulled along in the doughnut. We also traipsed through the six star versace hotel with wet clothes and lots of bags. I'm sure we blended in!
Saturday 22nd March
Change of hosts today. We had lunch at greenmount surf club, then did a bit of sight seeing. Went for a wander around Murwillumbah then had an early night
Sunday 23rd March
Easter Sunday! Diagnosed by our medical colleague with laryngitis. Cant eat or drink anything - not even chocolate!. Iain managed to blag some antibiotics from the chemist. Went body boarding but it was really rough so I played in the baby waves with the body board. Had a barbeque at Anne and Jeffs where I did my best to join in but felt awful. Started to feel better though so have faith in Iains medical capabilities.
Saturday, 29 March 2008
Mount Warning part 2 Jen's Blog
It's been rather difficult for the Mount Warning group to arrange any vocation visits as we're with them over the Easter break. But the visits that we've been on have been good fun.
I think we all enjoyed the opportunity to get together last night and be by ourselves - talk at our own pace and share some of our stories of Australia so far. We weren't out too late as it was Easter Sunday and the pub was closing early.
Monday we met up with the Middle East GSE Team and went to the Bush Tucker Garden. The guy told us about all his plants that he grows and how they are used in lots of different skin care products. I've bought some of his soap as I've developed a bit of a skin rash and am going to see if it can clear it up. We also had to hide from the rain in the barn as there was a rather sudden downpour. Don't be smug about us getting rained on though. The main difference with this and our usual state of dampness as this rain was warm.
That evening ourselves and the Middle East Team had to do a joint presentation to members from several different clubs of Murwillumbah. It was interesting to see another GSE presentation and see how they differed.
I think we all enjoyed the opportunity to get together last night and be by ourselves - talk at our own pace and share some of our stories of Australia so far. We weren't out too late as it was Easter Sunday and the pub was closing early.
Monday we met up with the Middle East GSE Team and went to the Bush Tucker Garden. The guy told us about all his plants that he grows and how they are used in lots of different skin care products. I've bought some of his soap as I've developed a bit of a skin rash and am going to see if it can clear it up. We also had to hide from the rain in the barn as there was a rather sudden downpour. Don't be smug about us getting rained on though. The main difference with this and our usual state of dampness as this rain was warm.
That evening ourselves and the Middle East Team had to do a joint presentation to members from several different clubs of Murwillumbah. It was interesting to see another GSE presentation and see how they differed.
Thursday, 27 March 2008
Mount Warning - Jen's Blog Part 2
Easter Sunday - first official "rest day" in fact it might be our only one the way the programme gets filled up.
Iain and Lorraine went body boarding
Ian and Mark went golfing
I went shopping :o)
That evening we all went for a meal and then to the pub The Imperial - it was painted pink so I guess that makes it a Pink Imperial - it was the first chance we'd had as a team to get together on our own so it was a lovely evening.
Iain and Lorraine went body boarding
Ian and Mark went golfing
I went shopping :o)
That evening we all went for a meal and then to the pub The Imperial - it was painted pink so I guess that makes it a Pink Imperial - it was the first chance we'd had as a team to get together on our own so it was a lovely evening.
Mount Warning - Jen's Blog
Easter Saturday - team meeting means presentation tweak. We're getting better. It's a hard balance trying to make sure what we're saying has all the information in that we want and that we have enough time to speak clearly and slowly so everyone can understand us.
I don't think so far we've have a totally trouble free presentation on the IT side of things which always gets me a bit anxious. It's interesting to see the difference reactions from people to different parts of the video - we're going to put the video up here at some point but not until after all our presentations as we don't want to ruin the surprise.
Anyhoo, New hosts time. I wished farewell to Rod and Janette and met with Carol and Nigel from Mount Warning at Greenmount Surf Club. Whilst we were having lunch the club was over ran with loads of people wearing bright pink t-shirts. Being nosey I asked what there were up to and found out that they were on a fundraising pub crawl to raise funds for their local surf lifeguards - I happen to think this is a good fundraising plan and will be bringing it up at the next meeting that's looking for ideas. Mark and I both bought t-shirts and were dragged in for a team picture. So we are now honorary surfer dudes.
I don't think so far we've have a totally trouble free presentation on the IT side of things which always gets me a bit anxious. It's interesting to see the difference reactions from people to different parts of the video - we're going to put the video up here at some point but not until after all our presentations as we don't want to ruin the surprise.
Anyhoo, New hosts time. I wished farewell to Rod and Janette and met with Carol and Nigel from Mount Warning at Greenmount Surf Club. Whilst we were having lunch the club was over ran with loads of people wearing bright pink t-shirts. Being nosey I asked what there were up to and found out that they were on a fundraising pub crawl to raise funds for their local surf lifeguards - I happen to think this is a good fundraising plan and will be bringing it up at the next meeting that's looking for ideas. Mark and I both bought t-shirts and were dragged in for a team picture. So we are now honorary surfer dudes.
Mermaid Beach Part 2 - Jen's Blog
I know it's going to be a bit confusing with all our blogs piled in and also the fact that Mark, Iain and I all share a login but hopefully it is all making sense. I also want to apologise for the lack of pictures on the blog at the moment - I thought about bringing my connection to download from my camera but in the rush to remember everything that was one of the things that slipped my mind.
Anyway following the vocational visit we visited Cotty's Horse Farm which Cotty informed us was were the I'm A Celebrity people done their training the year Jordan and all that lot were in so we heard lots of tales about that. In the evening we were all taken to the Outback Spectacular show which had horse stunts, camel riding - I didn't realise that camels were used for farming in Australia! and some singing and dancing. It was very entertaining and the yellow hats and the red hats were played off against each other like in panto.
Good Friday - another day another boat cruise. It's going to be difficult I think for us to persuade people that we're having a hard time! We all had a chance to swim in the ocean and were taken a tour round the island on the back of a truck. It was on the truck that a huge spider landed on the roof - Rod (my host) flicked it away onto the ground and then told us it was a tarantula!
Anyway following the vocational visit we visited Cotty's Horse Farm which Cotty informed us was were the I'm A Celebrity people done their training the year Jordan and all that lot were in so we heard lots of tales about that. In the evening we were all taken to the Outback Spectacular show which had horse stunts, camel riding - I didn't realise that camels were used for farming in Australia! and some singing and dancing. It was very entertaining and the yellow hats and the red hats were played off against each other like in panto.
Good Friday - another day another boat cruise. It's going to be difficult I think for us to persuade people that we're having a hard time! We all had a chance to swim in the ocean and were taken a tour round the island on the back of a truck. It was on the truck that a huge spider landed on the roof - Rod (my host) flicked it away onto the ground and then told us it was a tarantula!
Tuesday, 25 March 2008
Ozopens its doors - Mark's Blog
First presentation goes OK although the boss is a bit concerned by time - we are running over - but nevertheless the film is well received!
Fantastic food from a BBQ a cuddle from a snake - hopefully the last one I will experience and John leads us on an evening walk around Springbrook Heritage area.
A fantastic opportunity to be led by some one so knowledgeable (no offence to Farmer Ian) and we see some fantastic sights - trapdoor spiders, Wait-a-whiles and the most spectacular sight of a cave lit by thousands of glow worms!
I am on the end of plenty of ribbing about being a "big feartie" for bugs and spiders and snakes and basically anything that crawls - what with that and my swimming my macho man image is taking a doin!
After a relatively restless night the morning starts with a trip organised by the Coomera River Midday Club to the Gold Coast City Marina.
Hugh (my host) has a boat in storage and there are some spectacular ones on display - the two most striking features are that the entire Marina complex did not exist 7 years ago and that one company Riviera offers 220 apprentice places to young people - one company offers more than the whole of East Renfrewshire combined.
The Marina is also very conscious of the environmental impact of its business and takes special measures to maximise the use of recycled water and minimise any damage caused by oil spills.
Debs takes us on a tour of the immediate area around the Marina and we drop in on some Rotarian colleagues for tea and biscuits (tim-tams I think they are called - a poor imitation of a penguin!)
The next stop is a brewery visit during which we are led by Peter who is a member of the Oz GSE team heading out to the middle east. A really knowledgeable and friendly guy and it is easy to see why he was picked. The trip finishes with the opportunity to pour our own pints! Despite not working in a pub for a fair few years the old magic is still there.
Pleased to say that Australian Fosters is nicer than the water they serve in Glasgow!
The brewery also provide a fantastic lunch and already I can see that food is going to feature heavily during this trip - just as well I lost all that weight before heading out!
Fantastic food from a BBQ a cuddle from a snake - hopefully the last one I will experience and John leads us on an evening walk around Springbrook Heritage area.
A fantastic opportunity to be led by some one so knowledgeable (no offence to Farmer Ian) and we see some fantastic sights - trapdoor spiders, Wait-a-whiles and the most spectacular sight of a cave lit by thousands of glow worms!
I am on the end of plenty of ribbing about being a "big feartie" for bugs and spiders and snakes and basically anything that crawls - what with that and my swimming my macho man image is taking a doin!
After a relatively restless night the morning starts with a trip organised by the Coomera River Midday Club to the Gold Coast City Marina.
Hugh (my host) has a boat in storage and there are some spectacular ones on display - the two most striking features are that the entire Marina complex did not exist 7 years ago and that one company Riviera offers 220 apprentice places to young people - one company offers more than the whole of East Renfrewshire combined.
The Marina is also very conscious of the environmental impact of its business and takes special measures to maximise the use of recycled water and minimise any damage caused by oil spills.
Debs takes us on a tour of the immediate area around the Marina and we drop in on some Rotarian colleagues for tea and biscuits (tim-tams I think they are called - a poor imitation of a penguin!)
The next stop is a brewery visit during which we are led by Peter who is a member of the Oz GSE team heading out to the middle east. A really knowledgeable and friendly guy and it is easy to see why he was picked. The trip finishes with the opportunity to pour our own pints! Despite not working in a pub for a fair few years the old magic is still there.
Pleased to say that Australian Fosters is nicer than the water they serve in Glasgow!
The brewery also provide a fantastic lunch and already I can see that food is going to feature heavily during this trip - just as well I lost all that weight before heading out!
Week One (first half)
Wow what a whirlwind week it has been. We have been kept out of mischief by some really busy schedules.
We arrived in Brisbane on Sunday morning to be whisked away to our hosts homes. I was staying with a young family called the Rebgetz's who had three young children. We were thrown in the deep end with our first (unknown to us) presentation which we delivered at Springbrook World Heritage Centre in the Numinbah Valley. Once we finished the presentation we were greeted by an 8ft carpet python which was dangled around our necks (i'd love to say it was wild but it was tame). They told us it was on a diet and hadn't eaten for six months which made us slightly apprehensive but I was shown up by a four year old and relented. We then visited a Natural Arch which was home to glow worms which light up the cave at night. A sight to behold and much more impressive than I expected.
Next day (still no jet lag!) we were taken to the Gold Coast City marina where were wowed by the size and variety of boats. We were then taken to the Yatala brewery (they know us so well) where we got to see some behind the scene (and bar action!)
On Tuesday we had a strenuous day cruising down the broadwater in a russian millionaires boat (no I'm not kidding!) It had more bedrooms than my house! The weather was lovely and the company was not bad either.
On wednesday we had a bit of a change in pace because we actually had some work to do. A breakfast meeting and presentation to give meant we were up before six. We then went to a Property development site where we were shown around the show homes. We were allowed inside one of them (they obviously didn't know of our reputations or the fact that between the five of us we couldn't afford one!) It cost $4.2 million and was pretty spectacular. We also bought tickets in a raffle to win one (fat chance).
I know we are a bit behind but it is so difficult to find time to sit at piece for five minutes because there is so much going on. I will update more asap (ok mum!) but other people need to use the computer. I promise I have actually done some school stuff (honest)
We arrived in Brisbane on Sunday morning to be whisked away to our hosts homes. I was staying with a young family called the Rebgetz's who had three young children. We were thrown in the deep end with our first (unknown to us) presentation which we delivered at Springbrook World Heritage Centre in the Numinbah Valley. Once we finished the presentation we were greeted by an 8ft carpet python which was dangled around our necks (i'd love to say it was wild but it was tame). They told us it was on a diet and hadn't eaten for six months which made us slightly apprehensive but I was shown up by a four year old and relented. We then visited a Natural Arch which was home to glow worms which light up the cave at night. A sight to behold and much more impressive than I expected.
Next day (still no jet lag!) we were taken to the Gold Coast City marina where were wowed by the size and variety of boats. We were then taken to the Yatala brewery (they know us so well) where we got to see some behind the scene (and bar action!)
On Tuesday we had a strenuous day cruising down the broadwater in a russian millionaires boat (no I'm not kidding!) It had more bedrooms than my house! The weather was lovely and the company was not bad either.
On wednesday we had a bit of a change in pace because we actually had some work to do. A breakfast meeting and presentation to give meant we were up before six. We then went to a Property development site where we were shown around the show homes. We were allowed inside one of them (they obviously didn't know of our reputations or the fact that between the five of us we couldn't afford one!) It cost $4.2 million and was pretty spectacular. We also bought tickets in a raffle to win one (fat chance).
I know we are a bit behind but it is so difficult to find time to sit at piece for five minutes because there is so much going on. I will update more asap (ok mum!) but other people need to use the computer. I promise I have actually done some school stuff (honest)
Mermaid Beach
first move of hosts, it's a bit of a pity that your only just getting relaxed and getting to know your hosts and you have to move on again.
We were given revised programmes by Mermaid Beach and the scheduled leisure time was now a visit to a radio station. They were going to interview us on air but the station manager wasn't sure if people could understand our accents. The station was quite chuffed as now apparently the Beatles are considered easy listening so they can be played. There's also apparently a big demand for Daniel O'Donnell songs
Thursday everyone went on their first vocational visit. I've really been looking forward to this bit. Mark, Ian and I all met with the Gold Coast City Council youth worker which was really interesting. There's herself and a part time staff member that work for the local council. It appeared to me that a large part of the face to face services are provided outwith the local authority. It was interesting to discuss the issues that young people face and also interesting to see that the large majority of these issues we similar for GC young people and young people from Inverclyde. the GCCC also run a youth council for local young people so maybe a wee exchange could be an option
We were given revised programmes by Mermaid Beach and the scheduled leisure time was now a visit to a radio station. They were going to interview us on air but the station manager wasn't sure if people could understand our accents. The station was quite chuffed as now apparently the Beatles are considered easy listening so they can be played. There's also apparently a big demand for Daniel O'Donnell songs
Thursday everyone went on their first vocational visit. I've really been looking forward to this bit. Mark, Ian and I all met with the Gold Coast City Council youth worker which was really interesting. There's herself and a part time staff member that work for the local council. It appeared to me that a large part of the face to face services are provided outwith the local authority. It was interesting to discuss the issues that young people face and also interesting to see that the large majority of these issues we similar for GC young people and young people from Inverclyde. the GCCC also run a youth council for local young people so maybe a wee exchange could be an option
days 3and 4
thankfully we appear to be being broken in gently. Today we had a cruise on an exceedingly fancy boat who's owner is the CEO of a Russian Oil Company. In the afternoon I also managed to meet up with my e-mail chum who I'd never met before so we had a nice chat, cuppa tea and my first taste of Tim Tams - the closest I can compare them too is Penguins the biccie not the black and white bird.
Hideously early start on day 4 as we have a presentation to a breakfast rotary club, fortunately the presentation has been going down well, although I still think there's probably some tweaking to do. A lady from Germany told me she struggled to understand what we were saying so we'll probably have to try and slow down a bit. Although we are also being told that we're a bit over with time.
Following the presentation and me getting the chance to admire a Bentley Continental that was parked in the car park we were taken to Sanctuary Cove where we saw our first live kangaroos and also had a good look round a $4.2 million house. It was very nice although we're more keen for one of us to win the prize home that Debbie took us too and we all bought tickets for.
Hideously early start on day 4 as we have a presentation to a breakfast rotary club, fortunately the presentation has been going down well, although I still think there's probably some tweaking to do. A lady from Germany told me she struggled to understand what we were saying so we'll probably have to try and slow down a bit. Although we are also being told that we're a bit over with time.
Following the presentation and me getting the chance to admire a Bentley Continental that was parked in the car park we were taken to Sanctuary Cove where we saw our first live kangaroos and also had a good look round a $4.2 million house. It was very nice although we're more keen for one of us to win the prize home that Debbie took us too and we all bought tickets for.
Day 2 - By Jen
Following a not bad sleep although rather warm I awoke to the first full day of GSEing. Our first trip was to the Gold Coast city marina, where we received the first of what is turning out to be many hats. We were shown the large hanger that people can store their boats in and also we found out about their water recycling policy that means that any water used in the marina can be processed and used to irrigate the site.
We were due to have a team meeting at this point but it got rather lost. We were then taken on a tour of Yatala Brewery that was lead by Peter who is part of the GSE Team who will be going to the Middle East although they won't be allowed to attend the district conference out there as it is going to be held in Lebanon. Anyway we learned that all the yeast from that factory goes to make Vegemite - which I haven't tried yet and then we had a go at pulling our own pint, which if I can boast actually came out quite well and I actually drank it all which is an achievement - if that's the right word - as I don't like beer normally for those that are interested I had the Pure Blond
We were due to have a team meeting at this point but it got rather lost. We were then taken on a tour of Yatala Brewery that was lead by Peter who is part of the GSE Team who will be going to the Middle East although they won't be allowed to attend the district conference out there as it is going to be held in Lebanon. Anyway we learned that all the yeast from that factory goes to make Vegemite - which I haven't tried yet and then we had a go at pulling our own pint, which if I can boast actually came out quite well and I actually drank it all which is an achievement - if that's the right word - as I don't like beer normally for those that are interested I had the Pure Blond
Monday, 24 March 2008
Marks Blog
Friday 14th March
6am arrival at Glasgow Airport and one of only two parts of the trip that I am not looking forward to (the flight out and the flight home) begins.
No dramas and we are off!
What was I saying about no dramas? Advised at Heathrow that we need visas to enter Australia despite Ian (Jimmy) being advised to the contrary. Panic sets in at the thought of turning back – but all’s well that ends well as we are able to buy them at the boarding desk but in doing so officially become the last people to board.
What’s a few minutes when you have 20 hours ahead?
Saturday 15th March
Flight was not as gruelling as I had anticipated – few films, few chapters of a book and a few sleeps and we arrive in Melbourne. Despite being midnight it is still hot – things are boding well on the weather front.
Chapter two of the drama begins as Iain (Doc) baggage fails to arrive! Airport staff can’t tell where or when it got lost!
Off to a motel for a few hours shut eye before catching the connection to Brisbane – hopefully Iain’s stuff will have turned up by then although I would not put my money on it.
At least he has been given a toilet bag (females) to get him through the night!
Sunday 16th
Another day - another flight! Unfortunately no bags but Iain is taking it well – well in the sense of better than me! I would have been slightly angrier!
After a short flight we receive a fantastic and warm reception including large banner from Rotarians including our host families at Brisbane airport.
The girls are presented with flowers and the boys with beer holders – hopefully a sign of things to come!!
Lorraine and I go with Hugh Dickson to our accommodation. Our bags barely touch the ground before we are on the move again to our first presentation.
We tour the Springbrook World Heritage Listed Area and see some fantastic waterfalls and my first Australian lizard – or something that counts as a lizard to a Glasgow city boy.
Within the Springbrook area there is the Numinbah Valley Environmental Education Centre. Young people can come for anything between a day and 4 days to learn about the local environment, plant and animal life. It is a fantastic set up which must provide a platform which can only serve to inspire young people to learn.
As well as school children, the centre also support s university students to do fieldwork and Jim (Rebgetz) our guide and Lorraine’s host informs that it has also been used for expedition type journeys for young people similar to the Duke of Edinburgh programme that I manage at home.
Day one and I already have a reason to come back!
6am arrival at Glasgow Airport and one of only two parts of the trip that I am not looking forward to (the flight out and the flight home) begins.
No dramas and we are off!
What was I saying about no dramas? Advised at Heathrow that we need visas to enter Australia despite Ian (Jimmy) being advised to the contrary. Panic sets in at the thought of turning back – but all’s well that ends well as we are able to buy them at the boarding desk but in doing so officially become the last people to board.
What’s a few minutes when you have 20 hours ahead?
Saturday 15th March
Flight was not as gruelling as I had anticipated – few films, few chapters of a book and a few sleeps and we arrive in Melbourne. Despite being midnight it is still hot – things are boding well on the weather front.
Chapter two of the drama begins as Iain (Doc) baggage fails to arrive! Airport staff can’t tell where or when it got lost!
Off to a motel for a few hours shut eye before catching the connection to Brisbane – hopefully Iain’s stuff will have turned up by then although I would not put my money on it.
At least he has been given a toilet bag (females) to get him through the night!
Sunday 16th
Another day - another flight! Unfortunately no bags but Iain is taking it well – well in the sense of better than me! I would have been slightly angrier!
After a short flight we receive a fantastic and warm reception including large banner from Rotarians including our host families at Brisbane airport.
The girls are presented with flowers and the boys with beer holders – hopefully a sign of things to come!!
Lorraine and I go with Hugh Dickson to our accommodation. Our bags barely touch the ground before we are on the move again to our first presentation.
We tour the Springbrook World Heritage Listed Area and see some fantastic waterfalls and my first Australian lizard – or something that counts as a lizard to a Glasgow city boy.
Within the Springbrook area there is the Numinbah Valley Environmental Education Centre. Young people can come for anything between a day and 4 days to learn about the local environment, plant and animal life. It is a fantastic set up which must provide a platform which can only serve to inspire young people to learn.
As well as school children, the centre also support s university students to do fieldwork and Jim (Rebgetz) our guide and Lorraine’s host informs that it has also been used for expedition type journeys for young people similar to the Duke of Edinburgh programme that I manage at home.
Day one and I already have a reason to come back!
Sunday, 23 March 2008
Arriving
I'll probably write some more about the journey at some point but this entry is going to cover my time with our first host club of Coomera River. Our hosts and some representatives from District came to greet us as we disembarked from the Plane with flowers and banners and tinny holders or the boys. Slightly after us another group of GSE students were arriving from the Middle East so some of our welcome committee had to run off and meet their plane.
I was billeted with Deborah and Stewart who are the parents of the president of Coomera River Midday Zoe. Coomera River is the youngest club in Australia having only been set up in November and they also have the youngest president in Zoe who is 27.
One our arrival we had the chance to quickly dump our luggage and head off to the Nurminbah Valley where we were told we would have to give our presentation which we were expecting to do until the following day.
The presentation seemed to go down quite well, I couldn't see anyone yawning and we manged to show everything that we couldn't at the district meeting due to over running. I think the changes have helped but I feel like there's still some more polishing I could do.
After that we met a 6 foot python who hadn't been fed for 6 months and for some silly reason we all decided to pose with her round our necks! Luckily her owner was nearby and she didn't wrap herself too tightly round my neck.
That evening we decided to forgo the early night and go for a walk round the natural arch where we got to visit the glow worms, in their little cave it looked a bit like Santa's grotto.
I was billeted with Deborah and Stewart who are the parents of the president of Coomera River Midday Zoe. Coomera River is the youngest club in Australia having only been set up in November and they also have the youngest president in Zoe who is 27.
One our arrival we had the chance to quickly dump our luggage and head off to the Nurminbah Valley where we were told we would have to give our presentation which we were expecting to do until the following day.
The presentation seemed to go down quite well, I couldn't see anyone yawning and we manged to show everything that we couldn't at the district meeting due to over running. I think the changes have helped but I feel like there's still some more polishing I could do.
After that we met a 6 foot python who hadn't been fed for 6 months and for some silly reason we all decided to pose with her round our necks! Luckily her owner was nearby and she didn't wrap herself too tightly round my neck.
That evening we decided to forgo the early night and go for a walk round the natural arch where we got to visit the glow worms, in their little cave it looked a bit like Santa's grotto.
Wednesday, 19 March 2008
The journey part 2
Hong Kong to Melbourne takes another 10 hours. I unfortunately had someone in the seat in front of me who pushed their seat so far back I could hardly move. They also got their wife to tell me off when I got up to the toilet as I woke them up - anyway. Again the flight continued in a blur of food and films and we disembarked at Melbourne airport.
As we wandered in there was a large vodafone advert about speaking the local language and had pictures of tinnies and thongs but the one that amused us the most was the guy in tight swimming trunks that are called budgie smugglers!
As we wandered in there was a large vodafone advert about speaking the local language and had pictures of tinnies and thongs but the one that amused us the most was the guy in tight swimming trunks that are called budgie smugglers!
updating
I have lots more to write but not alot of time to do so. Also I have reminded the other members of the team that it's not just my blog so hopefully they'll add to it as well.
Made it!
We all gathered at "oh hell" o'clock on Friday morning and began our journey down under. I was rather smug to find that my suitcase was much lighter than the boys, although I may come to regret this at a later point.
Dr Iain, - we are now using Dr and Farmer to distinguish between the two when we're talking about them. I know that it's not really required in the blog as they are spelt differently but it will make more sense to the people we've met that are reading - anyway. Dr Iain spent some time tieing his kilt to his suitcase as to have 2 bags on the flight would have cost him an extra 75 pounds. I am typing up on my host family computer and have just realised that there's no pound sign.
Anyway eventually we were on our way. Glasgow to London passed uneventfully enough. Then it was the biggie a 10 hour flight to Hong Kong. I've managed to see more films on this trip that I have in the previous 6 months. Although with this comment I don't include the scary film festival I went to in the Glasgow Film Theatre as there were quite a few films on at that.
Also on these long haul flights they seem to try and take your mind off the time but constantly feeding you. 3 course meals, choc ices, mints, raisins, kit kats they all just kept coming.
At Hong Kong we had to leave the plane although we were travelling on to Melbourne on it. At this point we were beginning to wonder if we had left Glasgow at all or if it was all a strange hoax and they had just changed the signs. Anyway after the lady at the airport put a little tick on our boarding card we were allowed back on the plane
Dr Iain, - we are now using Dr and Farmer to distinguish between the two when we're talking about them. I know that it's not really required in the blog as they are spelt differently but it will make more sense to the people we've met that are reading - anyway. Dr Iain spent some time tieing his kilt to his suitcase as to have 2 bags on the flight would have cost him an extra 75 pounds. I am typing up on my host family computer and have just realised that there's no pound sign.
Anyway eventually we were on our way. Glasgow to London passed uneventfully enough. Then it was the biggie a 10 hour flight to Hong Kong. I've managed to see more films on this trip that I have in the previous 6 months. Although with this comment I don't include the scary film festival I went to in the Glasgow Film Theatre as there were quite a few films on at that.
Also on these long haul flights they seem to try and take your mind off the time but constantly feeding you. 3 course meals, choc ices, mints, raisins, kit kats they all just kept coming.
At Hong Kong we had to leave the plane although we were travelling on to Melbourne on it. At this point we were beginning to wonder if we had left Glasgow at all or if it was all a strange hoax and they had just changed the signs. Anyway after the lady at the airport put a little tick on our boarding card we were allowed back on the plane
Thursday, 6 March 2008
Nearly time
Well this time next week I shall be no doubt be checking my suitcase for the 49th time to ensure that I haven't forgotten anything. I would like to say that I'm organised however I fear that would be a lie.
I have a list - which always makes me feel better. Thanks to Lorraine I've been able to cross "get travel adaptor" off of it but other than that the only think I've been able to cross off is "make video" and "buy socks" my backside will have to get into action rather quickly I think.
My local Rotary invited me to lunch last week to speak to them about the trip and have also provided me with banners and postcards to present whilst we are there and it was at that point that how quickly everything has came around hit me. The Rotary also invited the local newspaper The Greenock Telegraph to come and interview me about the trip. When I was stocking up on my socks today the last that served me said " your going to Australia aren't you?" I was suprised that she could tell this from footwear but she pointed out that she had read about it in the paper. She hasn't been the only person to mention it and it's been really nice when people have stopped me to say that they read the story and wanted to wish me well. The only downside is that all the young peope of Inverclyde now know my true age and no amount of me insisiting it was a misprint will distract them from this fact.
We are doing a dry run of our presentation to the District Rotary meeting on Wednesday in Erskine and then on Firday at 7.30am the adventure begins ...
I have a list - which always makes me feel better. Thanks to Lorraine I've been able to cross "get travel adaptor" off of it but other than that the only think I've been able to cross off is "make video" and "buy socks" my backside will have to get into action rather quickly I think.
My local Rotary invited me to lunch last week to speak to them about the trip and have also provided me with banners and postcards to present whilst we are there and it was at that point that how quickly everything has came around hit me. The Rotary also invited the local newspaper The Greenock Telegraph to come and interview me about the trip. When I was stocking up on my socks today the last that served me said " your going to Australia aren't you?" I was suprised that she could tell this from footwear but she pointed out that she had read about it in the paper. She hasn't been the only person to mention it and it's been really nice when people have stopped me to say that they read the story and wanted to wish me well. The only downside is that all the young peope of Inverclyde now know my true age and no amount of me insisiting it was a misprint will distract them from this fact.
We are doing a dry run of our presentation to the District Rotary meeting on Wednesday in Erskine and then on Firday at 7.30am the adventure begins ...
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