Blog Entries

And now, the end is near....

steven_nolan2@hotmail.co.uk — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 01:00:00 +0100

There were tears at the airport today (not from me as I don't tend to get emotional in public) as Nikki and Cheryl jetted off back home to the UK. Very sad - it's odd to spend pretty much an entire month in someone's company and then have to say goodbye.
Andy and Emma also flew off but up to Cairns for a visit to the Great Barrier Reef and then onto Uluru before heading back to Sydney to fly home next week.
For me and Dan, we headed back into the city to an awesome youth h [...]

I'm back!

cheryl@greatlakesoutreach.org — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 01:00:00 +0100

It all seems to have gone so so quickly! I'm sure mainly because of the packed schedule, there was no time wasted. The only time I felt like absconding (and the team too) was when we had fitted in a trip to Bondi Beach on the last day but one. The sun was shining, the sky blue, the water warm and the surf rolling. We had such a great time, and then we had to leave for a Mayoral visit! It was a close thing, but duty called, showers were had and the visit went ahead.

Ive literally jus [...]

I can't believe it's April already!

emma.eyles86@googlemail.com — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 01:00:00 +0100

Sorry we've not written for a while but the internet connection was down at our last host mum and dad's.

Time certainly flies when you're having fun and I can't believe it's April already! We have done so much in one month and have met so many incredible people along the way.

Our final week in the Hills District started with wine tasting in the Hunter Valley, followed by a series of great experiences including a trip to Sydney markets, visiting the Hills Shire [...]

Farewell 9680

real-good-dan@hotmail.co.uk — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 01:00:00 +0100

I can't quite believe it but there really is just one day of this incredible experience to go. This week as been has packed as every other. A morning wine tasting (that's right, a morning wine tasting) in the Hunter Valley was a great way to kick it off. Not every wine could find favour with all of our distinguished connoisseurs, though:

Our final night with our hosts...

nikkicarolehall321@hotmail.co.uk — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 01:00:00 +0100

Firstly an apology for a lack of blogs from my side... a lack of accessibility to the internet is to blame but am back online now... if a little late.

So sad to say that this is my last night with my final hosts in Sydney. This week and last week went by in a total flash. They do say time flies when you're having fun and oh, how right they are!

As already reported, we did our farewell presentation last night - and our final presentation at a breakfast meeting this morning. It [...]

We've done it.....

cheryl@greatlakesoutreach.org — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 01:00:00 +0100

Hi,

That's it the final full length presentation all done and dusted! We did a completely different style of presentation than previously, as it was all about Oz!

The team took it in turns to talk about their experiences and the impact it has and further expects to have on their personal and professional life.

Once the serious bit was over we moved on to the entertainment we had, with photos of sailing, beaches, the Opera House, the Bridge, the people, the wildlife [...]

Time to say goodbye

steven_nolan2@hotmail.co.uk — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 01:00:00 +0100

Tonight was tinged with a little sadness as we had to say a final goodbye to a lot of the kind and wonderful people we've met during our stay in Australia at our farewell dinner.

Several of the co-ordinators and hosts, not to mention the countless others who have helped show us around or simply been kind and complimentary about our presentations, will be at a GSE fundraiser on Friday or the airport to say bon voyage on Saturday, but for many tonight was a real opportunity to say th [...]

5am Start

cheryl@greatlakesoutreach.org — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 01:00:00 +0100

For all of you who think this GSE malarkey is just another word for holidays, we were up at 5am this morning to go into Sydney fruit, veg and flower market. It was very interesting and I got some great pictures which I will put up shortly.

We then followed this with breakfast in an Italian cafe (the market traders seemed to be having dinner), and then it was off to the Olympic Park. This was an impressive site, and hopefully the UK site will be used in a similar fashion. A two hour tour [...]

Work, wildlife and water (not all at the same time...)

emma.eyles86@googlemail.com — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 01:00:00 +0100

G'day from down under!

After not blogging for a week there is so much to tell you! As there have been a few other updates, here are some of my highlights...

We have all turned into water babies I think - sailing around Sydney harbour on the stunning Love and War, a tour of Brisbane Waters on a beautiful multi-million dollar yacht and a smaller experience of Brisbane Waters kayaking!

I really enjoyed the conference in Woolongong - our presentations all went rea [...]

.....That's not a knife!!!!

Andrew_k@hotmail.co.uk — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 01:00:00 +0100

It has been an extremely action packed week and I am having a great time. First of all, here is a picture of Emma and our first host Sue - which I think is really nice Emma and I stayed with Gavin and Liz last week. They looked after us amazingly. We were woken every morning by the sound of parrots and kookaburras - which according to Wikipedia are 'terrestrial kingfishers native to Aus [...]

A tale of 2 hotels

real-good-dan@hotmail.co.uk — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 01:00:00 +0100

As Cheryl says, the last few days have been all about the district conference, based at one hotel, and a mid trip break to recoup from our exertions at another. And our conference presentation did indeed go very well – everyone in the team was tremendous, well done guys! As well as applause I definitely heard some woops at the end, although I think dessert was being served at the same time on a few tables so perhaps some people just really love cheesecake.

< [...]

Just so you know....

cheryl@greatlakesoutreach.org — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 01:00:00 +0100

It's not all play. Our vocational visits tend to be grouped together, so Thursday and Friday of this week is full up from early morning till night, plus a breakfast meeting as well. It works well. Long days doing lots of things. We also have a civic reception with the Mayor tomorrow too!

More later.

Long time no hear!

cheryl@greatlakesoutreach.org — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 01:00:00 +0100

Hi everyone,

sorry there has been a long delay between the last blogs and this. The main culprit is the extortionately high internet fees in hotels. The only place to get free wi-fi appears to be Macdonalds! So having spent 3 days at the Conference followed by 2 days on R&R, we have not been able to blog. At the moment I am able to use my new hosts computer to write this update, as there is an issue about finding the correct password. this should be resolved tomorrow hopefully, at w [...]

Sydney - Hobart yacht race.....

cheryl@greatlakesoutreach.org — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 01:00:00 +0100

Ok, so perhaps that is stretching it a little.

This morning we were delivered to the zoo for an un-chaperoned visit. The first since we arrived. I politely pointed out that the team were capable of a 4 hr visit without an accompanying Rotarian (except me). And although there may be a small risk of a team member falling into a swamp of crocs or being eaten by a lion, I thought the inhabitants of the zoo would probably stay well away.

We had a great time, and saw lots of wonderful t [...]

A hard day's slog

steven_nolan2@hotmail.co.uk — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 01:00:00 +0100

Phew, what a day!! For any Rotarians worried that our trip might be all beers and BBQs, rest assured - our hosts worked us extremely hard today.

It was an early start - a Rotary breakfast meeting in Wallawee at 7.15am, complete with GSE team speeches. This was one of our nervier talks given that we didn't have our usual powerpoint presentation as a prompt (we don't like to use notes) and so had to speak completely off the cuff.

Everyone was extremely welcoming as ever - th [...]

Another busy day on GSE!

nikkicarolehall321@hotmail.co.uk — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 01:00:00 +0100

Well, it's been yet another incredibly busy day! We got up very early (well certainly for me anyway - I was up at 6.50am but woke up at 3.30am and couldn't get back to sleep!).

Our first appointment of the day was a Rotary Breakfast Club meeting at the Wahroonga Rotary Club - held at a very nice Bowls Club in Warawee - such great names!

This presentation was a little different in that there was no powerpoint - just us, speaking of the top of our head [...]

Work, work work....and eating oysters!

Andrew_k@hotmail.co.uk — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 01:00:00 +0100

Been doing lots of media fact finding. Australia has hundreds of really successful community radio stations (roughly 400 in total), where all the presenters are volunteers and basically anyone can get a show.

I visited the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia.

A couple of days ago Emma and I had a meeting with Julian Graham, Director of Planning at advertising agency Droga5 (so called because the founder of the original agency in New York is called David Droga and the fifth child in his family). It was a great opportunity to hear about some of their recent campaigns for brands such as Lynx and Bing, and how they approach different challenges. I work in internal communications and it was interesting, not to mention encouraging, t [...]

Eye Opening Sydney!!

emma.eyles86@googlemail.com — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 01:00:00 +0100

Looking at the Sydney harbour bridge gave me an idea for a new addition to the Eye Opening Aylesbury campaign...

Photos

Andrew_k@hotmail.co.uk — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 01:00:00 +0100

Had a gorgeous barbeque last night at Nic and Julia's house.

Off to Palm beach today, the playground of the rich and famous! Before we leave, I thought I would post a selection of photos from the exchange so far. More work pictures will be coming! I just need a different lead for the other camera.. honestly!

Manly