In April 2009, Rotary District 9820 in Victoria sent for the first time, three students from the Bairnsdale area to spend a month in Turkey to attend the ANZAC service at ANZAC Cove, Gallipoli, Turkey , walk the battlefields of World War 1, attend a Turkish school and reside with a Turkish family. This was a wonderful exchange and the same District has arranged for 20 students from all over Australia to go to Istanbul in April 2010 to have the same experience. This time the students will stay with a family that has a child of similar age and who will come to the Australian student’s home for a month mid 2010. This is a matched exchange similar the Rotary’s Australia  New Zealand Exchange Program.
Twenty Rotary Districts in Australia have been invited to nominate a suitable candidate to undertake this exchange. Narromine’s District is 9670, extending from Newcastle, through the Hunter Valley, Mudgee, Dubbo and out to Bourke. Narromine High School student Danielle Leach has passed the selection process and she will represent Rotary District 9670 in Turkey in 2010.

Danielle will attend a secondary school in Istanbul and experience the culture and lifestyle of a Turkish family in a city of 12million people. She will have a lot to experience in a short time and many things to see and do. The Rotary Club of Narromine will assist Danielle with her costs and fundraising projects are being organised.
Danielle’s forefathers were involved in World war 1 so the service at Anzac Cove will have a special meaning for her. She has marched on previous ANZAC Days wearing her great grandfather’s WW1 medals.

“As soon as I heard about this program I knew I wanted to be part of the group to travel to Turkey. Experiencing a totally different culture of an ancient country will be an eye opener and something I am really looking forward to” she said. “I know this is a chance in a life time and I am looking to creating new friendships with the other exchangees. I have attended several ANZAC Day services but the 2010 service will be very, very special. “ she added.

Youth Director with Narromine Rotary, Geoff Smith said “Danielle will be a good ambassador for her family, school, Narromine and Rotary as an exchange student in Turkey. She will gain a lot from the short trip and learn independence, different cultures and schooling, money management and self confidence. Danielle will be required to address  Rotary club meetings detailing aspects of herself, family, school and Narromine so the Turks can gain an understanding  of the exchange student and where she comes from. To be the District selection from a vast area is a great achievement”.
Final details are being organised for the exchange.
 
A fundraising concert is set down for Saturday 6 March when New England duo DYSFUNCTIONAL will perform. This highly acclaimed singing duo is a coup for the organisers and a great night is expected. Tickets are reasonably priced at $10 each and the USMC is expected to be well patronised. A raffle of a Wii is also in progress at $2 a ticket or 3 for $5. The Wii is donated  by Harvey Norman Maitland. Tickets are available from Classic Glamour in Dandaloo St, Narromine.


ROTARY   ..............................................................................Serving the Community through Goodwill and Understanding