Rotary study team on Kiama visit

A GROUP Study Team from North Carolina in the US has just enjoyed a week in Kiama as hosts of Minnamurra Rotary Club.

Rotary's Group Study Exchange (GSE) program provides grants for teams of outstanding young non-Rotarian business and professional people to travel between paired Rotary districts in different countries.

Minnamurra Rotary Club President Juanita Barber said teams spent four to six weeks abroad to study their host country's institutions, economy and lifestyle.

"They observe their own particular professions in that country, extending their own knowledge and imparting information that may be of assistance to host groups," Mrs barber said. "A team consists of four or five non-Rotarians and one Rotary team leader."

Members of the team were Rotary Club of New Bern President Fred Huestis (team leader), Robin Armstrong (university course adviser), Olivia Sutton (college counsellor), Kate Merrill (public schools "instructional specialist"), Meredith Stewart (holiday camp program director) and Ulysses Cann (martial arts instructor).

Mr Huestis said the group had enjoyed their stay and visits to the area's attractions, such as the aircraft museum at HMAS Albatross at Nowra, Minnamurra Rainforest, Wollongong University and, of course, the beaches.

"Kiama has been wonderful," Mr Huestis said. "It's just beautiful, your location. Our beaches are all flat " you get beaches for miles and miles " but yours has the mountain that comes down to the sea and it gives you breathtaking views and just such wonderful beaches.

"In addition to that, the people have just been so wonderful.

"Rotarians, we know, are wonderful because we go from place to place, but where ever we've been hosted the people have been so forthcoming and share their feelings and views, as we try to share with them."

Mr Huestis said the group was most impressed by a tour of the State Emergency Service's (SES) facilities in Wollongong.

"We don't have anything that matches that in the United States," he said. "Your use of volunteers, your organisation of volunteers, from the SES to the (surf-lifesaving) clubs you have for the beaches, you all participate in taking care of your fellow man."