The GSE Experience

This Rotary year, District 9790 is looking forward to its Exchange programme with District 1190 which covers the Cumbria and Lancashire area of the UK.

Some information about Rotarian Rod Gurry (Team Leader) Beverley Baker (Reserve Team Leader), Team Members Dyani Abadi, Sarah Ford, Leah Waring, Samuel James and Reserve Team Member Emma Davis together with their photographs are shown below.

This is an exciting and vocationally and culturally rewarding programme, and District Governor David Cooke wishes all participants every success with the Exchange.

Rod Gurry (Team Leader)

Rod is a member of the Rotary club of Strathmore which is one of the few City clubs on the outskirts of Melbourne in District 9790. Since joining Rotary in 2002 he has been President and held the positions of Secretary and Foundation Chair as well as being on District GSE committee over the past three years. He was given a PHF recognition two years ago.

He spent his childhood on a sheep and cattle farm just outside of Casterton in Western Victoria.

Rod currently runs a small gardening business between being an adviser to the Hon. Bill Shorten MP, a Minister in the current Federal Government on issues concerning Bill's constituents and his electorate. He takes a keen interest in foreign relations, tourism, Rotary and sports; especially his beloved Australian Rules football side Geelong. Also on non-event days he finds the time to be an Honoury Tour Guide at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Rod would like to thank DG David and the Rotary Club of Strathmore for the support given to him for the role as Team Leader to District 1190.

Dyani Abadi

I am sponsored by the Rotary Club of Albury West, New South Wales and am the Marketing Manager at Hume Building Society. I am responsible for implementing all marketing campaigns, strategy and collateral. I also develop all advertising and POS material from concept to design.

I previously lived in Melbourne before moving to Albury with my partner. I have lived in Albury for over 2 and half years. I am very close to my family and have two sisters and one brother. In my spare time I enjoy drawing, watching movies and spending time with friends. I also enjoy visiting local towns in the area and attend bollywood dance classes.

I am interested in speaking to businesses on mutuality, marketing, financial literacy and community involvement. I am looking forward to spending time with businesses that operate in the UK to expand my knowledge in marketing activity at an international level.

Report. Click here.

Sarah Ford

My name is Sarah Ford and I am sponsored by the Rotary Club of Benalla. I am 26 years old and work for the Benalla Rural City Council. I am a Building Inspector, Compliance Officer and Infrastructure Administration Support Officer. I have been working for Benalla Council for the past 5 years.

I have just completed my Diploma of Building Surveying and passed my Building Inspectors exam. My long term goal is to become a Municipal Building Surveyor.

One of my many roles within Council includes working with the Emergency Management Procedures. I am the Chief Warder for Benalla Rural City Council and am involved with The Emergency Management Planning Committee, Flood Safe Committee and Emergency Services Infrastructure Working Group Committee.

I have been a Volunteer with the Benalla State Emergency Service for seven years and over this time I have been involved in attending storm and flood events, road rescue, land searches, marine searches and many more.

I have been a member of the Benalla Rose City Band for the past 12 years and I currently hold the seat of 1st Alto Saxophone Player. I have been the president of the Benalla Rose City Band for the past six years.

I was sponsored by the Benalla Rotary Club to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) in 2004 and returned in 2005 as a supporter.

I am ecstatic that I have been chosen for the 2010's GSE exchange to Blackpool. I have not been able to wipe the smile off my face since finding out I was successful, I have heard so many wonderful and great experiences past GSE participants have experienced and can't wait to experience them myself.

Samuel James

My name is Samuel James: I was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Nathalia, Victoria. I am 28 years old, and was born and bred in Nathalia, which is a small country town with a population of approximately 1,500. It is situated on the Broken Creek, a tributary of the Murray River in a dairying and crop growing area about 2.5 hours north of Melbourne.

After my school days, I completed a Certificate in Engineering (Fabrication), which gave me the skills to work in different locations in Western Australia, South Australia and throughout Victoria. This also giving me an excellent opportunity to meet new people. I am currently employed as Operations Manager in our family business, James Stock Feed & Fertilizer Pty Ltd in Nathalia.

Outside of work, I enjoy Aussie Rules football, and all outdoor activities, especially anything that involves the river.

I am looking forward to the GSE program, and firmly believe it will be a life changing experience.

Leah Waring

The Appin Park Rotary club in Wangaratta sponsored my application to the Group Study Exchange and I have been appreciative of the support, guidance and assistance they have provided me.

I am the eldest of two children and when I was 12 years of age, my family moved from Gippsland to Wangaratta. I have been a resident in this town now for 23 years, only moving away for a few years to attend University.

15 years ago I married Kane and together we have three beautiful children - Abbey (12years), Bailey (10 years) and Flynn (4 years). They are all active, creative and smart kids, and I am very proud of them.

I have been working in the social welfare sector for the past 15 years. Throughout this I have maintained a commitment to supporting vulnerable young people and their families - first through being on the Board of Management, and now as a senior manager at NESAY (Youth and Family Welfare agency) based in Wangaratta.

I am looking forward to listening, learning and absorbing the programs, models and services offered in the UK and bringing this knowledge back to my home town to improve and enhance the services delivered here.