The GSE Experience

This Rotary year, District 9790 is looking forward to its Exchange programme with Districts 1190 which serves Cumbria and Lancashire, UK

Some information about Rotarian Graham Dowling (Team Leader), and Team Members Muss Khan, Sue Bushell, Emma Hutchinson and Nicola Foster together with their photographs are shown below.

This is an exciting and vocationally and culturally rewarding programme, and District Governor David Cooke sends his warm regards to the incoming team from District 1190 and wishes them every success with the Exchange.

Graham Dowling (Team Leader)

My name is Graham Dowling and I'm 57 years of age and have been a member of the Rotary Club of Lancaster Loyne in District 1190 since 2002. I became President in 2007-2008.

I am a retired Police Inspector and worked over the area covering the northern district of Lancashire. During my police service I also worked in Public Order Training Unit, Custody Unit, Communications and the Prosecutions Department.

I was born and brought up in Accrington, Lancashire. Married to Paulette for 34 years I have two grown up daughters, Ingrid and Emma who are both teachers. I have one grand-daughter Lauren who is 19 years old. My wife and I live in the coastal town of Morecambe on the southern edge of Morecambe Bay.

I enjoy travelling and have recently visited Tanzania, South America, Antartica, China and Australia. I also enjoy DIY, walking, swimming and caravanning both static and touring. I am a member of the Cycling Touring Club and enjoy weekly club rides and touring. I have recently completed the building of JBA TSR Falcon kit car.

Muss Khan

My name is Muss Khan I am 33 yrs of age, single and come from Lancashire in England. I am Muslim and would describe myself as having a very good mix of traditional and Western values.

I joined Lancashire Constabulary in 1997, because I wanted to help people and make a difference and because everybody said I couldn't! I speak three different languages and have been able to engage with those hard to reach communities that are unwilling to work with the police.

In 2005 I got my vocational calling and did some humanitarian work when the earthquake in Kashmir struck killing thousands of people including family and friends. Within two weeks of the earthquake I managed to raise £3,000 and an equal amount in aid. With the help of contacts, I was able to get the aid over to Kashmir and successfully distributed to the worst hit disaster areas and regions affected by the earthquake.

In my spare time I like to keep fit and run most days. I have a wide circle of friends and enjoy socialising, eating out and reading.

Sue Bushell

My name is Sue Bushell and I am currently a police inspector working in the Community Cohesion and Diversity Unit of Lancashire Constabulary. The role of my team is to co-ordinate and drive strategy and policy in relation to Equality, Diversity and Human Rights across every area of Constabulary business, and to assist the organisation to understand our own staff and also to understand the different needs of the people and communities we serve. I am also a trained negotiator for the constabulary.

I have been married to my husband Tony, also a police officer for 15 years. We live in Lancashire with our four sons Matt (13), Adam (10), Luke (7) and Nathan (6). Family time is very important to me and as a family we enjoy outdoor activities and watching films.

I also enjoy swimming, running and going to the gym and am a keen cook.

Emma Hutchinson

My name is Emma Hutchinson, I am 26 and I live in a small Lancashire village ideally situated in District 1190 between city, countryside and coastline.

I currently work within Human Resources at my local hospital and have recently successfully completed a Post Graduate Degree in Personnel Management and Development. I am keen to explore how this continually evolving profession has developed in Australia in comparison with the UK.

I am passionate about being involved in my local community and thrive on setting and achieving new challenges, developing new interests and interacting with different social groups.

Nicola Foster

Hi I'm Nicola; I live in the small market town of Ulverston in the South Lake District (Cumbria). I work for the Urban Regeneration Company, West Lakes Renaissance and manage an £8 million portfolio of regeneration projects. My projects aim to stimulate enterprise, create jobs, attract skills and improve perceptions of the area. These include encouraging school children to gain a sense of pride, working with unemployed people to hep them find work, helping new businesses get started, encouraging festivals and working among deprived communities to reduce antisocial behaviour. I am also involved in a number of large 'physical' regeneration projects including building a new Marina Village, a Business Park and public realm schemes.

The youngest of three, I studied Archaeology at University for my undergraduate degree. In 2002 I completed my Masters in Management and since then I've worked gaining experience in the field of economic regeneration.

I'm outgoing and friendly and I love the outdoors. I spend my spare time camping, walking and sailing with friends and I'll have a go at pretty much anything. I am really looking forward to the opportunity to visit some of the Australian countryside as well as 'sock up' Australian culture and see Melbourne. I would like the opportunity to visit organisations in Australia which have led on the development of iconic buildings, improving public space and community projects.