The GSE Experience

This Rotary year, District 9790 is looking forward to its Exchange programme with District 1950 in Germany.

Some information about Rotarian Bruce McIntyre (Team Leader), Rotarian Mike Wetzler (Reserve Team Leader), and Team Members Adam Brown, Chris Westwood, Emma Davis, Justin Justin and Rebecca Gauci together with their photographs are shown below.

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

Bruce McIntyre (Team Leader)

Bruce is a member of the Rotary Club of Benalla, the largest club in District 9790. Since joining Rotary in April, 2000, Bruce has been President, Secretary and been on the Board for 7 of his 10 years of membership. His most recent appointment is the Chairman of the Group Study Exchange Committee and he was previously the Reserve team leader for an exchange to Sweden.

Bruce was born and raised in Brisbane and graduated as a veterinarian from the University of Queensland in 1974. He moved to Victoria in 1975 and purchased Benalla Veterinary Clinic in 1979. In 1981, he married Christine, a primary school teacher, and is the proud father of 3 fabulous children.

Veterinary science is obviously a keen passion of Bruce's, and his practice was rewarded with national recognition for excellence in customer service in 2010. When time permits, Bruce is a keen golfer (not very good though!) and enjoys the finer aspects of life - leisure, fine dining, social drinks with good friends, colleagues and family. Bruce is also a very keen supporter of the Sydney Swans AFL team.

Bruce would like to thank DG Alan Anderson for the privilege of leading this team to Germany, and for the support offered by the Rotary Club of Benalla.

Adam Brown

I am sponsored by the Rotary Club of Eltham, Victoria and am currently the brewer at Buckley's Brewery, a traditional microbrewery located 50km North East of Melbourne in Healesville.

I am a born and bred Melbournian having grown up in the Eastern suburbs before making the move bayside to Port Melbourne where I currently live.

After school I completed a Sports Science Degree in Exercise Physiology before moving into the banking / stock-broking industry. Finance provided many great opportunities, least of which was the chance to live and work abroad (England & Ireland) but after 8 years in finance I decided it was time to pursue my passion and "chase the dream". Currently I am in the last semester of the Graduate Certificate of Brewing at Ballarat University whilst working at Buckley's. Work at the brewery encompasses all facets of the brewing process, conducting brewery tours, running the cellar door sales and interacting with the beer loving folk at festivals.

Other than brewing at Buckley's I also have a passion for creating inventive left of center beers at home, international travel, exercise & staying fit, and an enjoyment of all professional sports with special mention to the GG's.

In regards to the GSE I am most looking forward immersing myself in all things brewing in what can only be described as the greatest beer-cultured nation on Earth. The hands on experience, skills and philosophies I will gain from the program will be invaluable as I bring this new found knowledge back home with me in the endeavor of making my mark in the Australian craft brewing industry. Prost!!!!

Chris Westwood

Having only lived in the Albury Wodonga region for just over 12 months, I consider myself to be very fortunate to have this experience sponsored by the Rotary Club of Albury West, NSW.

Professionally my title is Team Leader Recreation & Community Strengthening with the Indigo Shire Council, a local government authority around 45km from Albury. My role is broad taking in the responsibility of sport & recreation, youth, arts, disability access, community planning and the recovery post 2009 bush fire.

Specifically speaking my focus is on project delivery, budgeting and staff management.

I grew up in Melbourne before professional opportunity, the lure of warmer weather and life on the Murray River took me to Mildura in Victoria's northwest. Career advancement, hillier cycling challenges and my partner of over two years brought me to Albury / Wodonga, where I have recently purchased my first home!

Clearly I am passionate about the outdoors and in my spare time enjoy cycling, running, swimming & whatever adventure grabs my attention!
I see the GSE program to be a unique opportunity to greatly further and challenge myself and to enhance what I have to offer both personally and professionally.

From a professional perspective I am looking forward to spending time with both local government and private industry, focusing on management techniques and project delivery.

From a social perspective I can't wait to get stuck into the German culture!

Emma Davis

I was raised in Benalla and completed my school and university education predominately within North East Victoria. I am 27 years of age and have recently purchased my first home in Wangaratta.

I am employed by La Trobe at Beechworth and am sponsored by the Rotary Club of Beechworth. I have been a Wedding and Function Coordinator now for 4½ years and love what I do! The challenge that each event brings makes each day different and interesting. I have a Law and Management, Bachelor of Business Hospitality Management Degree, which I completed in 2005 with Honours with La Trobe University.

I am a food lover; I enjoy cooking and trying different things. I am lucky to live in a great gourmet region for both food and wine, and I also love good coffee and chocolate! I also enjoy photography and spending time with family and friends. I am the middle child of three, and a proud aunty and am very connected to my family. With my family, I spend many hours on the beautiful beach in Torquay.

I love to travel and I enjoy experiencing different things whilst travelling. My first taste of International travel was an exchange to Thailand whilst in University. This inspired me to travel as much as possible. I am adventurous in travel plans, and have to date experienced 23 countries with many more on my wish list.

I am very excited to be involved with the Group Study Exchange Program and thankful to the Rotary Club of Beechworth for their continued support with this program.

Justin Justin

My Names is Justin Justin, I am employed by the Country Fire Authority (CFA) of Victoria and have been involved with CFA for close to 17 years now. I am currently the Officer in Charge of an Integrated (Both Career Staff and Volunteers) Fire Station and also responsible for some 13 other Fire Brigades in some of the states most fire prone areas.

I am based in the suburb of Eltham which is described by many in our community as unique because of how we combine our urban fringe location with our love for the natural environment. I currently look after a large proportion of area that was devastated by the Black Saturday Bushfires of February 2009, and have been working with Brigades and communities to help rebuild after such a catastrophic event.

I have two lovely daughters in Eleanor (2) and Ainsley (9 months) who are also the pride and joy of my wife of three years Kristen.

I enjoy Australian Rules football, swimming, running and spending quality time with my three girls.

My name is Rebecca Gauci, and I am from Essendon in Victoria. I am sponsored by the Rotary Club of Strathmore - and I am incredibly grateful for their support, assistance and friendship.

I am a Human Resources Advisor for VicForests, which is a State-owned enterprise responsible for the sustainable harvest and commercial sale of timber from native forests in Victoria.

My role is a very broad one - covering the full range of HR - industrial and employee relations, developing and delivering training and development, policy writing and interpretation, performance management and planning, recruitment, induction, reporting and analysis, payroll support, project management, providing HR advice, and general HR administration.

Outside of work I love shopping, shoes, food & wine, and cooking. I come from a very large extended family, so I am very passionate about friends and family, and my partner Lance.

I am very excited about the GSE, and the opportunity it will provide for me to broaden my perspectives and ideas, both professionally and personally.