GSE D9700 to San Marino Italy: April 2009

Thursday, April 2, 2009

District Conference - Griffith 28th-29th March

The team road tripped it to Griffith for the district conference over the weekend just gone for our final gathering and to meet the Italian team. We arrived on Rosemary & Tony's door step to overtake the house for the weekend! Thanks for having us : )

Friday afternoon was a Mayoral reception, and we all wore our new uniforms for the first time looking very sharp. That evening was an italian themed dinner, with masks, great food & wine and singing & dancing.

Saturday we slept in which was great, and Adrian cooked up a storm for brekky, earning his keep! After a slow start we ventured into the conference to hear the Italian team do their very last presentation which gave a snapshot of their time in D9700 and Australia.

It was then time to head back to base and get ready for the Gala Dinner. Dinner was an opportunity to enjoy some time with the Italian team who flew out the very next day, and for us to mingle with the hundreds of Rotarians who we were going to represent. A great night was had by all, with everyone working on their italian, still not sounding so great, but getting there. Adrian figured out all he needs to know "Uno beere", and us girls "Uno vino"! We said our farewell's as this would be the last time we would see some people, and headed back to Rosemary's to catch some sleep.

Sunday we all rose relatively early ready for the road trip home. We said our goodbye's as we won't see Rosemary now until Sydney airport, and then said goodbye to each other in Boorowa. Our next rendevous will be at Orange airport on Monday 4th May on out way to D2070 San Marino, Italy.

GSE D9700 Team

Back in October 2008, around 15 hopefuls attended the 2009 GSE selections at Young High School. From the very beginning on Saturday morning we knew that it was going to be an interesting weekend, but one that we would all enjoy.

Spending a very long day in the same room with everyone and Rotary partners seemed like enough for one day, but alas there was more! We lined up for dinner that night with everyone enjoying the food and a little wine! Speech topics were pulled out of a hat, a five minute speech the very next monrning after not leaving dinner until midnight, what were we to do?

Stay up of course and write some jumbled, dreary eyed words on a page and hope that they made sense at 9am when we started. The speeches were fantastic, everyone excelled and we all walked away very relieved it was over, but awaited the verdict. With the consensus being that everyone had made some great new mates, and whoever got a trip to Italy would be the cherry on top.

The suspence was killing everyone, and then the announcement was made................................ GSE D9700 to D2070 would be; Adrian Acheson, Danielle Ballinger, Rebecca Bowman & Tania Scarlett.

So the journey began in Young, but there was a lot to do in between..........

GSE D9700 Team

Adrian Acheson - Orange Daybreak Rotary
I am the eldest of 5 children and grew up on a farm in Forbes, a small community in Central West New South Wales to which I still have strong ties. Educated at Charles Sturt University, I was a member of the student council, received the Deans Award on three occasions and was awarded the School of Accounting Scholarship in 2006 whilst completing my Bachelor of Business – Accounting. Now living in Orange, a city well known for it’s food and wine, I am employed in a small firm that provides taxation and business advisory services to a wide range of clients. I have three gorgeous girls in my life, Janelle, my partner, little Alyssa 20 months and Charlize 5 months. I enjoy having fun, music, travelling, meeting new people and all things sport.

Danielle Ballinger - Bathurst Rotary
Born and bred in Bathurst with my mum, dad, sister and brother. As the eldest in my family I wasn’t the first to leave the nest, but the first to be married in February 2008 to my husband Dane. I studied a Double Degree Bachelor Business and Bachelor Human Movement with a marketing focus at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst and currently am the Events & Conference Coordinator at Bathurst Regional Council, running all kinds of events like motor racing at Mount Panorama, Australia Day events and civic functions. I am a keen netball player and coach, and love any type of sports. I enjoy spending time at home with my dog ‘Nala’, hanging out with Dane, family, friends and going waterskiing.

Rebecca Bowman - Bathurst Daybreak Rotary
Growing up on the beach in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, I am now well and truly a “country girl” having lived in the Central West of NSW for more than a decade. With a communications degree specialising in broadcast journalism I have worked in television, radio, print before making the move into media liaison and public relations. After working in local government, I now work for the NSW State Government with the Department of Primary Industries, promoting the profitable and sustainable development of primary industries in NSW. My greatest achievements to date are my two beautiful daughters, 4yr old Matilda and 1yr old Cleo.

Tania Scarlett - Boorowa Rotary
I was raised on a cattle grazing property in Central Queensland, the oldest of three daughters, my parents coming from the land also I have had a very diverse career to date including Agriculture, Business Management, Aviation, the Royal Australian Navy and my current role as a Paramedic with the NSW Ambulance Service.
I enjoy a very active lifestyle playing a number of sports including netball, touch football, oztag, and enjoy jogging. I love spending time with my partner Rob, family, friends and my great dane “Vulcan”

Rosemary Arena (Team Leader) - Griffith Avanti Rotary
Born in Sydney NSW, the eldest of three children to Italian Migrants, I grew up in Griffith NSW. I then returned to Sydney where I met and married Tony and together we ran a coffee shop. I have three wonderful children: Elena - 17, Antoinette - 13 and Joey - 11. In 2002 we left the hustle and bustle of Sydney for the quieter lifestyle of Griffith. I have worked as a Business Banker with the National Australia Bank for nine years. As a member of the Rotary Club of Griffith - Avanti, I have enjoyed working along side some extraordinary people in our local community. I am Service Projects Coordinator. Some of my interests include, socialising with family and friends, reading, cooking, the arts, music and Rotary.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

GSE D9700 Team

GSE D9700 to San Marino Italy

GSE D9700 Team

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