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YOUTH OF THE YEAR
International Tour to UK
by 2006-2007 National winner
Joshua Anderson |
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My
trip to the UK as part of the Lions Youth of the Year Program was
the furthest distance and the longest time I have been overseas.
Unsure quite what to expect, I boarded the plane excited and
slightly apprehensive. However, any concerns I might have had were
proven to be completely unnecessary. The hospitality I received by
the Littlehampton Lions Club, by my host family and again at the
youth camp made the trip truly remarkable. It was also nice to be
able to travel together with Shane Robertson, the previous year’s
national winner.
The first part of my time in the UK was a home stay with a Lions
couple, Keith and Sue Mates, who lived in Littlehampton on the south
coast of England. They had kindly offered to billet me for this
time. One of their three sons had immigrated to Australia and so
they were both very knowledgeable about the country. This was
reassuring considering some of the ludicrous questions I was asked
over there such as whether we drank tea or if there were zucchinis
in Australia! Littlehampton is a lovely town, well outside the
bustle of suburban London, with lovely beaches if you don’t mind the
stones. I arrived just in time for the peak of the British summer
and a heatwave that peaked at 34 degrees. Despite the rather amusing
English complaints about the heat, it was a welcome change from the
cold winter days back home. The time spent with your host family is
intended to give you an insight into daily life as well as a chance
to explore the local area. As a result, I became an honorary member
of the local Ions club for these two week, pitching in with
community activities. I helped clean up an elderly lady’s garden,
overgrown with weeds and brambles which had grown to truly gigantic
proportions. The club had also organised a BBQ stall at the local
fair and I was recruited to help set up and sell sausages. None of
this was a chore since the people in the club were so friendly and
welcoming and the tasks themselves so rewarding. It provided an
interesting chance to see how Lions operates in another country.
In
addition, my host family together with various couples from the
Littlehampton Lions Club each took turns to take me out for the day
to various attractions on the south coast. These included trips to
Chichester with its truly impressive cathedral and Roman walls and
to Arundel Castle, home of the only Catholic members of the Royal
Family, the Duke and Duchess of Norfolk. We also visited Brighton
with its well known Pavilion where generations of English monarchs
went for holidays so that news of their dalliances wouldn’t reach
the court in London. However, perhaps the most memorable was my time
spent in Battle, just inland from Hastings where the famous battle
of 1066 took place. Standing on the fields where the Normans
conquered the Anglo-Saxons almost one thousand years ago, marking a
radical shift in English history, was an amazingly eerie feeling. On
this site stands Battle Abbey, commissioned to be built by William
the Conqueror, to commemorate the fallen. The history of the UK is
quite overwhelming and it was a remarkable feeling to be able to
stand on the locations I had learnt about in history classes back at
school.
After these two weeks, it was time for a sad farewell to my host
family and local Lions. From there, I went to the New Forest,
located west of London, for the youth camp. The New Forest is an odd
little place in the local farmers can simply turn their livestock
free onto the forest. As you drove down the roads, you would see
donkeys, pigs and cows roaming around the plains. Attending the camp
were 40 young people affiliated with Lions International from a
diverse range of backgrounds. Thus, the camp provided a unique
chance to get an insight into the different life experiences and
cultures of other places around the world. The group dynamic was
truly special and we all became very close friends remarkably
quickly. The schedule comprised of some days where we were split
into groups for activities on the camp site including rock climbing,
raft building (and then raft capsizing), high ropes course,
orienteering and the flying fox. On alternate days, we were taken
from the camp site to various landmarks including to Stonehenge and
Salisbury, Portsmouth, the Isle of Wight and to London. There we
toured through the Houses of Parliament, past Big Ben, and took a
ride on the London Eye (a giant Ferris wheel offering spectacular
views). Saying goodbye to all the friends that I had made was by far
the hardest part of the journey. Despite complications with time
zones, I am still in contact with many of them and hope one day to
see them again.
My
time in the UK was my final experience as Lions Youth of the Year.
It has been wonderful and provided me with so many opportunities for
which I am extremely grateful. It has been a privilege to represent
Lions and I look forward to continuing my involvement in the future.
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YOUTH OF THE YEAR
International Tour
to UK
by 2005-2006
National winner
Shane Robertson
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After
having only returned to Australia for three weeks, I’m finally putting
fingers-to-keyboard to pen the stories of my three month trip to
England/Europe- and what a three months it was!
Leaving Australia on the 17th of July, Josh and I arrived at
Heathrow International 23 hours later. We were quickly whisked away and
found ourselves on busses heading in completely different directions. My
home stay families were both in the south of England- Minehead and
Callington. It was an extremely rewarding experience being warmly
welcomed into a home, not a house or hotel, but a home half a world
away! Day trips to places like St. Ives, Lynmouth, Bristol, Plymouth and
Land’s End were all highlights. We were generally graced with ‘pleasant’
weather, which added to our experiences! The Eden Project (Two huge
greenhouses open to the public- featured in a recent James Bond film!)
was also full of interesting exhibits and information. Breakfast at
Jamie Oliver’s “Fifteen” restaurant was delicious- yes we were spoilt!
But the standout highlight for me, during my 2 weeks on home stays- was
seeing “Flashdance” (The Musical) at the Plymouth Performing Arts
Centre- an amazing theatre, an amazing musical, and an absolutely
astounding performance! Such fond memories I will carry with me forever
of all these places we were so lucky and blessed to have visited!
No
doubt Josh has already filled you in on the activities of the camp- so
all that’s left for me to say is – thank you.
Thank
you for blessing me with the trip of a lifetime, for giving me memories
that will live on forever, and for letting me experience places, people
and things that have changed my outlook on life, myself and other
people. I was fortunate enough to stay in Europe a further two months
and travel to an extra 20 countries around this amazing continent, some
of which was funded by the money I was given as part of YOTY. One can’t
really express in words, what it was like to meet warm, friendly, and
similar young people from 28 countries and forge the beginning of what
will hopefully be life-long friendships- just as we did at the Lions
Youth Camp. To be in a new country every second day- immersing yourself
in a foreign culture, language- gives you such a high! Not to mention a
great insight and deep respect for the people of these countries and
their differing cultures, traditions and lifestyles. I have visited
countries, seen places, experienced things and met people that I never
in a whole lifetime could have imagined doing! And all, at the ripe ol’
age of 19! So thank YOU, and thankyou to Lions Australia for
giving me this fantastic opportunity to explore just a small corner of
our World.
I feel extremely privileged to be given all of the opportunities and
experiences that I have enjoyed and continue to remember fondly from
Youth of the Year. From the 2006 Gold Coast Convention, to our 33
world-wind Around-Australia tour with the state winners, the 2007 Sydney
Conference- ‘handing over’ the title of National Winner to Josh
Anderson, from New Zealand in January this year- another two week youth
camp to finally- Europe in July 2008: So many incredible experiences!
From 23 hours plane flights, to NZ mud slides, being strangely upgraded
to business class (no room left on economy!), to Zorbing, Flashdance,
to breakfast with Jamie Oliver, Climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge,
to attending the Adelaide Hardcourt Championships, touring Salisbury
Cathedral and Westminster Parliament... ah the list is endless!
It’s
sad to end my official association with Youth of the Year, after two
years and almost 10 months, this is my last official engagement with
this exceptional program. Thankyou to all of you who support young
people through this program, because it not only creates opportunities,
forges friendships and opens doors, but for me at least- has become an
integral part of who I am, today.
With
my deepest respect and sincere thanks.
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YOUTH OF THE YEAR
Youth
Camp – New Zealand
2006 /
2007 Public Speaking winner
Shane Robertson |
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Just after Christmas, a
lot like the year before, I set off on another adventure, full of hope
and optimism for what the next 14 days would bring courtesy of Lions
Australia.
I still remember very
clearly, jetting off eastward over the Tasman sea to New Zealand,
leaving behind the most beautiful array of colours lighting the sky over
our beautiful country.
Arriving in Auckland at
a healthy 12am, my host for the night was waiting to pick me up, an
aircraft controller at Auckland International, Graeme wasn’t too fussed
with the unruly hour!
Only hours later I was
on a small little Beechworth 18 seater aircraft flying down to Rotura.
One word: TURBULENCE! Coming down for landing in that plane just about
beat a rollercoaster ride at Movie World! Soon enough I was at camp- my
home for the next 10 days. Met some locals, notably the kiwi “Jiss”
[Kiwi for ‘Jess’].
11 days, 11 countries,
36 youth and a whole lotta’ fun to come, was pretty much the breakdown
of the camp. This amazing opportunity provided all of its participants
with the opportunities to learn about more than 15 different cultures,
11 different countries spread all over our globe. And possibly some
more, not so great experiences!
On the second night we
all headed out to ‘Amazin’ Maze’, at night. Imagine this: A maze of corn
plants. Pitch blank. A group of 5 with one torch, and actors dressed up
as characters from all the scary movies, and some armed with chainsaws!
Talk about creepy! Well in summation, this night we learnt a lot about
different languages... mostly profanities when people were scared out of
their skin by the Grim Reaper, Death Doctors, and the like. Some lovely
dreams that night!
A notable experience,
was our trip to Opotiki, on the New Zealand north-east coast. Here, we
were treated to an official welcome by the local Maoris, traditional
food and slept on the beach that night, with the waves washing up,
bringing in the cool breeze off the water- it was a great experience.
Other activities
included:
Zorbing: Pick a friend
(or two). Jump into the middle of a huge ball. And wave goodbye as
you’re pushed down a hill!
Flying: Yep! That’s
right! Put on an other-sized jump suit and dorky glasses, and pretty
much jump on top of a 747 jet engine and hover in mid-air. And yes,
there are just a few safety precautions taken!
Tenpin Bowling: Well
doesn’t sound that exciting, but between the Austrians who had never
bowled before, and the terrible attempts of the Kiwis to beat the
Aussies, it was actually rather funny!
We also went to a two
water parks, which included the world’s only Canoe Water Slide! So
picture a waterslide, winding its way down a steep hill into a large
river, then pop a canoe in it, and then your silly self in the canoe and
push! Certainly an experience that’s for sure!
But it wasn’t just a
holiday, not just fun ‘n’ games- and nor it should be. The trip provided
a great opportunity to learn a great deal more about other worldly
cultures, traditions and people, while also learning a great deal more
about your own strengths, passions and weaknesses.
It was amazing to learn
that the cost of the camp [per participant] was over $2200, yet the cost
charged to each participant was only $500. The difference was subsidised
by generous Lions club all over the north island of New Zealand. To all
the participants, this was the clearest and perhaps truest indication of
how much value and belief that these Lions and clubs had in this camp
and us; its participants- most definitely a humbling thought.
The Maori culture is
such a respected part of New Zealand culture, it really made the three
Australians present at the camp, myself included, somewhat ashamed to
cast our minds back to the ‘Lucky Country’ and to our own Indigenous
peoples. The Kiwis illustrated, in such a powerful way how a modern
country with its own ‘white’ customs and traditions developed over many
years, can embrace its predecessor. And travelling back to Australia, we
all shouldered a sense of being somewhat ashamed for our country’s
mistreatment and ignorance towards Aboriginal Australia.
Who knew? That from only
12 days of mingling, mocking and mayhem, that I would forge some of the
strongest and closest friendships that I ever had? Crazy? Sure is! And
that’s why I feel so fortunate and privileged to have been given what
was, and remains, many opportunities, a trip and friends.... of a
lifetime!
Oh... and I was upgraded
to business class on the flight home (AWESOME AS!!!), it certainly
capped off what was, yet another amazing, life changing and exceptional
experience that I’ve been so privileged to undertake, thanks to Lions
International.
With my sincere thanks &
warm wishes,
Shane Robertson
