As recipient of the 2009 Lions
National winner prize, I was extraordinarily fortunate in being able to combine
an overseas Lions Club experience with one of my personal dreams, to attend the
Worlds University Debating Competition in Antalya, Turkey, at the end of
December last year. “Worlds” is the gold standard of debating. Students come
from over 200 counties from all continents to compete and adjudicate. My
university, Sydney, has had more than its fair share of success over the years
and I was thrilled to be able to attend representing the uni as an adjudicator,
with the assistance of the Lions Club.
Debating and social justice
issues always go hand in hand; debating attracts articulate socially aware young
people and I am sure I have met a number of future leaders who will make their
mark in so many areas and it was a delight and a privilege. Even better I
“broke” through to semi finals as an adjudicator, meaning I scored well enough
in the competition to be able to adjudicate at that level. To cap it off -
Sydney Uni actually won the grandfinals of the competition again! On so many
levels, it was an experience I will never forget. I gained skills I didn’t have
before and have met friends from around the world. I am so grateful Lions made
it possible.
After “Worlds” finished, my
formal Lions experience in Turkey started. I stayed in Istanbul with some truly
wonderful Lions families. Istanbul was the most fantastic city and the Lions
families were so generous in making it so memorable. I am sure I gained weight
from the Turkish delight, the Turkish coffee and amazing food but I did try to
walk it off seeing as much as possible of Istanbul. The Lions families discussed
their focus and charity efforts in their communities and it is amazing that half
way around the world, the multi-cultural nature of Lions does reach into the
hearts of so many, caring for others less fortunate, and the drive to want to
make a difference.
One of highlights of my trip was
undoubtedly visiting Gallipoli. So much has been written about Australians
making the pilgrimage there because of the increasing community awareness of the
significance of ANZAC day, particularly amongst younger Australians. I had
studied World War I extensively at school but listening to a local guide who was
just so informative, while looking at these strips of desolate sand where so
many lost their lives, it really was a revelation about the tragedy of war. The
big question as to why they landed there at all, not somewhere else, really
makes one think about the sometimes random, awfulness of so much conflict in the
past. And grateful that the sprit and the story of those brave men is part of
what makes modern Australia the country it has become.
I didn’t even know there were
prizes when I entered the Lions Competition over 2 years ago; it was a great
surprise as I went along. I certainly never thought I would be visiting Turkey
because of it. Adrian Miles and the YOTY team have made this all possible for me
and I will always be so thankful to the Lions family. I hope I can find a way to
contribute to the community in my own way in the years ahead and make you all
proud.
