Exchange Directors Beth (Gold Coast) & Gary (Global)
get up close & personal with some Aussie ‘mates’
REPORT FROM GOLD COAST EXCHANGE DIRECTOR BETH HALLAM
Tuesday 14th - ED Gary Mitchner phoned from Sydney Airport to say that the Ambassadors were arriving on a later flight so a quick phone call was made to hosts, and we all met at Gold Coast (Coolangatta) Airport, prior to the plane landing.
Welcome to the Gold Coast
Quick introductions were made and the copious luggage collected and it was decided to head straight to our home for the Finger Food Welcome Luncheon. Unfortunately as food was plated upstairs, the Ambassadors were receiving a rain shower below, although I never heard anyone complain.
We had sandwiches, quiches, delicious cocktail frankfurts, bacon & egg muffins, scones, chicken wings etc. etc and Lance bought out the fruit shop for the fruit platter. Dessert was individual Mango trifles. There was tea, coffee, red and white wine, lemonade, coke and a 10 litre cask of water, which proved to be a very good purchase. Hosts and Ambassadors plus Pres. Viv and Gloria and Gold Coast club member Geoff sat around the tables chatting and getting to know each other as the sun shone brightly. Gloria ably organized everyone for Photographs. Gift bags of our programme, Welcome Card, Australian Quiz, emergency kits, brochures and the delightful book that Beverley's son & his wife wrote about the Dolphins at Tangalooma, were distributed. Gradually people departed, most to the Swell Sculpture Festival at Currumbin Beach. Some of us were still there as the sun set, when the little lights came on, creating an added feature.
 
‘SWELL’ sculptures and putting the “I” in IMAGINE
Presentation to Gold Coast Mayor
Meeting the Mayor and Enjoying Morning Tea
Wednesday 15th - We were at the Administration Building at Evandale at 8.30 am to be met by our Mayor, Ron Clarke who shook hands with all Ambassadors and gave a short talk, mainly on the importance of friendship, and that even with his Olympic experiences, it is the friends which left the greatest impact. He then presented Gary with a small gift. Morning Tea followed and ambassadors were all given books on the Gold Coast.
Then we all travelled to Rosser Park, and after walking though the gardens and around the lake, planted a rare Green Leafed Rose Walnut Tree in the Friendship Grove.
Ambassadors admire Friendship Force Avenue in Rosser Park
USA Exchange Director plants a tree
dedicated to Friendship Force
Boat trip on the Broadwater
The group was to then enjoy a boat trip and as the water on the Broadwater was choppy the decision was made to board the Sea World Pontoon boat from Sundale Bridge. Half of the Ambassadors joined Captain Peter on a tour of Surfers Paradise by canal, while others ate lunch, and the reverse happened at 2.00pm. Our thanks to Peter for his driving and to Terry who sat with Margaret while Peter was away. I am sure the Ambassadors were happy with the change of departure rather than the boat trip being cancelled due to rough weather. Brian and Peter really had a challenge landing the boat back at Seaworld Nara Resort.
Breakfast at the Beach
Thursday 16th - By 8.00am. nearly every one was at the Shelter Sheds in Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads. The magnificent cooks were already at the BBQ's cooking sausages on sticks which everyone agreed tasted great. Apple and Banana Pikelets followed, plus Fruit Platters, and a variety of fruit juices was available. Plenty of coffee but only a couple of tea drinkers. After watching the few surfers we all walked around Burleigh Headland before driving to Currumbin Sanctuary.
Most hosts departed, but Brian, Lesley & I joined Tour Leader Lance at the Train Station. I think the Ambassadors had a good time, seeing the koalas, watching the birds in flight, patting a possum, feeding kangaroos, handling a crocodile, watching the baby Tree Kangaroo climb slowly down the tree trunk, and observing the Aboriginal Dancing, even though the Lorikeet feeding was minimal.
 
Gentle Kangaroos
 
Meeting a Baby Crocodile.....
Ambassadors join the Aboriginal Dancers
Hosts returned to collect their ambassadors, some saw more of SWELL, others had a drink at Elephant Rock and we took Marilyn to the Charity shop where she purchased a picture for $10. (She packed the picture and left the frame here).
Then up to Burleigh Headland where we were again joined by some of our non-hosting members, for a very enjoyable evening of Fish and Chips, out of the paper - a unique experience for many Americans. Although the moonlight did not glisten over the ocean as requested, we still had a very enjoyable evening, and the contents of the wine casks left over from the Welcome Luncheon were consumed.
Meeting at Burleigh Headland for
Fish 'n' Chips a la Paper Package
 
Friday 17th - Most were at the Skywalk at Mt Tamborine by 10.30 am. and enjoyed a talk by the owners about the property and the organization of the walkway and observation deck, before walking through the rain forest along Cedar Creek. If the success of an event is judged by the taking of photographs - it must have been successful.
Then it was over to Tamborine Mountain Botanic Gardens, Forsythia Drive, Eagle Heights for lunch. Muriel and Roy of Bundaberg Club had previously hosted Larry from USA, and they travelled by train to catch up with him. Gold Coast hosts, Jo & Bob picked them up from the Train Station and they joined us for lunch. Then folk were able to stroll down Gallery Walk or whatever they chose from the brochures. We went to Mt Tamborine Distillery where after sampling a number of liqueuers, Gary purchased a bottle of Lemon Cello. Then to the Nardoo Lavender Farm where they admired lots of antiques etc. before having coffee among the sculptures created by the disabled sculptors.
As the weather was closing in we headed for home to prepare for our superb night of Dinner Hosting. Special thanks to all those who had Hosts and Ambassadors over for any meals, it certainly adds to the Exchange and a special mention to the Geoff and Sandra who also catered for extra visitors.
Enjoying a tasting (or two) at The Distillery
One of the enjoyable hosted dinners
Saturday 18th - This was planned as a free day, and as Gary & Marilyn had hosted Lyn & Dennis from North Moreton Friendship Force club, they caught the 8.18 am train to Brisbane to spend the day with them. A number of others also travelled on this early train, and went to the Art Gallery to a special exhibition, the Museum and/or plying the Brisbane River on a City Cat.
Emerald Lakes Putt Putt
 
Sunday 19th - The final morning of the exchange was spent at a church service, packing, beach walking or sleeping in, then everyone met again at our Friendship Force monthly meeting at 1.30 pm. The Ambassadors each read a line of the ‘Peace Cookie Recipe’ and then the biscuits were handed around to be sampled by all.
After mixing and mingling with our members over Afternoon Tea, all Ambassadors played a game of Putt-putt Golf at Emerald Lakes. Everyone was having a great time until Lesley (Gold Coast) landed heavily on the ground. However I think all others enjoyed the game.
Then it was time for a drink in the Clubhouse before a delicious Farewell Dinner.
The Americans sang a couple of songs and Gary read the poem he had compiled, using the reference to the Swell Sculptures and managed to include the name of every Australian at the Dinner. Small prizes were given for the winners of the Questionnaire and the Golf (Putt-Putt) and the evening concluded with everyone holding hands in a circle, singing “Let There Be Peace on Earth”.
By the end of the evening, as Lesley was still in a lot of pain, Brian drove her car home and we took her guest Marilyn to Beverley's home to stay the last night.
After midnight the doctor came to Lesley and she was taken by Ambulance to hospital for X Rays, which revealed a torn hamstring, which we hope heals as quickly as possible.
Monday 20th - Again everyone was up bright and early and the Ambassadors were at Gold Coast (Coolangatta) Airport by 8.00am for their flight to Sydney and on to FF Queanbeyan-Canberra club, for Phase 2 of their exchange.
My sincere thanks to my Committee, especially to Brian, Maureen & Terry , Viv & Gloria; to all Ambassadors; all Hosts, all Dinner Hosts and to any one who helped in anyway, big or small to make the Global Exchange a success. I hope many lasting friendships were commenced, and that letters or emails continue to travel across the Pacific Ocean.
Many thanks
Beth
Exchange Director
The recipe for PEACE COOKIES is shown below:
PEACE COOKIES
½ c. butter: to soothe old wounds between nations
1 c. brown sugar: like the good earth we need to preserve
1 egg: from which life is given, not to be taken by war
½ c milk: for the children, the same all over the world
1 t. vanilla: some of us are vanilla
1 and ½ c. oats: harvested in August, the month Hiroshima is remembered with sorrow
½ c. sesame seeds: for the many seeds of goodwill that can blossom into world peace
½ c. raisins: grapes dried in the sun. After a nuclear war, could there be a nuclear winter with no sun for years?
1 and ½ c. flour: wheat sheaves tied, as nations united by strings of hope for peace
½ t. salt and ½ t. soda: season your lives with kindness
1 t. cinnamon: spice up your life by working for peace
¼ c. chocolate chips: some of us are chocolate. We all need colours
Bake at 350 degrees for about 12 minutes. Makes about 3 dozen.
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“We'll Meet Again, don't know where, don't know when....”
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