The Exchange commenced on Saturday 19th April with eight (8) Ambassadors flying into Brisbane International Airport from Wellington and travelling to the Gold Coast by Airtrain to be met by their hosts at Robina Station at approximately 12.30pm. The remaining ten (10) Ambassadors, who had spent a week on Exchange in Noumea, arrived into Brisbane International Airport at 8pm that evening accompanied by Gold Coast members Jan & Barry. They were transferred to the Gold Coast by shuttle bus and dropped off at the homes of their hosts at 10pm.

At 1.30pm on Sunday 20th April the eighteen (18) Ambassadors after a restful morning joined our Club members for our regular monthly meeting at Pacific Fair Shopping Complex which got the exchange off to an official start. Following the meeting we adjourned to Kurrawa Park for an informal ‘meet and greet’ picnic. Fortunately the weather which had been very sour for several days, fined up on the Sunday morning and was perfect for the remainder of the Exchange.

The Exchange Committee, in close consultation with Mary Milne Kapiti Coast Exchange Director, planned a program which allowed for a variety of activities together with sufficient free time for rest and informal activities with their respective Gold Coast hosts. Activities such as a visit to the Driza-bone factory and outlet store near Logan City, a pleasant lunch at an Irish Pub within the Calypso Bay development near Jacobs Well, a Mayoral reception followed by a tree planting in the Friendship Grove at Rosser Park, the new Gold Coast Botanical Gardens which is currently under construction were very well attended. A barbeque brunch on the beach at Burleigh Heads on the Wednesday morning followed by dinner hosting that evening gave Gold Coast Club members more opportunity to cement new friendships. Thursday 24th April was taken up with a delightful bus trip down the new Tweed Coast to view some of the developments under way, the well known lighthouse at Byron Bay followed by a café lunch and a return trip via the Border Ranges.

Friday 25th April was Anzac Day which was kept free to enable Friendship Force Members to participate in the various commemorative ceremonies and marches on the Gold Coast. That evening sixty Gold Coast Members and Kapiti Coast Ambassadors joined together for a fun filled Farewell Dinner at beachfront North Burleigh Surf Club. Saturday 26th April gave us the opportunity for a last meal together as a group indulging in breakfast at Kurrawa Surf Club. We then adjourned to Kurrawa Park for a group Farewell.

In summary I feel the exchange was a great success and met all the goals of Friendship Force in cementing new and previous Friendships between our two Clubs. I wish to thank the Exchange Committee members, hosts, day hosts, dinner hosts, and our Club members for their hard work and support to ensure the success of the Exchange. In addition thanks to eighteen Ambassadors from Kapiti Coast who were such a joy to host and for being part of the Exchange.

Viv Caulfield
Exchange Director

SEE PHOTOS BELOW

MEETING FOLLOWED BY WELCOME MEET & GREET IN THE PARK






VISIT TO DRIZA-BONE FACTORY & OUTLET STORE
What On earth Are They Up to....?






OFF TO LUNCH AT JACOBS WELL




VISIT TO CARLTON BREW HOUSE, YATALA




MAYORAL RECEPTION






TREE PLANTING - ROSSER PARK






PICNIC LUNCH ROSSER PARK BOTANIC GARDENS


A COUPLE OF GROUP DINNERS




BREAKFAST AT THE BEACH - BURLEIGH HEADS




COACH TRIP TO NORTHERN NSW COAST, BYRON BAY & BORDER RANGES








LUNCH BYRON BAY RSL


ANZAC DAY MARCH




FAREWELL DINNER






And they are doing.....?



PRESIDENTS EXCHANGE GIFTS


EXCHANGE DIRECTORS EXCHANGE GIFTS




BREAKFAST KURRAWA SURF LIFESAVING CLUB



NOW IS THE HOUR





Another Great Week of Fun and Friendship