Following the resignation of the former Exchange Director, and after applications were called, I was appointed Exchange Director for the outbound exchange on 4 February 2009. I immediately contacted the exchange directors for the other clubs: Eva Frtalava for Bratislava, Sigi Mader for Halle (Saale), and Mary Wickes for Devon, to ascertain how many ambassadors each club could host. It was ascertained that because of hosting limitations there could be only 22 ambassadors recruited for the exchange. I then contacted those members who had indicated previously their interest in going on the exchange and discovered that many members were now no longer interested. However, there was interest shown by members from other clubs in Australia.

I also contacted Lori Locke, a Senior Travel Consultant with The Travel Studio in Mermaid Waters, who commenced investigating flights, hotel accommodation and train travel in Europe, together with the vexed question of travelling from Europe to Devon in England. At this stage I should mention that Lori was of immense help in making the final travel and accommodation arrangements and I would certainly recommend to any exchange director in future to consult with her and obtain her assistance in working out the necessary travel and accommodation arrangements.

After consultation with the respective club exchange directors, it was eventually agreed that the exchange would commence in Bratislava on Thursday, 27 August to Wednesday, 2 September when the group would travel to Prague. The group would leave Prague on the morning of Friday, 4 September and arrive in Halle (Salle) that afternoon. Because of problems with flights from Leipzig to London, the group would leave Halle (Salle) on Sunday, 12 September and travel by plane to London where it would be met by a coach to take ambassadors to Devon arriving late that afternoon. The exchange would conclude in Devon with the farewell dinner on Thursday, 17 September. Ambassadors would commence to leave Devon on Friday, 18 September; some to fly home, some to travel to other parts of the United Kingdom and some to remain for a couple of extra days in Devon before undertaking their private travels.

After many additions and cancellations, the final group comprised eighteen ambassadors; thirteen from the Gold Coast club, three from the Kempsey club, one from the Perth club, and one from the Greater Dunedin club in New Zealand. Their names appear in a separate preliminary report. We all met in Vienna on the evening of Wednesday, 26 August and participated in a four-hour tour of Vienna the next day before travelling by train to Bratislava. For the most part, apart from a couple of 'dust ups, misunderstandings and differences of opinion' all ambassadors got on very well for the duration of the exchange. Many 'strangers' had to share hotel rooms or hostings and although this placed some strains on ambassadors, everyone appeared to make the best of it and enjoyed themselves.

The three exchange directors prepared wonderful and interesting programs which were very much appreciated by all ambassadors. In addition many new friendships were made between the ambassadors and their hosts as well as between ambassadors. The preliminary report dated 14 October appeared in The Golden Coastline and can be found on the club's website: Friendship Force of the Gold Coast in the Members Area.

I now set out the programs and a brief summary arranged by the three clubs that were visited.

The program arranged by the Exchange Director for Bratislava was as follows:

Thursday, 27 August - After arrival from Vienna ambassadors were met by hosts and spent that evening with the host families getting to know one another.

Friday, 28 August - Ambassadors got acquainted with Bratislava and its history. One of the members of the club was a professional tourist guide and shared her knowledge of the history of the city with the group. We met in front of the House of Parliament and went on a walking tour of the ancient city which concluded in front of the building where we were to meet the Mayor. After lunch we met the Mayor and were welcomed to the city and Slovakia, and we then were conducted on a tour of the building. After some free time in the city centre ambassadors were then free with their hosts until that evening when we went to the welcome dinner. Here we had a lovely meal and speeches were made and gifts exchanged, after which the ambassadors presented their entertainment and this was followed by much singing.

Saturday, 29 August - Those ambassadors being hosted in Bratislava went by train to the wine centre town of Pezinok where six ambassadors were being hosted. Here we visited and toured a local viticulture museum and then we went to the town centre where a bean soup cooking contest was being held. We visited a wine centre for a tasting of the local wine. We returned to the town centre were we had lunch by obtaining bowls of bean soup and after eating, then submitting 'votes' for the best soup we had tasted. We were taken to the local theatre where we watched a performance by a local folk ensemble containing some members of the Friendship Force. Ambassadors either met their hosts or returned to Bratislava to meet their hosts and spent the evening with them.

Sunday, 30 August - After a free morning, we met at the river port on the Danube River where we boarded a boat and went on a trip to the ancient castle of Devin. The castle is an important symbol for the Slovaks and we were told of its history and conducted on a tour. We then met our hosts and spent an evening with them.

Monday, 31 August - This was the start of our coach trip to the country. We first went to Pezinok to pick up our other ambassadors and then set out for the township of Kremnica, an old medieval town that had rich deposits of gold. We were conducted on a tour of the Mint which had been built in 1442 and many purchases were made in the shop after the tour. The coach then left for Krahule with a short stop at the geographical midpoint of Europe where a toast was drunk. The coach continued on to Martin in central Slovakia where we visited an ancient Slovak village open-air museum. We had lunch and then had time to walk around and visit the old buildings that had been moved to the village. After the purchase of souvenirs, the coach departed for Bojnice, a famous Slovak spa area. After settling in to our overnight accommodation, we went and had dinner at the Good Fairy Restaurant. Then it was time to go to the medieval castle of Bojnice, a castle famous for its 'ghosts' and the site of the traditional annual ghost festival. After a mix-up in the booking, we had to wait while the 'ghosts' were rounded up and eventually we were shown around the castle with 'ghosts' appearing from time to time. That night there were many tired ambassadors who made their way back to their accommodation.

Tuesday, 1 September - This was to be our last full day in Slovakia. After an early breakfast the coach departed for Rajecke Teplice, another famous Slovak spa area. Here we visited the Aphrodite Spa House and many ambassadors went into the relaxing 'Water World' with its thermal springs with a 38 degree thermal water pool and a cooler water pool nearby. Other ambassadors had a massage or a pedicure, and we spent a relaxing couple of hours in the spa area. The coach then left for Rajecka Lesna where we had lunch, after toasting the National Day of Slovakia. After lunch we visited the Virgin Mary well with its curative waters, and then went to the world famous timber work attraction, Bethlehem. The coach departed for Trencin where we had a short visit to the Tatra Hotel to view the preserved original old Roman sign, which is evidence that the ancient Roman troop reached the area of Trencin. Before the coach departed for Pezinok and Bratislava we had another toast to our two clubs and for a wonderful two days that all the ambassadors had found very interesting. It was a tired group of travellers who arrived home that night to spend the last evening with their hosts.

Wednesday, 2 September - All ambassadors met at the main railway station in Bratislava and caught the train to Prague.

All ambassadors spent the remainder of the Wednesday and Thursday in Prague and left Prague early on the morning of Friday to travel to Halle (Salle) via train changes at Dresden and Leipzig and finally arriving in Halle (Salle) on the afternoon.

The program arranged by the Exchange Director for Halle (Saale) was as follows:

Friday, 4 September - We arrived at the main train station where we were met by hosts. That evening was free with our hosts.

Saturday, 5 September - A free day with hosts.

Sunday, 6 September - Travel to the city of Dresden by coach. Here one of the members of the club conducted a tour of the city showing various points of interest. After lunch ambassadors visited the restored Cathedral, after which ambassadors were free to choose a venue in the 'Zwinger' to visit. They could visit the Old Masters Gallery, the Porcelain Gallery or the world famous Green Vault, where items on display are made of ivory, amber, gold, silver, diamonds and rubies. The coach then returned to Halle (Saale) and our hosts.

Monday, 7 September - In the morning ambassadors had free time with their hosts. In late afternoon ambassadors met with their hosts at the home of one of the club's members and had coffee and cake. After that we stayed on and got to know one another and then had a BBQ dinner followed by much singing.

Tuesday, 8 September - Today was to be a sightseeing tour of Halle (Saale). We met at Handel's Monument on the Market Square and were conducted on a tour by a former President of the club. After a couple of hours walking we went to Handel's Cafe where we had lunch and a welcome rest from walking. Then at 2 pm we met the Deputy Lord Mayor at the Old City Hall and after speeches and chocolates and a look around the building, the rest of the afternoon was free with our hosts.

Wednesday, 9 September - Ambassadors met at Merseburg Cathedral and had a guided tour of the Merseburg Castle. We then drove to the old chemical works and then continued on to Bad Durrenburg to look at the salt works and how they obtained salt from the waters. We then walked through the park and down the River Saale valley until we came to a cafe where we had coffee and cake for lunch. The rest of the afternoon was free with our hosts.

Thursday, 10 September - This was a free day with our hosts until we all attended the farewell dinner that evening at Pepos Kantine. Here we enjoyed delicious food, had a sing song, speeches were made and gifts exchanged, and then more signing. Many tired ambassadors went home with their hosts.

Friday, 11 September - Ambassadors met at the railway station and went by train to Leipzig where one of the club members took us on a walking tour of Leipzig pointing out many interesting points. After lunch we continued on our tour and eventually returned to Halle (Salle) and our hosts for our final evening together, talking and packing.

Saturday, 12 September - We had an early meeting at the railway station to say our farewell and then caught the train to Leipzig-Halle (Salle) Airport to catch our flight to London via Düsseldorf.

We arrived at Heathrow where we were met by the Devon Exchange Director, Mary Wickes. Unfortunately the week-end before Mary's house had burnt down and she was unable to host so three hostings had to be changed and two members of the club would be undertaking most of the duties of the Exchange Director during the week. We caught the coach and travelled to Exeter where we met our hosts and were taken home where we spent the evening getting to know one another.

Sunday, 13 September - We met in East Devon and went for a short walk along the Jurassic Coast, the first declared Heritage area in England. We then travelled to Hayes Barton which is the birth place of Sir Walter Raleigh. We had lunch and then went for a drive around the area finally arriving at the home of one of the club members where we had a welcome cream tea in her beautiful garden. Many ambassadors had dinner in the Beer Engine Pub in Newton St Cyres. It had been another long day and there were many tired ambassadors.

Monday, 14 September - Today was a day trip to Plymouth by private car. Here we visited the Plymouth Gin mill and had explained to us how gin was made. We were given a sample and ambassadors were able to make other purchases in the shop. We had a walk around the historic Barbican and saw the Barbican Steps and then went and had a picnic lunch overlooking the dockyard. After lunch we had a launch trip around the dockyard and out to Drakes Island and we could also see Mount Edgecombe. We returned to Exeter and went home and spent the evening with our hosts.

Tuesday, 15 September - This was our round robin day. We first travelled by car to Paignton where we caught an old steam train to Kingswear. Here we alighted and caught the ferry across the river to Dartmouth. Here we went to the local market, walked around the town and had lunch in a very old pub. Then we left Dartmouth by boat and went up the river to Totnes. Here we caught a double-deck bus back to where we had left from that morning, Paignton. We left by car and went back to Exeter where we went to Harry Ramsden's and had dinner of fish and chips followed by apple pie and cream. Another tiring day!

Wednesday, 16 September - Today was a free day with our hosts.

Thursday, 17 September - The morning was free time with our hosts to explore the area. We met at the City Hall and were given a reception by the Lord Mayor. We had a conducted tour of the City Hall and then it was time to go home to prepare for our farewell dinner. This was held at the Sidmouth Golf Club where we enjoyed a wonderful meal. Speeches were made and as most ambassadors were leaving the following morning, sad farewells were made between them. It had been a wonderful exchange and in many ways it was sad to see it end.

As I said in my preliminary report, there are many people I would like to thank. I thank all the ambassadors for their friendship and cooperation during the exchange. There were some very long and tiring days but they were still able to be on time the next morning with a smile on their face. I also thank Dennis O'Neil for being the Treasurer for the exchange. Barbara O'Neil, thank you for arranging, copying and leading the songs that we sang. I thank Brian Hallam for preparing the exchange booklet. Last but not least, I thank my wife, Joy, for the help and support she provided for me both before and during the exchange. It was very much appreciated.

Eric Woodward
Exchange Director
1 November 2009