A GSE Experience

The guest speaker for meeting was team leader John Nathan, a former member of Melbourne RC for 35 years, and he arranged for three of his team to also attend to share their experiences with the audience.

The team of six was ultimately selected from 230 applications. The three team members present were PDG Jeffrey Bird of Point Gellibrand RC, Spencer Bock of Melbourne RC and Dr Michael Heffernan. John Nathan spoke of the great bond that
was formed by the team during their trip which is exemplified by the fact that the team has met annually since the visit and is shortly about to have their 46^th reunion.

John eloquently described the significance that the GSE experience had had on him and surprised those present when he quoted from his recommendations for future GSE visits in his report to the District Board after the trip, which he still has in his filing cabinet at home! Those recommendations included fewer and longer stays with host families which he was delighted to note was a feature of current GSE programs in the District.

Each of the team members present spoke briefly and with a passion for their own personal experience. The common thread from each of the members present was that the experience was life changing in the true sense of those words.

PDG Jeffrey Bird lamented that it had taken too long after the experience for him to be invited to join Rotary and urged all present to follow up GSE alumni as potential new members. Once he joined he there was no holding him back as his title of PDG attests.

Spencer Bock has been a Rotarian for many years and remains a member of Melbourne RC and has served as an Assistant Governor. He spoke in glowing terms of how the experience changed him from wishing to read at the Bar to becoming a local lawyer servicing a rural community which he did for in excess of 40 years and continues to do part time. He spoke of the joy at being part of a community and assisting.

Dr Michael Heffernan was initially a rural GP and being on call 24/7 was unable to join Rotary but stated that of all his experiences in life as a medical practitioner he has seen no organisation that comes close to matching Rotary’s contribution in both the local and international community.

The night was particularly special as also present as guests were Julie Mason the team leader of the GSE team leaving for District 1080 in the UK in early October and one of the team members Kirsten Brewer, nominated by Brighton North RC, who expressed her thanks to the club and was spell bound by the tales from the 1966 GSE team.

Also present were PDG John Davis who led a GSE team in the 1970s and DGN Murray Verso who led a GSE team to India in early 2012.

The GSE experience is well and truly alive and well in District 9800. Long may it continue if the GSE team of 1966 is an indication of the benchmark.