Rotary Exchange Students Returns after 44 years!
In 1968/69, the Rotary Club of Warrnambool hosted an Exchange student from the USA.
Rhonda Butterfield, now from Anchorage, Alaska, was a 16 year old from a small town, Candor, in New York State, when she spent 12 months as a student at the Warrnambool High School, and lived with 11 different families.
Now a family law attorney, Rhonda recently attended a Conference in Sydney, and knew she had to include a visit to Warrnambool. “No trip to Australia is complete without a visit to Warrnambool, in my eyes,” Rhonda said. Prior to her trip, she made contact with each of Warrnambool’s Rotary Clubs to see if it would be possible to meet with any of her host families.
When she stepped off the train in Warrnambool, she was met by one of her host ‘sisters’, AG Judy Ross, a member of the RC Warrnambool, who recognised Rhonda immediately, despite it being 44 years since they last met. Judy and husband Phillip hosted Rhonda for 5 days, during which she spoke at 3 of the 4 Clubs in Warrnambool, and also had the chance to reconnect with members of several of her host families including two host parents, Fay Armstrong and PP John Reid (Judy’s father). She met with PP Don & Nan Dickson and some of their family in Geelong prior to her return home.
Rhonda enjoyed visiting the beach – “At home I can go to the beach, but can’t get in the water, because it’s so cold,” she said. She brought with her a range of children’s books about Alaska which she donated to the Warrnambool library and three primary schools, so people would have a chance to learn a bit more about her home state, where she has now lived for 37 years, after going there initially for one year. She is passionate about Alaska …“It can be very cold, but it is a wonderful place.”Rhonda thanked Rotary for the difference it made in her life through the Youth Exchange Programme and the difference Rotary continues to make in the lives of others.
On the wall of Rhonda’s office hangs a plaque which reads:
“One hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, what kind of car I drove, or what kind of house I lived in. But the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.”
Rhonda hopes to be back within five years.
( Photo shows Rhonda Butterfield's Host family members who were present at the meeting of RC Warrnambool
Front row L to R - Fay Armstrong ( a host mother); Rhonda; John Reid ( a host father); Adam Kempton ( host sibling)
Back row L to R - Judy Ross (Reid - sibling); Helen and Peter Crothers (siblings); Dianne Lyons (Sobey - sibling) )
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