Rain has been promised but nothing has materialised – yet, but we set off to the Urrbrae Wetlands armed which a clutch of umbrellas which we disposed of before we even got there. Amazingly we headed into the city, not out, as Urrbrae is a local school that encompasses the managed wetlands, a full farm, vineyards and a fully operational winery, a sales outlet as well as the adjacent Waite arboretum. We first received a tour of the wetlands which is fed by two storm 
drains a much better use than simply flushing it out to sea with all its attendant pollutants of rubber, general rubbish and oil from the roads. The area is used extensively for programmes within the school but also by PHD students; we were even given the opportunity to catch and view our own “critters” from the ponds. The general management was very impressive and I was quite taken with the aquifer model. We were then given a guided tour of the farm by one of the students who was delighted that we were all old! 
This came as quite a shock to the rest of the team, made me feel good though to be put in the same category as them. The farm is the real thing and would put a lot of fully commercial enterprises to shame, producing prize beef, numerous pigs, sheep complete with shearing shed, alpacas which are very common here. Apparently they are very good when mixed with 
the sheep at keeping foxes away, another unwanted English immigrant, foxes that is. After the fishery and the indigenous collection we headed off via Urrbrae House which houses one of the first refrigeration units in Australia, I simply cannot get away from my business vocation. After lunch we were shown round Bedford Industries a work placement for people with physic al and intellectual difficulties. I have seen similar establishments in the UK but nothing on this scale. They provide short term 
training or long term employment. They also achieve their contracts in open tender providing work for all levels of ability. The employees are paid in respect of what they are able to achieve so to some extent compete fairly in the market place. The evening was scheduled as an evening with our host and I was delighted that Mary and Phil had invited my wife Jenny round who had flown in today to join me at the end of the exchange to take a trip round other parts of Australia. Jenny did well but had difficulty keeping her eyes open after dinner and they kindly ferried her back to her hotel. Our hosts have all been fantastic and it is typical of the kindness we have been shown. Whilst I had been out all day doing GSE things District Governor Peter his wife Meredith and grandson Max had all been back and forth to the airport and eventually picked up Jenny who had been diverted to Melbourne; that was really over and above the call of duty. I cannot say enough about the Rotarians and the families in 9520, thanks guys. Ray
drains a much better use than simply flushing it out to sea with all its attendant pollutants of rubber, general rubbish and oil from the roads. The area is used extensively for programmes within the school but also by PHD students; we were even given the opportunity to catch and view our own “critters” from the ponds. The general management was very impressive and I was quite taken with the aquifer model. We were then given a guided tour of the farm by one of the students who was delighted that we were all old! 
This came as quite a shock to the rest of the team, made me feel good though to be put in the same category as them. The farm is the real thing and would put a lot of fully commercial enterprises to shame, producing prize beef, numerous pigs, sheep complete with shearing shed, alpacas which are very common here. Apparently they are very good when mixed with 
the sheep at keeping foxes away, another unwanted English immigrant, foxes that is. After the fishery and the indigenous collection we headed off via Urrbrae House which houses one of the first refrigeration units in Australia, I simply cannot get away from my business vocation. After lunch we were shown round Bedford Industries a work placement for people with physic al and intellectual difficulties. I have seen similar establishments in the UK but nothing on this scale. They provide short term 
training or long term employment. They also achieve their contracts in open tender providing work for all levels of ability. The employees are paid in respect of what they are able to achieve so to some extent compete fairly in the market place. The evening was scheduled as an evening with our host and I was delighted that Mary and Phil had invited my wife Jenny round who had flown in today to join me at the end of the exchange to take a trip round other parts of Australia. Jenny did well but had difficulty keeping her eyes open after dinner and they kindly ferried her back to her hotel. Our hosts have all been fantastic and it is typical of the kindness we have been shown. Whilst I had been out all day doing GSE things District Governor Peter his wife Meredith and grandson Max had all been back and forth to the airport and eventually picked up Jenny who had been diverted to Melbourne; that was really over and above the call of duty. I cannot say enough about the Rotarians and the families in 9520, thanks guys. Ray
No comments:
Post a Comment