AFTER months of planning, 14-year-old Heathcote student Jason Moore is getting ready to pack his bags for a trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n
Moore will spend 2027 on a Rotary Exchange program, staying with host families in Czech Republic.<\/p>\n
“I originally talked to my father Robert about doing something like this two years ago,” said Moore.<\/p>\n
“Dad thought it was a great idea and said he would do everything he could to help.<\/p>\n
“Then last year the daughter of one of my mother Anita’s co-workers returned from a Rotary Exchange.<\/p>\n
“After talking to her, I applied.”<\/p>\n
During the application process, Moore who attends Catherine McAuley College in Bendigo had to submit several essays and was interviewed by Rotary Club members.<\/p>\n
“After I was accepted, I met with other students for a bonding session in Macedon,” said Moore.<\/p>\n
“I had to choose six countries I was interested in visiting and selected France, Denmark, Czech Republic, Finland, Italy and Spain.<\/p>\n
“I only found out last week which one I would be going to.<\/p>\n
“I was checking my emails over breakfast at 6.30 in the morning and found out I was going to the Czech Republic.”<\/p>\n
Moore will leave Australia on 16 January.<\/p>\n
“Between now and then I will be attending two training sessions with other students,” he said.<\/p>\n
“We will meet with previous exchange students and learn survival skills.<\/p>\n
“In December we will be presented with our official blazers.<\/p>\n
“We are assigned case managers and counsellors both here and in our chosen countries.”<\/p>\n
Moore will stay with three or four host families while he is in the Czech Republic.<\/p>\n
“The first family will be about 70 percent fluent in English,” he said.<\/p>\n
“That will give me a chance to learn some of the language.<\/p>\n
“With each new host family their command of English is less but by then I hope to be able to communicate well.”<\/p>\n
Moore and his parents are members Heathcote RSL and his family and friends will be fundraising to assist with expenses.<\/p>\n
“Jason does a lot for the RSL,” said president Miles Humphrey.<\/p>\n
“We are all very proud of him.”<\/p>\n
A trivia night and quilt auction will be held at the RSL Hall on Friday 18 September.<\/p>\n
“Everyone is welcome,” said RSL member Lyn Hough.<\/p>\n
“The event will follow our regular Friday night drinks.<\/p>\n
“Entry is $10 per person, BYO snacks, and drinks will be available at the bar.<\/p>\n
“The silent quilt auction will feature a special Liquid Ambers quilt to be auctioned live.”<\/p>\n
To pre-book, contact Lyn Hough on 0409 767 582.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
AFTER months of planning, 14-year-old Heathcote student Jason Moore is getting ready to pack his bags for a trip of a lifetime. Moore will spend 2027 on a Rotary Exchange program, staying with host families in Czech Republic. “I originally talked to my father Robert about doing something like this two years ago,” said Moore. […]<\/p>\n