No wildlife combat but plenty to see for Spanish visitor

WHEN Gonzalo Jimenez landed in Australia as part of the international Lions Youth Exchange Program earlier this month, he half expected to see people fighting with kangaroos and crocodiles.

The Spanish 17-year-old has since seen Australian wildlife, but not in that context.

Gonzalo is spending 25 days in Australia – two weeks with Bacchus Marsh hosts Gerry and Anne Monaghan – before heading to Newcastle on Sunday for a 10-day camp.

He has taken in the sights of the Great Ocean Road, Queenscliff, an AFL match and more.

Gonzalo said coming from a northern hemisphere summer to a southern hemisphere winter was a jolt.

“It was a shock but I’m getting used to it,” he said.

“It’s changed my perspective of what Australia was.

“I thought it would be people fighting against crocodiles and kangaroos…”

Gonzalo said he had seen actual Australian wildlife up close during a visit to the Ballarat Wildlife Park, which included selfies with a koala.

Gonzalo is making his first visit to Australia and said he would certainly come back because he knew there was much more to see.

Each year, the international Lions organisation publishes a list of camps for which young people are invited to apply.

Mr Monaghan, a Lions member, said host families were sought for international visitors when applications had been finalised.

Gonzalo is the 11th visitor the Monaghans have hosted.

Mr Monaghan said he and Anne enjoyed hosting young visitors and had established many continuing friendships through the program.

“We’ve got some of the youth and their families still on Facebook, emails and Instagram; we’re still communicating with a number of them,” he said.

Ten young people are in Australia this year and are being

hosted in Bacchus Marsh, Nhill, Romsey and Deepdene in Victoria, Barooga, The Entrance and Tamworth in NSW, and Busselton in Western Australia.