Forests NSW officers on study exchange

TWO young Forests NSW officers have been selected to be part of a Rotary group study exchange to Alberta, Canada, this month. They are forest information officer Katie Cohen and operations forester Mark Drury, both from the Wauchope office of Forests NSW.
The party, including a team leader and five other participants, will leave tomorrow and return on 22 June.
“The group study exchange is a vocational tour which will involve visits to forest nurseries, harvesting operations, forestry agencies, timber processing plants such as the Alberta news print mill at Whitecourt, and Weyerhaeuser,” Drury said.
“The itinerary also involves several Rotary functions including the district conference, and cultural visits to help give a full experience to all involved.”
Highlights of the tour will be a two-day rest break at Jasper in the Canadian Rocky Mountains enjoying the scenery in the Mid-West of Canada.
Rotary Group Study Exchange is a vocational exchange program offered to young professionals aged 25 to 40 years which is funded by Rotary International and supported by local clubs.
Drury is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Taree and Cohen by the Rotary club of Port Macquarie West.
The team is hosted by clubs within district 5370 Alberta and team members will be staying with Rotary families while on tour.
“The aim of the exchange is to foster global understanding and fellowship by providing opportunities to experience the people, language and culture of another country and also build professional and leadership skills,” Drury said.
“The group study exchange had its beginnings as early as 1955 and more than 40,000 people have participated in the program so far.”
Selection is by a competitive program to form a team that will work well together, cope with the rigours of travelling abroad with a demanding schedule and members that will be the best ambassadors for the Rotary district and Australia.
On their return tour participants will be involved in presentations to their workplaces and Rotary functions.
“We would like to thank our generous clubs for their support and also to other volunteer organisations such as the Manning Great Lakes Woodworkers club for manufacturing handmade timber pens for vocational host gifts,” Drury said.