Back home, but still Tassie-dreamin'

With our whirl-wind last days in Tasmania, return travel across the globe, and being thrust back into real life, it has been tough to find the time or words to put together an appropriate wrap-up post for our GSE adventure.  Certainly first and foremost, we want to thank our wonderful host Rotarians and new friends in Tasmania who invested so much time, energy, and enthusiasm in our GSE program.  It was truly amazing.  We also want to thank all Rotarians who support Foundation programs like GSE and make these global experiences possible.  And, of course, our deepest gratitude to Jill Zachary, GSE Coordinator for District 5580 and past GSE'er herself, and the entire GSE committee for your passion for GSE!

Ever since my first GSE experience as a team member to Sweden in 2000, I had hoped to one day lead a GSE team.  So to be selected to be part of Team Tasmania was a dream come true.  But I could not have hoped for or even imagined the five amazing individuals that would be also selected to travel to Tasmania.  Kathryn, Heather, Angil, Ashley, and Siobhan, I can't thank you enough for the grace, professionalism, enthusiasm, and spirit in which you represented Rotary, District 5580, and our team.

Although separated by great distances, we've already managed to "get together".  Via Skype, we were able to reunite and celebrate a couple of birthdays as well.  We all look forward to our continued new friendship.

Skype session screen-shot, July 9th

In addition to sharing a recap of our exchange with our local clubs, we look forward to our post-trip presentation at the next District Conference.  Look out Bemidji!  Team Tasmania will be back in April 2013!



Telecommunications Tassie-style

Our visit to Tasmania came at a time of great change and excitement concerning their broadband and telecommunications infrastructure.  The government is well underway on an aggressive $40 billion plan to provide broadband telecommunications to 100% of all Australia (12 Mb down/1 Mb up minimum for you techies).  The National Broadband Network (NBN) as it is called has aims to reach the entire country through fiber, fixed wireless, and satellite technologies by 2015!

I've had the wonderful opportunity to see NBN through many lenses while here.  I've spent very informative and full days with NBN themselves, with Telstra, the country's largest current provider of telecommunications who as you would expect has an interesting relationship with NBN, with Aurora Energy, whose telecommunications division drove some of the initial NBN launches.

Although there are a variety of opinions about spending $40B+ of taxpayer funds on such a project, there is no doubt that when completed, this will certainly set Australia apart from other large nations its size in terms of broadband capabilities.

Tasman Island Boat Cruise and Port Arthur Historical Convict Site

Today was fabulous!  We had an early start this morning to make it to the Tasman Island Cruise on time, but I think we all agree that it was definitely worth it!  Below are some of the picture highlights...

Then it was off to Port Arthur Historical Convict Site.  In the 1800's, the English shipped most of thier convicts to Tasmania, then known as "Van Diemen's Land".  The convicts ended up at Port Arthur for things like stealing a carrot or stealing a loaf of bread...pretty harmless crimes.  The convicts were stripped of all thier possesions, given a number and stuck in a cell.  They were not allowed to communicate to any other prisoner and were only able to talk to an officer when spoken to and were not allowed to use thier name, only thier number.  The only noises they heard most days were chains clanking and keys swinging from side to side as the general walked around the facility.  Some were required to do very hard, manual labor while in prison, and others were in solitary confinement for weeks on end or beaten up to 100 times a day.  The intellegent prisoners or perhaps those who had skills prior to enprisonment, left Port Arthur with skills in shoe-making or as a blacksmith, but it seems that this was the exception to the rule.  We couldn't help but pick up on the sadness and eirie feeling that surounded the entire grounds.  Even the trees seemed to weap for the prisoners who perished at Port Arthur, who no doubt were treated unfaily for their "crimes" and sentenced to years in prison.  Good, bad or ugly, the history of Port Arthur is still significant and should be told, as not to be repeated in future generations.  We would have loved to spend a bit more time at Port Arthur exploring all the buildings and reading the history, but perhaps we'll have to make another trip back.  Below are a couple of the beautiful pictures that encompass the Port Arthur Convict Site.

Yacht photos & video

Hollybank Treetops Adventure

A little catch-up from our zip line adventure from last Monday.  Hard to describe what it is like zipping along 30 meters up in the canopy of a giant gum tree forest and across a river.  A fantastic day for all!

Yachts & back to Hobart

We have spent the last 2 nights aboard yachts! We did some fantastic sight seeing with seals being the highlight. 12 foot waves were pretty fun too! There were 3 boats total that we were on and had some wonderful get others each night with fabulous meals, prepared by one of our wonderful hosts. Thanks again Jenny! We departed the yachts early this morning, earlier for some than others due to anchor issues, but no worries, we're all safe & sound. After some much needed showers, we headed to Parliment House, which is the government offices for a tour and a wonderful lunch. After that, we went to Incat, which is a ship building manufacturer. We had the opportunity to see a couple ships enduring the final touches of the manufacturing process. We all found this to be really interesting having just this morning departed yachts. It was a great informational activity. We were told that the only female bathrooms at Incat were under lock & key, so after a much needed bathroom stop, the team headed to meet our new hosts at the Hobart Rotary Club. Tomorrow bring the much anticipated Salamanca Market, which apparently is somewhat silimar to a farmer's market on steroids. We're all very excited to pick up any last minute gifts and souvenirs for our loved ones back home. Then it's off to MONA, which is the largest privately owned art collection in Tassie. The owner made his money gambling and this is his way of giving back to the community. We've been told by many different people to "go with an open mind". We'll let you know what they mean by that after we experience it. Tomorrow night we have a get together and modified short presentation to the Hobart club members with a dinner and socializing at Rotarian Sue Hickey's home. The people we have met and the places we've been are simply amazing. Reality is starting to sink in that we have less than a week left in this wonderful place. We definitely learn new things every day, however I have a feeling that this process will not fully sink in until after we return back home. It has been and will continue to be amazing...simply amazing. Our sincere thank you to everyone that has helped to make this experience possible.

Update from Launceston

After a wonderful mid-tour break at the beach, we have all settled in to our newest home in Launceston for a short 2-night stay.
We all enjoyed a vocational day today that had me over at the University of Tasmania's Simulation Centre where I learned a great deal and had an opportunity to toss around some best practices and new ideas with the manager of the centre. I look forward to sharing all of this great information with my colleagues back at Lakehead in Thunder Bay!!
We are off to a GSE alumni gathering this evening where we will have a chance to connect and share stories with the other GSE teams from, and visiting, Tasmania.
Tomorrow a.m. we are off on our 2 day/ 2 night yacht adventure (with the Rotary Club of Spring Bay) up the East Coast. We have been looking forward to this since we first received our itinerary. We hope to catch some fish and enjoy more views and peaceful ocean waves out at sea.
After that it is back down to Hobart!
Each day brings new people, new adventure, new lessons, and new inspiration!
As always, we are enjoying today and looking forward to tomorrow:)