We are still here!!

Just a quick note to let everyone know that we have not fallen off the planet. We have just been full-on and  its a little hard to find time and concentration to post blogs.  We are at Lake Country, Harland and have just been treated to another wonderful dinner.  All the team are holding up well and I am happy to record that the experiences have all been good and everyone is in high spirits having been ‘fully spoilt’ with their vocational visits and their cultural and friendship experiences. Our hosts and clubs have been truly outstanding in their generosity and friendships towards us.  Waukesha Noon, West Allis and now Lake Country, Hartland Rotary Clubs we reckon you are great.  Its been a real hoot getting to know you and exchanging information about our countries, cultures and beliefs. 

Its now 12:20AM with an electrical strom starting to happen and I’m off to sleep.

Cheers  Jeff

12 April Vocational Day Myf & Lauren

Yesterday we had our second vocational day with thanks to West Allis Rotary. Lauren and I spent the day at St Luke’s Hospital, a 900 bed hospital with 5 ICU units and a 45 bed rehab ward. We were pleased to have the opportunity to follow different staff during the day, so we each saw different things and got double the value! We look forward to comparing notes.

Much of our core work as Speech Pathologists is the same, but we learned about differences in models of care, staffing, use of technology, nursing practices, occupational health and safety, funding and referrals and lots more. We noted that speech pathlogists have a larger role in the assessment and management of cognition disordersthan we do at home, and that there is better access to psychology in rehabilitation. Our rehablitation speech pathologists at Peninsula health have around 4-5 times as many patients to care for than do our United States cousins – at least at this hospital anyway.

Lauren & Myf with some of the Speech/Rehab team at St Luke's

Afterward we had the opportunity to tour a local fire stration. The fire brigade also provide a paramedic service similar to our MICA ambulances, with staff being trained in both fields. The fire fighters demonstrated  the use of their pole for us =) and then after watching the club’s board meeting, we had a fun evening of fellowship with our host club at “Crawdaddy’s” a fish restaurant in New Orleans style.

Myf

 

 

 

Waukesha

Today was our final day with our hosts from Waukesha. We arrived at the 911 communication centre where we met our host Sherri who gave us a comprehensive background on the role of a 911 dispatcher working at the communication centre. We chatted about the job selection process, job training and job review process before undertaking a tour of the centre. It was pretty exciting to be in the call room when a number of different 911 emergency calls came through and we were fortunate enough to observe the dispatchers talk through the calls. The software system CAD and the tracking devices used by the operators were particularly impressive and witnessing the Interplay between the dispatcher and the fire brigade was something we wouldn’t normally see.

Did you hear the one about the Recycling Depot??    It smelt! From the communication centre we travelled to the Waukesha Recycling Depot. Here we witnessed the process of the different recycable materials being separated and learnt what products could be manufactured from simply recycling plastics. It was interesting to learn that an Aluminium can (not alooomanum) required only 5% of the energy it originally took to make the can if it has been recycled and can be done so infinetely.

After the recycling depot we went for a lovely lunch at the Thunder Bay Cafe before getting dropped off with our new hosts from the Rotary Club of West Allis. We spent a few hours with our hosts before Jeff, Myf, Lauren and myself presented to the Rotoract club of Milwaukee.

Tomorrow is another busy vocational day so will have to fill you in about it another time.

Meeting and making some wonderful contacts

As previously posted, our first presentation was yesterday at the noon Rotary Club. I was impressed by the way the club ran so quickly and smoothly, and seemed to pack so much value into a short period of time. Not a minute was wasted, and still the members had the chance for fellowship, business networking, work on improving membership, and of course us! My host family said that the club has membership in the mid 70s, but they are working hard to maintain and improve their numbers.

I was delighted to meet several local Rotarians after our presentations who approached me to discuss my work in Advance Care Planning and aged care. An attorney told me about  how some of the legal frameworks in Wisconsin differ from ours in Australia, and offered to send me more information. A person can set a legally binding plan in place which says “I never want to go in to residential care” and medical professionals & family will have to fight it in court if at some stage the person can no longer cope in the community with in-home supports!  Another Rotarian gave  me information and contact details for me to investigate a competing Advance Care Planning program to the one we use in australia, and another was able to tell me about community aged care systems and services in Wisconsin, including supported accomodation and cognitive stimulation programs run for residents and community dwelling elders.

Altogether — very exciting contacts!

Myf

Day 1 and 2 with Waukesha Noon Rotary Club

At 8am on Sunday 8th April, our team finally arrived 11.5 hours after expected in Milwaukee. We were all exhausted but were looking forward to seeing Milwaukee. We were warmly greeted by our wonderful hosts from the Rotary Club of Waukesha Noon, as well as Alice and Steve Sedgewick holding a huge banner. We then spent the day with our host families. Some of us went on walking tours of Waukesha and others participated in dinner parties. Myf and I enjoyed a Easter Sunday buffet brunch at a local country club with our hosts, Colleen and Ric, their son, Andy and his girlfriend, Megan. I then went to bed at 4:30pm and slept right through until 5:30am on Monday- obviously the sleep was much needed and I feel much fresher today.

Today (Monday 9th April) our team met early. Waukesha Noon Rotarians Gary, Wendy  and her husband Dave drove us to Crave Brothers Farmstead. This is a huge dairy farm with 1300 head of cow which is recognised as one of the most cutting edge farms in the country. We were given a personal tour by general manager, Mark Crave. We got to see the machinery on the farm that uses their cow manure to produce electricity- quite remarkable!! They also have their own cheese factory on the property.

 

Gary then gave us a tour of Carroll University when he lectures in accounting. We then attended the meeting of the Rotary Club of Waukesha Noon where we had a delicious lunch and met some great people.

After lunch, we headed to Waukesha memorial hospital where we were given a tour by their inpatient physical medicine and rehab manager, Mike Edwards,  and were able to spend some time chatting to Speech Pathologist, Patrick. Both Myf and I saw some great new equipment and learnt of some new Speech Pathology training resources.

 

Lastly, we all went out for dinner with our host families as well as Waukesha Noon president, Tim, and his wife, Heidi. It was at a local restaurant where we had all you can eat ribs! Overall, we have had a wonderful 2 days and have met some lovely people. On behalf of our team, I would like to sincerely thank Waukesha Noon Rotary Club for their wonderful hospitality.

Lauren

Manhattan Beach x $1 bus

Sharon our LA BusDriver and the guys.Thank”s Shaz

Departure

Met at Tullamarine problem airport at around 8am. Lynne & Trevor, Kel & Jill, and Tony & Carla were there to see us off alog with various partners and family members. A tough separation for Allen’s wife.

The Wisconsin team look exhausted and well and  truly ready for home. Only 24 hours til our adventure really starts! Or so we thought. On board our flight we were pleased to find the leg room wasn’t too scary on united Airlines. An uneventful flight to Sydney, and then a short break before we got on to our continuing flight – non stop to Los Angeles. Well maybe not.

A few hours in we noticed a commotion behind us and the stewards on board began congregating around a noisy passenger. They asked the man behind me to help them. If he wasn’t an air marshall, he did a good job of looking imposing – he was pure muscle, tall and dark. Pretty soon the trouble maker was in handcuffs and we could hear him pleading his case, along with cursing at the staff. They wrapped him up in plastic handcuffs/cable ties and eventually took him back to a seat where they duct-taped him to the seat. They called for a doctor – we wondered if maybe he was then sedated. A couple of hours later he piped up noisily again.

Around 9 or 10 hours in to our flight the purser informed us we would be landing in Honolulu to offload the man who was variously described as “naughty” and “unwell, requiring medical attention” We landed at around 0300 and the trouble maker was offloaded in real handcuffs, surrounded by officers of the ambulance, fire  and border protection services.

Back in the air, we began to wonder if we would make our connecting  flight. We arrived in LA with just 30 minutes to spare—not enough time when you need to get through customs as a foreigner. The Wisconsin team got ahead of us and managed to rush and catch the flight.  We finally emerged from customs around 30 minutes too late, exhausted after our long flights, clutching new tickets to Milwaukee- this time via Chicago – but with an 8 hour wait before we even were due to depart. Instead of getting to Milwaukee at 7.30pm, we were now due in Milwaukee at 8am the following morning.

After re-grouping, finding a quick snack and orienting ourselves to LA we set off to Manhattan beach on the $1 local bus. A huge expanse of white sand with a classic LA pier, expensive homes, volleyball nets and lifeguard towers like Baywatch, it was a spectacle, and a good spot for an icecream.

Now we are back at the airport. Awaiting a red-eye flight which will have us in Chicago at about 4.30am. Neither Tim, Allen or Jeff have had much sleep in the last 28hours. They are looking weary.

Thanks to Myf for this post!

RC Narre Warren Farewell- Wednesday 4/04/2012

Lynne looks happy!

Farewell Dinner

Last night was the farewell dinner hosted by the Rotary Club of Narre Warren, and ably chaired by PDG Ray Stewart on behalf of President Roger McGill. The Dinner was a joint farewell to the D6270 Team, heading home and the outbound D9820 Team (us). Approximately 110 Rotarians and guests attended from a good representation of clubs across the District.

At the commencement PDGDennis Heslin gave a thought-provoking and inspiring Toast  to Rotary International which was warmly responded to by District Governor Kel Hobby.

Then, after the meal, it was over to District GSE Chairperson Lynne Westland to Introduce the teams, which she did with words of support and appreciation for the input and efforts of both teams.

After Lynne’s introductions each Team member gave a short presentation. The US Team each reflected on their experiences in Australia as guests of District 9820. The Team’s experiences were summed up with a heartfelt thankyou and sincere wishes for continued goodwill from Team Leader Cathy Zimmerman.

The Aussies presented on a bit about themselves, their Families, their Occupations and their goals for the exchange.

Appreciation and Good wishes were then expressed District Governor Kel and Jill.   Momento gifts were presented to Team members by President Roger along with a Club Banner and District Governor Kel and Jill gave each member a personalised letter commerating the occasion and a District 9820 Banner.

At the conclusion of the formal proceedings GSE Teams had the opportunity to talk to and mingle socially with the Rotarians and guest who attenden. All up a great farewell.

Jeff’s first blog, ever

The D9820 GSE team is due to depart Melbourne airport next Saturday for Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA. With us for the flights will be the Wisconsin team as they return home.  There will be plenty to talk about on the long flight over the Pacific.   Only seven sleeps to go!

The GSE trip would not happen without the generosity of Rotarians in both districts (9820 in Victoria, Australia and 6270 in Wisconsin, USA).  We in the Team feel privileged to have been selected and deeply appreciate the opportunities that we have been afforded.  Special thanks to District Governor Kel Hobby  ‘n Jill and the District 9820 Rotary Foundation Committee and especially Lynne Westland, GSE Chair ‘n Trevor. Your commitment in our preparation and support along the way has been first class. Thanks also to the sponsor clubs, Frankston North (Myf), Mornington (Tim), Seaford-Carrum Downs (Lauren), Foster (Allen) and Somerville Tyabb (Jeff) – we hope to make you proud.

I look forward to seeing you all at the farewell dinner (for both teams) on Wednesday night at the Fountain Gate Hotel.

Cheers