ASSINIBOIA - Alison (Jack) Lewis was the first Rotary International Exchange Student for the District in 1978. As the inaugural exchange for the Assiniboia Rotary Club, Alison was sent to Bendigo, Victoria in Australia after her high school graduation.
One of Alison’s main purposes as an exchange student was to be an ambassador for Canada. Throughout the year, she travelled, with different Rotary families and community members, to meet people and give speeches about Canada, Saskatchewan and her home town to schools and communities.
Alison lived with six host families with whom she is still in contact and has visited over the years.
In Australia, Alison attended Girton College and then Bendigo College of Advanced Education for post-secondary study. While attending school, Alison met Jane Allen. Their time together was short as Jane was going to be an exchange student to India four months after their initial meeting. However, they immediately bonded as they had so much in common. When Jane left for India, she said to Alison “I will come to Canada to visit you one day.”
Fast forward 45 years. Jane finally made it here. “It is like we have never been apart. We truly have a special bond. Soul mates for sure.”
Alison reflected, “There are so many tangible and intangible benefits to Rotary Exchange. It is a fantastic opportunity for people throughout the world to meet and realize that we all have so much in common, no matter where we live. Compassion, understanding and acceptance is so important and we all need to work together to help our communities, countries, and world.”
