Ed Hallocks Cookout, May, Tue 31st

Tuesday evening Ed Hallock and his rotary club Feather Sound hosted a cookout for the GSE team members





Inside dining due; Lft to right, Anne Pett, Covington Sharp, Mrs Covington, Will, Ann, Erica, Dearna,Carol (Speech pathologist)

Donna Blazevic, Ashby, Lassisa (grand daughter of Winnie), Winnie, Harry and Doug

Combination of Feather Sound Rotary, their family and the Australia GSE team all enjoying a cultural exchange evening

Lft to right Rinaldo (wife of Ashby) ??, ?? Robyn. ?? husband of Eva previous DG

The GSE team teaching the Feather Sound Club a little gambling, "two up"

Ed and his wife Carol where extremely thoughtful and kind organising Will a birthday cake. This two tonned cake also celebrated Stephen's birthday who cooked all the meat on behalf of the chef of Feather Sound Rotary.

The Pier of St Pete's, May, Tue 31st

This building at the end of St Pete's pier is slowing sinking...

Chihuly Colletion,

A very impressive must see museum of blown glass...
Truly stunning, bright and beautiful colours.

Sunken Gardens, Tue May 31st

Tuesday mid morning the team was visited the Sunken Gardens and was reunited with Natalie and Rachel from the out going Florida rotary GSE team along with curator and extraordinaire Bill.

Sunken gardens is a must see and experience especially with a knowledgeable guide.
Also, this would be the botanists sanctuary.

 Palm trees and Bamboo grass from all over the world

The Macaw, are a South American parrot that can live up to 70years of age. The macaw has a very powerful jaw, just short of an alligator.... so no patting of this bird.

 Bill in front of a angle trumpett flower... one of four species on site

A valvet ginger flower

St Pete's Sunrise Rotary Club, May, Tue 31st

 Robyn enjoying the piano playing on entrance to this Rotary club with president Boyd and Gene the pianist.

The Rotary club sang several songs during the meeting including:

Zip-a-dee doo-day, zip-a-dee-ay
My, on my what a wonderful day!

Plenty of sunshine heading my way

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay

Breakfast: Table of St'Pete Rotary members, Robyn Lardner, ??, Boyd (president of the club), Donna Blazevic (St Pete's Rotary), Linda Leedy (St Pete's Rotary), Anne Pett, ??, Dave (finanical advisor and also the audio tech for the club);Dave also won the Two up 'Kip'

 A game of 'two up'... Dave on the left was the winner of the game.

 Rick winning the $500 jackpot after drawing out the Ace of Hearts card

A game of 'two up'... Dave on the left was the winner of the game.

Tampa Rays V Texas Rangers Baseball game, May Monday30th

The GSE team where treated to a national competition game of baseball entertainment when they headed off to support the local the Florida team 'Tampa Bay Rays' against Texas Rangers.

The games was schedule and played on the USA Memorial day; a day to respect all USA armed forces past and present.

What the GSE team identified as patriotic and respectively was during the game after the national anthem was played, all active and none active US arm forces officers where asked to stand up be acknowledge with the remanding crowd fiercely cheering and clapping them on.

The visitors unfortunately defeated the 'Rays' however we all now know the what sort of atmosphere to expected when attending a baseball game. Some of us look forward to watching a Yankee's game!!!

 Prior to entering the stadium

 Team member Will Bucchana with his host family on receiving a Tampa Bay Rays T-shirt for his birthday.

 Rotary members joining the GSE teams for the game

GSE welcome to South Pinellas May 29th, 2011

The GSE team were treated to a boat ride across the St Pete's waters to lunch at 'The Pub' on the arrival to their new host families.

Thank you to Karen along with Bob Minning for chauffeuring us across the inter coastal water ways of St Pete's.

Bob is currently serving his term as Mayor on behalf of Treasure Island which oversees a population of 7,500 people; which is one of the most densely populated areas in the district of St Petersburg, Florida.

Lft to rght Lisa (wife president elect Bill), Mary Raynes, Ann McDowell, Anne Pett and Brenda Whitman (St Pete's West Rotary).

Brunch with Sandra and Mike Fitzgearld, Sun 29th May

Before leaving Hernando County, Mike and his wife Sandra hosted the GSE team members and their Florida families for a morning brunch.

GSE Social Night, host Karen and Joe Nicolai, Sat 28th May

Rotary member Karen Nicolai's favourite aspect of rotary outside the social gatherings is hosting GSE teams. Karen and her family where absolutely wonderful hosts who provided a delicious meal followed by a spectacular boat ride where we saw a pair of dolphins.

Boat ride into the Gulf of Mexico
Lft- right Karen Nicolai, Stacy Strickland and wife Kerry with Robyn Lardner.

Spring Hill, ARC 5km fun run, Saturday 28th May

The GSE team participated in the Spring Hill 5km fun run for the ARC disabled people. The team were full of energy in supporting our Spring Hill rotary friend John Dougherty in support of his son.

Not only did the team share many laughs on the day, the team also brought home a few medals on the occasion.

Norm Pingley (husband of Gretchen Pingley, Brooksville Rotary member) and Will Buchanan before the race.

Just prior to the start of the fun run...
Left to right Gretchen Pingley, Robyn Lardner, Norm Pingley, Mary Raynes, Will Buchanan, Anne Pett, John Doughtery and Ann McDowell.

CHARIOTS OF FIRE: Will Buchanan flying the Australian flag in the race as he takes home gold for his age group.

Busch Gardens, Tampa Fri May 27th

Greatcheon was marvellous in taking us to the Busch Gardens for recreational activity.

Silverthorn Country Club May 27 2011

Meeting the Rotary clubs of Hernando County
Hernando County invited all their Rotary clubs to a lunch time gathering at the Silverthon Country Club for a special meeting so the GSE would have opportunity's to meet other Rotarian's.

Mike Fitzergearld has just gotten back for the Rotary Conference in New Orleans where he was presented with his volunteer sash.

Dinner time at Silverthorns Country Club rotary meeting. This gathering was a full house with just under 50 people attending the meeting.

The only two people left playing two up at the end of the presentation where the 'kip' and an AFL football.

Cheryl, the only Rotary member in the Hernando County Rotary audience that knew, and even more, played netball. Cheryl was originally from Trinidad and enjoyed 'flying through the air' when playing netball.

Weeki Wachee Park Thur 26th May 2011

Today the team was one of the Florida's many State owned park lands.

Subtropical Agricultural Research Station, Brooksville, Florida - 25th May

The afternoon of Wednesday 25th May 2011, our team visited the Subtropical Agricultural Research Station (STARS), Brooksville, Florida in the county of Hernando. The team was hosted by Dr Stacy Stickland, Director of Extension, University of Florida, Brooksville and Dr Sam Coleman, Research Leader, SRARS - Brooksville.

Dr Stacy and Myra Rooks (technical assistant) toured us around the 36,000 acre  (8,982 ha) property showing us their research on beef production where the team here undertake research on the genetics, reproduction, and nutrition required for cattle adapted to the subtropical regions of the USA and the world.

The only research on this kind evaluates and improves the adapted breeds of cattle with a particular focus on the Braham, exotic Bos Taurus and the english Black Angus cattle breeds for subtropical climates.

Also, the team evaulates the impacts of stessors of subtropical regions on animal well being and productivity including physiological and immunological response to heat stress; genetic control of parasites tolerance or resistance. Also the research evaluates and aims at improving the beef types for the entire beef production system including cow-calf efficiency; feedlot growth and efficiency and carcass merit and value.

Historically situated on part of the 36,000 acres is an old plantation house (cotton plantation) built in 1849.

STARS, Brooksville is a cooperative research unit of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculutre Research Service and the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Science. At this research site the units integrate reasearch approaches and emphasises on a multidisciplinary basis to address specific research objects.

South West Florida Water Management District

25th May - Vocational Visit

Today was spent at the south west Florida Water Management District. It was interesting to learn how the organisation manages water allocations and provision and monitoring of water extraction licenses in the south west of Florida.

The day after our visit it was announced that the boards of each management district across the state were to be disbanded. IN the following days it was also announced that the executive director resigned from his position until the found a replacement. Suggested candidates are below........... perhaps not...ha ha !

Dinner at Little Italy with GSE host family May, Monday 23rd

GSE team members, their host families and several other rotarian members where invited to a delicious three course traditional Italian meal.

M&B Dairy, Lecanto - May, Monday 23rd

On Monday we went to see a local and modern dairy operation. The family operate three dairies in Florida and process and package their own milk to sell into the school and aged care sectors.The dairy we visited is well set up and managed with an effective waste management system and nutrient management. The visit was a highlight for me (Ann) as Dairy is my industry, but the rest of the team seemed to enjoy it and find it interesting as well

One of two freestall barns on the dairy

Mary gets friendly with the locals

The 700+ cows are milked three times a day in a twelve double up herringbone dairy 

Mary Raynes and Leon McClellan standing on the waterbed matresses for the dairy cows.



Presentation to Citrus County and Sunday cookout - May, Sun 22

After Kyaking on Kings Bay the GSE team where hosted to a waterside luncheon at Crackers Restayrabt with our hosts

Lft- Rght Ted Johnson, Tom Feeney, Becky Jones, Jim Jones, Robyn Lardner and Ann McDowell.
After lunch we had some time with our host families before proceeding to the home of the Central Citrus Rotary club incoming president for our only Citrus county presentation and an afternoon cookout.

Kyaking on Kings Bay, Crystal Rivers

This morning we took to the water again in kyaks. Robyn was a bit nervous but managed to stay dry and we all greatly enjoyed the experience. We kayaked to the Three Sisters Springs where Will, Ann and Anne took to the cystal clear water for a swim. We had some luck this morning, we saw some Manatees (unfortunately no photos) and Will got to swim along side.

Citrus County gives us time to kick back and relax - 21 May

After arrival in Citrus County we were taken to our host family homes to settle in before spending the afternoon gently cruising around Kings Bay on a couple of pontoon boats.

We were hoping to see some Manatees but we had no luck, maybe tomorrow. We did see some lovely views as well as a lot of other people out enjoying a Saturday on the water

Transfer from North Pinellas to Citrus - May 21

This morning we said farewell to our North Pinellas Hosts and made the trip North to meet our new hosts in Citrus County. It was sad to say goodbye to newly made good friends such as Kramer below, but we are exited about the adventure ahead.

Kramer and Ann in Dunedin

Out for dinner Friday night with our hosts in North Pinellas

Putting the seats down in the back of the van to fit all the luggage for the drive north

Meeting our new hosts from Citrus County at Weeki Wachee Springs

We are looking forward to boat tours, kayaking, wildlife and meeting the local rotarians over the next four days in Citrus County