May 1, 2014
by Marcus Priaulx
Kashaunica Stanley lived “a life in a year” in Canada and came home a woman with an impressive award.
The 18-year-old left Australia in 45 degree heat a month after graduating from the Glennie School where she boarded in Toowoomba.
She arrived in Canada on a Murgon Rotary Exchange Student Scholarship and it was minus 18C … cold.
Kashaunica was nervous and jetlagged but took up the challenge to go ice fishing in -25C temperatures on a frozen lake just 12 hours later.
While her body froze she found her host families and 20,000 people in the British Colombia town of Cranbrook to be warm and friendly.
After four months she was totally into the Canadian lifestyle and did “all the fun subjects” at the school she was sent to.
“I did woodwork, gym, art and lots of ‘cultural interaction’,” she said. “I met a lot of friends from all over the world.”
Kashaunica also threw herself into the Rotary ethos of service and helped at every fundraising and community event it held.
A year later she flew home with one of the highest honours a Rotary Club can give, the Paul Harris Fellow.
Its given to those who fully embrace the Rotary value of Service Above Self.
Kashaunica admits she cried on the flight home but remains in touch with the friends and “family” she met.
She has now settled back into Murgon life and is looking forward to working, saving money and going to university in 2015.
“I need a job,” she said.
Currently she is helping out at the Original Hair By Gina hairdressing salon in Murgon on a when-needed basis.
“I’ll do anything but would ultimately like to work with people in a job that uses my brain. Maybe something with administration or a receptionist.”
Salon owner Gina Oberle gave Kashaunica high praise.
“She uses her initiative,” Gina said.
“I never have to ask her to do anything. If she sees something needs to be done, she does it.”
Kashaunica said the skill came with the confidence her year in Canada had given.
“I used to be quiet and reserved,” she said.
“I grew so much and am truly thankful to the Murgon Rotary for sponsoring me.”
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