{"id":65861,"date":"2014-05-01T18:04:09","date_gmt":"2014-05-01T08:04:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=65861"},"modified":"2020-12-04T10:54:18","modified_gmt":"2020-12-04T00:54:18","slug":"rotary-exchange-builds-confidence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2014\/05\/01\/rotary-exchange-builds-confidence\/","title":{"rendered":"Rotary Exchange
Builds Confidence"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
\u00a0Kashaunica Stanley, right, works part time for hairdresser Gina Oberle but wants to find full-time work so she can save and go to university next year (Photo: Marcus Priaulx)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

May 1, 2014<\/strong><\/p>\n

by Marcus Priaulx<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kashaunica Stanley lived \u201ca life in a year\u201d in Canada and came home a woman with an impressive award.<\/p>\n

The 18-year-old left Australia in 45 degree heat a month after graduating from the Glennie School where she boarded in Toowoomba.<\/p>\n

She arrived in Canada on a Murgon Rotary Exchange Student Scholarship and it was minus 18C … cold.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

After four months she was totally into the Canadian lifestyle and did \u201call the fun subjects\u201d at the school she was sent to.<\/p>\n

\u201cI did woodwork, gym, art and lots of \u2018cultural interaction\u2019,\u201d she said.\u00a0\u201cI met a lot of friends from all over the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kashaunica also threw herself into the Rotary ethos of service and helped at every fundraising and community event it held.<\/p>\n

A year later she flew home with one of the highest honours a Rotary Club can give, the Paul Harris Fellow.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Its given to those who fully embrace the Rotary value of Service Above Self.<\/p>\n

Kashaunica admits she cried on the flight home but remains in touch with the friends and \u201cfamily\u201d she met.<\/p>\n

She has now settled back into Murgon life and is looking forward to working, saving money and going to university in 2015.<\/p>\n

\u201cI need a job,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Currently she is helping out at the Original Hair By Gina hairdressing salon in Murgon on a when-needed basis.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll do anything but would ultimately like to work with people in a job that uses my brain. Maybe something with administration or a receptionist.\u201d<\/p>\n

Salon owner Gina Oberle gave Kashaunica high praise.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe uses her initiative,\u201d Gina said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI never have to ask her to do anything. If she sees something needs to be done, she does it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kashaunica said the skill came with the confidence her year in Canada had given.<\/p>\n

\u201cI used to be quiet and reserved,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI grew so much and am truly thankful to the Murgon Rotary for sponsoring me.\u201d<\/p>\n