HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-01-04, Page 7Wednesday, January 4, 2006
Exeter Times -Advocate 7
Exchange student brings Australian view to Exeter
By Pat Bolen
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
EXETER —
Seventeen -year-old
Australian exchange
student Hannah Arnold
is seeing life on the
other side of the Pacific
Ocean after arriving in
Exeter to stay with
Christina and Paul
Scott before Christmas.
Arnold lives with her
parents, three sisters
and one brother on a
268,000 hectare cattle
station at Gregory
Down Station, six hours
from Australia's north
coast.
It is the first
exchange visit for
Arnold who after tak-
ing part in a speaking
contest was asked if
she would like to par-
ticipate in a Lions
exchange.
Arnold arrived in
Canada Dec. 4 and says
the climate is one of
the biggest differences.
The average tempera-
ture in Gregory Downs
is 40 degrees celsius
("no seasons, just
hot,"), as well as it
being more crowded
here and more com-
pact.
The closest town to
the Arnolds is six hours
away which they only
visit "if something
breaks."
Mail for the family is
flown in once a week
with groceries trucked
in once every three
months.
Medical care is even
more of a challenge
with a flying doctor
available only in case
of a serious emergency.
Schooling for the
Arnold children is
taken care of at home
until they are 13 when
they attend a boarding
school.
A typical day for the
Arnold family involves
working from 4 a.m. to
8 p.m. taking care of
the 24,000 head of cat-
tle in the same way as
on an average
Canadian farm.
Much of the work is
done on horseback
although a helicopter is
available from a neigh-
bour if needed.
Checking the miles of
fences is a regular part
of the routine on the
station with Arnold's
13 -year-old brother
camping out for sever-
al days at a time.
Arnold said another
task for her brother is
standing watch with a
shotgun on the river-
bank while the family
goes swimming to keep
an eye out for the croc-
odiles that inhabit the
river.
But according to
Arnold, "it's pretty
safe. There is enough
fish to keep them satis-
fied unless you bother
them."
Other wildlife around
the station include
bullpigs, kangaroos
("they're pests, they eat
the grass"), insects,
birds and lizards as
well as snakes, both of
the poisonous and non-
poisonous varieties.
One way to tell the
types of snakes apart,
according to Arnold is
that the poisonous ones
are unable to climb
trees.
Arnold's sister had an
encounter with one of
the poisonous kinds
after a Christmas Eve
party one year, result-
ing in a bite on the leg
for her.
But after Arnold car-
ried her to the house, it
was found the snake
had been unable to
inject its venom and
the leg was only sore
for a couple of days.
Due to floods and to
prevent reptile visitors,
the Arnolds' house is
on stilts which are
unable to prevent the
occasional visit from a
crocodile after a flood,
although Arnold said
they "just picked him
up and tossed him back
in the river."
Christmas in Canada
has been another new
experience for Arnold
who said while
Christmas is celebrated
by her family, there are
no presents bought,
The Arnolds exchange
homemade gifts, with a
meal of a pig on a spit,
followed by fishing and
cricket.
With her boarding
school completed,
Arnold will work at
home for a year while
her brother attends
boarding school.
She will then attend
university where she
will study medecine
with plans to become
Australia's latest flying
doctor.
Canada has been
pretty much as she
expected, according to
Arnold, with trips to
Niagara Falls and a
local pig farm, where
she helped deliver a lit-
ter, as well as trying
her skating abilities
and taking in a hockey
game for the first time.
Arnold said she is
having a good time and
would like to come
back to Canada for
another visit.
"The people are about
the same."
Stan Lee Seniors to meet Jan. 5 at the complex
By Joan Beierling
VARNA CORRESPONDENT
VARNA - Christmas Eve Service in Varna was full of
musical talent. Katie Spading started with a piano pre-
lude followed by the Call to Worship by Pastor Elly Van
Bergen. The Choir favoured everyone with "In a Manger
He is Lying". The Stephenson family lit the Advent
Candle.
Ruby and Gordon Hill read the scripture reading.
Jacob Govier played the piano. Cara Stephenson sang a
solo "Merry Christmas to You" with her boyfriend Cam
Dougall accompanying her with the guitar. Pastor Elly
read the Christmas Story "The Little Drummer Boy" and
Cameron Laurie on the drums and Graham Laurie on
the guitar played "Pa,rum, pum, pum".
Elly's message was on "Remembering My Birthday".
The Choir sang "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day".
Everyone then shared birthday cake and candles were
lit and "Silent Night", was sung to end the service.
The Christmas Day Sunday service was held in Goshen
"ARE YOUR DENTURES OVER 4 YEARS OLD?
COME IN FOR A FREE CHECK-UP"
ALBERT STREET
DENTURE CLDIIC
Denture Specialist
Dean R. McTaggart D.D.
•Complete and
Partial Dentures
•Denture Repairs
with same day service
•Relines • Additions
482-1195
50 Albert Street, Clinton
and Jan. 1 in Varna. Anyone doing annual reports
please hand them in.
Sun., Jan 8 church will be in Varna .
The Stan Lee Seniors meet Jan. 5 at the complex at 2
p.m. Crokinole club meets Tues., Jan. 10 at 8 p.m.
Australian
exchange
student
Hannah
Arnold is
spending a
few weeks
in Exeter as
part of the
Lions
exchange
program.
(photo/Pat
Bolen)
Capsule Comments
by Ernie Miatello
The beginning of a new year often brings about the
motivation to change one's lifestyle. Perhaps you want
to quit smoking or exercise more. Noble goals. One
very beneficial goal to adopt is forgiveness. By forgiving
someone who hurl you or made you angry, you can be
the beneficiary. It will reduce your stress, improve your health and give you
great happiness. Try it!
Obsessive-compulsive disorder 10CD) affects about 2.5% of Canadians.
OCD is characterized by uncontrollable thoughts often accompanied by
irresistible urges to carry out acts or rituals to relieve anxiety. Jack Nicholson
raised the awareness of this disorder in the movie "As Good As It Gets".
There is help for OCD sufferers.
Dry skin is a common problem during cold Canadian winters. Good dry
skin creams usually contain one or two ingredients to help. One is a
humectant (like urea and glycerin) which help attract moisture to the skin.
Emollients (like petrolatum) help make a barrier on the skin to prevent
moisture from escaping.
When your prescription label says "take on an empty stomach", it means
that your prescription may be affected by the presence of food in the
stomach. Food can prevent a drug from being absorbed well so you won't
get the maximum effect. It's good to pay attention to these labels. We'll
remind you at the counter.
We would love to be your pharmacist. Drop in to our pharmacy soon.
Huron Apothecary Ltd.
Phone 235-1982, PHARM F
I.D.A.
440 Main St. Exeter ASSES
"YOUR HEALTH CARE PHARMACY"
LibeT�l
wwwliberal.ca
PAUL STECKLE
"Prion y; the People"
Remember that you don't have to wait until election day to
vote. Advance polls will be held throughout the riding on
January 13, 14 and 16. Additionally, you can vote at any
time (during their office hours) at either of the local
Elections Canada offices. For details please contact my
office at 1-888-482-7212.
Since being elected to the House of Commons in 1993, Paul Steckle has
established himself as a person of character; someone not afraid to stand up for
his constituents. For more than a decade, Paul has been an effective and
determined voice for the people of Huron -Bruce. Whether on the floor of the
House, m Committee or at the countless public events he attends each year,
Paul is never afraid to loudly and passionately speak up on your behalf.
Paul Steckle is a dedicated voice for Huron -Bruce and would be
honoured to have your support on January 23rd.
FoI' Information, Call oI' Visit my Campaign Offices:
54 Victoria Street North, Clinton, Ontario NOM 1LO
735 Queen Street, Kincardine, Ontario N2Z 1Z9
116 Durham St., E., Walkerton, Ontario NOG 2V0
Authorized By The Official Agent For Paul Steckle