The Friendship Force of Perth has quickly found its place amongst the fellowship of Friendship Force Clubs around the world. In 2009 our club will host the 19th Friendship Force Australian Conference in Perth-Fremantle.
Perth Club´s beginnings arose from a decision by the Council at the Friendship Force Conference at Murray Bridge in 2000 to appoint Robyn Mulholland of Adelaide Club to establish contact with someone in Perth re the possibility of forming a new club in Perth. Coincidentally, Pam Jackson of Perth learned about the Friendship Force from her sister's friend while passing through Adelaide. Pam was interested immediately in the prospect of a club in Perth and when she arrived home she found a package of information in the mail waiting for her. Pam contacted Eileen Bogart and the pair set about finding interested persons during Late December 2000 and early 2001, with generous help from the Friendship Force of Adelaide who acted as mentors through Rob Mulholland. The first ever gathering, a Social and Information event, was a sausage sizzle at Matilda Bay on 7th April 2001.
The first business meeting was held a fortnight later on 21st April, attended by 14 persons. The Friendship Force of Perth was officially chartered by Friendship Force International on 26th September 2001, witnessed by the Club´s patron Dr. Peter Nattrass, Lord Mayor of Perth. Two months later Perth Club hosted an All-Australian Domestic Exchange to help us learn some of the secrets of successful Exchange planning, and the roles of hosts and ambassadors. Thirty people from other Australian clubs as far away as Cairns traveled across the nation to participate in the Exchange. There were fourteen members in the beginning and now, after almost seven years, we are a thriving club with about seventyfive members.
We hold well-attended monthly general-cum-socialising meetings and produce a monthly newsletter.
Our Social Co-ordinator organises a variety of events for months that don´t have a scheduled Inbound Exchange. Events in the past have included various activities such as bowls nights, games nights, dinner nights, barbecues and picnics, weekends away and special celebratory times like Australia Day, Friendship Force International Day, Christmas.
For more details go to the Social events in 2008 Calendar on this website.
Each year we have had at least two Inbound Exchanges and one Domestic Exchange. Our members are always keen to host be it home-hosting, day hosting, or dinner hosting. Members go out of their way to ensure ambassadors feel welcome. For Inbound Exchanges, the program includes free days with hosts, sightseeing, dinner hosting, welcome and Farewell functions.you want to see the world through a different perspective?
Copyright © 2010 Friendship Force Perth. All rights reserved. Webmaster Egon Hochkircher
