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CART A a sy a Ted? NL YD SECT *v bE AR ARERLSERIN I SRI SE LGN AY DAL FAITE, ve LN BRT PR = LS VERA EE ABRAXAS A bola CARE AL LY SAAC) VTA EAP} { oy Ce i / 8 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Wed. February 10, 1962 It's back to normal for John and Marion Rodway and their three children, Jon-David, Melissa and Natalie. The family returned to their home in Port Perry after spending a year in the warm, sunny climate of Australia. They say they will miss the miles of beautiful beaches, but it is good to be back home. Lure of skiing will bring them back to Canada Being homesick is one thing that Don and Heather Jones have experienced very little of since they arrived in Canada just over one year ago. "Christmas was the only time that we did fel a little homesick because we The Jones arrived in Port Perry on Boxing Day 1980 as one half of the Rodway-Jones exchange between Canada and Australia teachers. Since then the family has lived in the Rodway home and travelled extensively were not able to be with our families" admits Heather. across Canada and the U.S.A. in addition to Mr. A tribute to the Don Jones family by David Sims When Don Jones, his cheese & kisses, Heather, and their nipper, Ngaire, left their home town, Rolystone (Woopwoop), Western Australia it wasn't to take a spine bashing in Port Perry, Ontario. In spirit of the true wandering Aussies that they are, they've been waltzing Matilda all over Canada since arriving here at the end of 1980, and Don has dipped his billy in more billabongs from the Rockies to St. Johns than most wowser Cana- juns would like to think about (eh?) That's not to suggest that Don's a foot-loose nong adverse toa bit of hard yacker. He gets top marks from his students and the rest of the staff at Port Perry High School for his participation in the school's life. "The bloke's apples with me," two principals have declared, and his department head, Gerry Cole, praises him for his "extra bonzer yacker above and beyond thecall ..." While Don has been teaching, duck and deer hunting, and taking photos, (he's an avid naturalist and hiker), Heather hasn't been left like a shag on a rock. A grade one teacher in Australia, here she joined the YWCA groups with her two and a half-year old daughter. She is a member of a fitness group and, like Don, is a keen spectator of Canadiansports. The many friends they've made in Port Perry attest to Heather's excellence as a cook (she was an important member of the team that organized the highly acclaimed progressive dinner a few weeks ago). In Jauary, Heather and Don discovered snow and, along withit, skiing. This winter he'll be entering a cross country marathon. Their interestin Canadian art is one of many signs that they've made Canada their adopted country. Had the Australian Government sought out ambassadors of good will to send to Canada, jt could hardly have made a better choice. / Don says, "If you're up a gum tree about your life, _ don't be a whinger; give an exchange a burl » that's my pozzie." If youdon't know what that means, take a trip tothe Outback, Don will be happy to give you the drum. Fair Dinkum! Hooroo, mate, it's beef extra grouse knowing you! j Jones duties as a math- ematics and physical education teacher in Port Perry High School. During a recent interview with the Jones in their pre- sent home, a log cabin over- looking the slopes of Devils Elbow Ski Club near Bethany, the Star reminiced about the past year and the few months they have left before they return to their homeland. "We would love to do it again," exclaimes an enthusiastic Don Jones. "It has been the experience of a lifetime and I am sure we will be back, either through another exchange or on our own. I may even come back to study", he said. And his wife Heather and their 2 and 'a half year-old daughter Ngaire seem to have the same feeling. When the Star arrived for the interview the family were testing out the snow on the ski slopes where they spend much of their time. They take turns skiing on the larger slopes while one watches Ngaire and helps her ski on the small slopes. EXPLORE COUNTRY But it hasn't been all skiing since they arrived. During Easter last year the family packed their belongings into a 1975 van and headed off to visit Washington, U.S.A. In the March Break they travelled to Ottawa, North Bay and back to Toronto. Last summer they ventured through Northern Ontario, across the Prairies to the Rocky Mountains where they spent 3 weeks back-packing and camping. From there they travelled into the U.S.A. along the northern states and back to Port Perry. After three days at home they packed-up once again and headed out to Montreal, (Turnto page 10) RODWAY Loved every minute of Australian life It was just over a year ago when John and Marion Rod- way and their three children Melissa, Natalie and Jon- David carried their suitcases out to the car to begin a journey that would take them half way around the world to live in a strange country for a year. They recently returned to their friends and home in Port Perry and are happy to be home, but as John put it, "if we had the chance to do it again, we'd be gone to- morrow.' And from the expressions on the faces of his children and wife it would seem that they all agree. It was an incredible experience and we would recommend it highly to anyone,' he said. I just can't believe that the year went by so fast." The Rodway's took part last year in a teacher exchange programme which saw Mr. Rodway teach in Roleystone, Australia, and live in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Don Jones, while their counterparts came to live and teach in Port Perry. VERY HOT When they first set foot on the ground in Sydney, Aus- tralia on December 29, 1980 Mrs. Rodway said the whole family almost wilted from the heat. "It was in the low 30's (about 95 degrees fahrenheit) and very hot and humid," she said. This was approximately 100 degrees of temperature difference between Canada where they ev left some 35 hours earlier and the country in which they had just landed, Two days after arriving in Sydney they travelled to New Zealand where they toured the north and south islands for about two weeks. They described New Zealand as breathtaking and similar in many ways to the Rockey Mountains of Canada and the Fiords of Norway. Returning to Sydney the family then began a 1200 mile motor trip along the south east coast of Australia. This trip eventually took them to the town of Adelaide where the Rodways spent one night with Mr. and Mrs. Paul Groskorth. Mrs. Gros- korth is a sister of Elaine Hammett of Port Perry. While at their home, John played an early morning round of golf in 39 degree Celcius weather. After the visit with the Groskorth's they continued their journey west to the town of Port Pirie. At this point their car was put on a train and they travelled across the Nullarbor Plain (a desert). Nullarbor it was explained means, "No Trees." On this journey the Rodway's saw their first wild Kangaroos while crossing the longest straight railway track in the world. The track stretches over 400 miles without so much as a curve. They described the Kangaroos as very plentiful and fascinating to watch. When they arrived in One of the highlights of Heather and Don Jones and their 2V2 year old Perth, they were greeted by some friends of Don and Heather Jones who guided them to their new home about. 40 miles away in the community of Roleystone. Here they had about one week in which to settle down and get ready for the new school year which began February 9th. Both John and Rodway children spent their day at school while Marion spent her time playing tennis and attending courses. She also got involved in some amateur theatre. GREAT EXPERIENCE Mr. Rodway said that teaching in Australia was a great experience, although he felt that the children there are not as advanced as in Canada. He attributes part of this to the fact that high school starts in grade eight, when most of the kids are about 12 years old, and the majority seem to drop out of school after grade 10. Mr. Rodway admitted that teaching in Australia is somewhat easier than in Canada. His day began at 9:10 a.m. and he was required to teach only four of the six 55 minute classes scheduled each day. In addition to this there was a 15 minute compulsory reading period at the begin- ning of the day and a recess. "And I was almost always home by 4:00 p.m." John confessed. Although the area in which (Turntopage 10) daughter Ngaire since they came to Canada just over a year 'ago was the opportunity to learn to ski. The Jones have now left the Port Perry area for a four month tour of the U.S.A. before returning to Vancouver, B.C. to fly home to their native Australia. a i,