Allison's story is one of many we hope to feature over the next 12 months as a glimpse into what motivates people to join our organisation. What's your Rotary story?

I grew up with our family’s spare room being occupied by Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) students. Seven-year-old me stated to my parents: ‘one day. I’m going to be one of them’. And I was.

I spent 2004 in Finland as a RYE student. Arriving into snow, ice, and very negative temperatures in the middle of January, it was about as polar opposite to an Australian summer as you could get.

I quickly learned to adapt, to layer up, and developed my resilience and independence through having no choice but to problem solve issues myself. ‘If it is to be, it’s up to me’ a wise Rotarian had shared during one of our briefing sessions in Australia. Very wise indeed.

Because youth exchange ignited in me a love for adventure and travel and learning more about other countries and cultures. That shot of confidence of living abroad for a year has been driving me to seek opportunities ever since.

Most of these opportunities have been through my other passion in life, Girl Guiding, which is also a global organisation, just like Rotary. I’ve been able to use Guiding to explore the world and to have once in a lifetime opportunities, including:

· representing the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) at UN Conferences (COP15 in Copenhagen, Rio+20 in Rio de Janeiro);

· participating in the Juliette Low Seminar, WAGGGS’ flagship leadership development event for young women;

· volunteering at the Our Chalet World Centre in Switzerland for three months; and

· attending jamborees in various countries, including leading an Australian contingent to two events (plus all the work for a third, but well, Covid-19 put an end to that).

It felt like life came full circle in 2016 when I lead a Girl Guides Australia contingent to an international jamboree in Finland, and the Finnish scout group I had joined during my exchange year hosted us.

I share these experiences with the girls and young women I meet through guiding, encouraging and hopefully inspiring them to create their own opportunities to further all aspects of their personal development.

And in between all that travel, I joined Rotary. I’ve served the Rotary Club of Darwin Sunrise as Secretary and President, and am now looking forward to the next challenge as Area Governor for Area 1, which includes 10 Rotary Clubs and soon to be seven Rotaract clubs in the Northern Territory and Timor Leste.