Essi arrived in Western Australia on 31st July 2025 as part of a Rotary Youth Exchange student from Finland as a guest of Applecross Rotary Club. 

The aims of this program are for a young person to learn a new language, discover another culture, and truly become global citizens.

It appears that this young lady has certainly achieved all those set objectives and grown from her time as an exchange student.

This was evident from her well-crafted speech in which she shared new experiences, which included her school environment. Essie has embraced education WA style and settled into school well, as observed by some of her school student friends who came along to the meeting.

While in WA, Essi has been energised by a raft of State-based travel ... extending from Broome in the north to Albany in the south.

As a completely new experience, Essi was passionate about the beach which has left a lasting impression on her. Club members would have taken the beach for granted at the age of 18, so it was refreshing to hear from someone to whom it was something completely new.

The passionate way Essi reflected on all her new experiences in WA over the last 12 months was an absolute credit to her; especially as English is a second language.

Applecross Rotary Club is very blessed and proud to have hosted Essi as our Youth Exchange Student and although we will be sad to see her go, we have valued the time she has spent with us.

Good luck, Essi, we would love to see you again sometime!

Click here for Essi's presentation

Come along and help President Margaret kick off the 2026–2027 Applecross Rotary year as she begins her second year at the helm. It’s not just a changeover — it’s a celebration of everything we’ve achieved and everything still to come.

A Lunch for John Henderson.
This Wednesday at Claremont Golf Course cafe, Teebox, those keen to see John again, a Life Member of AxR, are invited to a catch-up lunch.
So far about 7 of us will be attending for a 12.30 sit-down, but let me know if you are interested.
Essi and her year in Oz.
One of the best AxR meetings I have ever attended, listening to our outstanding young Finish Exchange Student present her summary of almost 12 months with us here in AxR.
Essi certainly had some amazing experiences and, along with many of her fellow Exchangees, has had a year never to be forgotten. 
This truly is one of Rotary's greatest ongoing projects, and especially well done to both host parents and Graeme Fardon as chief co-ordinator for our WA Exchange program.
Seeing so many of Essi's school friends present tells you what an outstanding young person Essi really is: well done Essi and we will miss your smiling face when you return to your home country and family awaiting.
Break-in at our storage unit... AGAIN!
For the second time our outside storage in McCoy St for AxR assets was subject to a wilful break-in which I discovered mid last week. One of the lock-on doors was pulled from its hinges, with many items strew about. One box of Makers Market mark-out equipment is missing and will have to be replaced. Truly, nothing much of real value to anyone but AxR!
A real bugga, and this week we will need to upgrade our security to hopefully avoid future problems.
Losing Our Liz.
It was sad to hear last week that Liz P has decided to leave AxR after approx 13/14 years of fantastic support for the real heart of what we are all about, especially for the social and JacFest activities of our club.
Well done Liz, lost as a member but not as a friend to all.