The Rotary Club of Parkes farewelled popular Belgian exchange student Arnaud van Melsen at a barbeque held in his honor at Greenparkes Garden Centre earlier this month.
Arnaud has returned home to Belgium after attending Parkes High School for the past twelve months as a member of the world wide Rotary Exchange Programme.
District Governor John Egan attended the farewell party with his wife Maria and managed to give Arnaud a farewell speech in French, which absolutely delighted the young man.
There were also tributes from Parkes club President Gail Macdonald and several members from Rotaract.
Arnaud was asked what expectations he had prior to coming to Parkes and he replied that he was looking to experiencing a different culture and language, new experiences and friends and to just enjoy his time here.
These expectations were mostly fulfilled but in the early stages he really missed his family and friends at home.
However he quickly found new friends and the four Rotary families that hosted him in Parkes made sure that he felt very much at home and treated him like one of the family.
He has also travelled extensively courtesy of the Rotary network and most recently toured with 30 other exchange students up the east coast to Cairns and back through central Australia including climbing Uluru on his 18th birthday.
Other highlights were meeting Russell Ingall at the Bathurst 1000 and famously refusing his offer to autograph his shirt, Christmas at Coffs Harbour and New Year in an apartment overlooking Circular Quay for the fireworks.
Interestingly Arnaud also mentioned that he really enjoyed mixing with both his school friends and the older members of Rotary.
When he returns home he is starting a university degree course in hotel management at the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands.
He also plans to catch up with his friends and family.
His brother gets married next month and his sister is having her second baby later in the year.
And just so he doesn’t forget Parkes and Rotary, Rex and Heather Veal who are currently in Europe are spending time with Arnaud and his family this week.
Arnaud was presented with a Parkes Rotaract shirt and an Akubra hat as mementoes of his stay in our town.
At all times Arnaud was a credit to himself and his family and will be remembered for his great sense of humour and his willingness to help and participate in both school and Rotary activities.