AN Australian banker, journalist, engineer and two policemen will meet their counterparts in Bahrain next week, as part of a Rotary exchange programme.

The International Exchange Programme for Young Professionals of the Rotary Foundation, Rotary International, is a cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for business and professional men and women.

Peter Mauger, Samantha Turnbull, Rod Minns and Rowena Bell-Bradbury, accompanied by team leader Des Lacy are visiting various countries in the Middle East to learn about their vocations abroad.

They are being given the opportunity to learn about different ways of life, government and commerce, as well as to develop personal and professional relationships and exchange ideas.

While in Bahrain, the Australian group will meet their counterparts. They will also be taken to see the developments of the country, as well as the cultural and historical attractions.

The group began their trip in Dubai last Saturday and will be in Bahrain from Saturday until Tuesday.

They will then visit Jordan and Beirut, Lebanon, where they will attend the Rotary 2450 District Conference.

“The exchange programme is for non-Rotarians, who are accompanied by a Rotarian,” Rotary 2450 district governor nominee Nijad Al Atassi told the GDN.

“They are professionals who want to know more about different cultures and societies.

“It’s very important because it’s about exchanging culture. We are showing them what our people have here. They have never been to Bahrain and have limited knowledge of this area – it’s an education programme.”

He said similar exchanges had taken place in previous years and a team from Bahrain would be selected for the 2009-10 exchange programme.

The visit is being hosted by Bahrain’s three Rotary clubs.

The Australian group and their designations are as follows:

Mr Lacy is the president of the Rotary Club of Coomera Valley and inspector of police for the Queensland Police Service.

Ms Bell-Bradbury is the regional manager of the Australian Government Business Assistance in Queensland.

Mr Minns is a police officer in Harrisville, west of Brisbane.

Mr Mauger is a chemical engineer at Brisbane Fosters Carlton United Brewery at Yatala on the Gold Coast, Queensland.

Samantha Turnbull is a journalist and chief of staff at The Northern Star, on the Far North Coast of New South Wales.

Source: Rebecca Torr – GDN