Bev Hoskins shared this story .
In 1972 Bob and Bev Hoskins were among the RC Nunawading families who welcomed Siraporn Wongkhan -an exchange student from Thailand - into their family. She stayed with the Hoskin's and another family and attended Blackburn High School.
She arrived in Nunawading a very shy young exchange student and left Australia a year later - a confident young lady.
A very dear and special relationship developed between Siraporn and the Hoskins family- one that has endured for nearly 50 years.
In the intervening years there have been countless letters as well as a few visits exchanged.
Bev mentions in her notes that they consider Siraporn to be
She arrived in Nunawading a very shy young exchange student and left Australia a year later - a confident young lady.
A very dear and special relationship developed between Siraporn and the Hoskins family- one that has endured for nearly 50 years.
In the intervening years there have been countless letters as well as a few visits exchanged.
Bev mentions in her notes that they consider Siraporn to be
“a very precious member of our family”.
On returning to Thailand, Siraporn became a teacher and married an airman.
On returning to Thailand, Siraporn became a teacher and married an airman.
Sadly, her husband was killed in an air crash some 12 months later.
She returned to her studies, successfully completing a doctorate in the USA and returning to Thailand as Professor Siraporn Wongkhan - a department Head at a High School in her hometown Lopburi.
Siraporn is now a member of the Rotary Club of Lopburi, Thailand.
Since her retirement, Siraporn has established a private Kindergarten school specialising in English classes.
She returned to her studies, successfully completing a doctorate in the USA and returning to Thailand as Professor Siraporn Wongkhan - a department Head at a High School in her hometown Lopburi.
Siraporn is now a member of the Rotary Club of Lopburi, Thailand.
Since her retirement, Siraporn has established a private Kindergarten school specialising in English classes.
Julie Hoskins (daughter of Bob and Bev) -an English teacher at Ruyton - has re-established contact with Siraporn and set up English reading groups between her year 9 and 10 students and the Thai students. This has been the source of great enjoyment for both Australian and Thai students, and Julie has observed several students making contact during their lunch breaks.
RC Nunawading and Rotary Student Exchange
The Rotary Club of Nunawading had participated in a very successful Student Exchange program.
In 1966 we welcomed our first exchange student -Tom Gillespie from USA . This was followed by teens from Canada, Finland, Thailand, New Zealand, Germany, South Africa, The Philippines, Japan, Austria, India, Sweden and USA.
Many became life-long friends and have returned to Australia on visits.