Around the World: Hosting Rodrigo the Chicken
In 2004, Rodrigo the Chicken, the mascot of the Rotaract Club of Ribeirão Preto Irajá, District 4540, Brazil, travelled around the world visiting Rotaract clubs in a variety of countries. We were delighted to be his third stop on his journey, and enjoyed hosting him for 2 weeks in April.
We took him to all the Rotaract activities that were on during his stay, and took him sightseeing around Perth. You can read more about what he did with us below.
From Australia, Rodrigo went to Bali, the Philippines, to the Asia Pacific Regional Rotaract Conference in Hong Kong where he passed to Taiwan, and then India... where he disappeared without a trace! All his host families, and particularly his home club, were distraught, but thankfully some months later, Rodrigo mysteriously arrived back home, safe and sound!
The project was so much fun, that at the end of 2005, we decided it was time to reciprocate the exchange, and our own Barry the Koala embarked on his own journey, starting with Argentina in December 2005. Barry hopes to meet up with Rodrigo in Brazil in mid 2006!
Related Photos:
Rodrigo admiring the view of Perth from Kings Park; Looking across
the Narrows Bridge to South Perth; Rodrigo outside the Swan Bells;
Attending the Rotaract Club meeting.
Rodrigo's Time in Perth, Western Australia - 16th-30th April 2004
Rodrigo the Chicken was collected from the South Perth post office by Simone Collins on April 16th. After two days of relaxing at Simone’s house and acclimatizing to the lovely warm weather, it was time for Rodrigo to start seeing more of Perth!
On April 18th, Rodrigo joined the Rotaract Club of South Perth’s team in a car rally organized by the Rotaract Club of Subiaco. "Team Chicken" consisted of President Maya, Simone, Richard and Andrea, with Rodrigo as a very lucky mascot. Starting in the Perth city centre, the car rally took us to various suburbs and landmarks of Perth, finishing at a park by the Swan River for a barbeque lunch. With the help of Rodrigo, "Team Chicken" were placed equal second!!
Rodrigo relaxed for the next week, until April 25th, which was the holiday Anzac Day. This is the anniversary of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps storming Gallipoli in Turkey in World War I, were most of those soldiers died. Anzac Day is now a day of remembering everyone who has lost their life in war. Rodrigo was presented with a badge to commemorate Anzac Day - a badge which contains sand from the beach at Gallipoli.
On Anzac Day, Simone and her sister Amber, a past member of the Rotaract Club of South Perth, took Rodrigo sightseeing for the afternoon, travelling first to the South Perth foreshore, to admire the view of Perth city across the Swan River. It was a very hot day, so the next stop was the Mends St Café for a refreshing iced coffee. Mends St is the main street in South Perth; the Mends St Café has hosted some meetings of the Rotaract Club of South Perth in the past!
Next we headed north west to City Beach, a few kilometers west of the Perth city centre, where Rodrigo had a good view of the Indian ocean.
The next day, Rodrigo accompanied Simone to her workplace, the University of Western Australia. Maya collected Rodrigo in the afternoon, and after a photo at the front of the university, took Rodrigo to Kings Park, a large botanical garden overlooking the city just a few kilometers away. After that, Rodrigo was given a tour of the city, including the newest landmark, the "Swan Bells", outside which is a wishing well donated by the Rotary Club of Perth.
On the 27th, Maya took Rodrigo to her workplace, the Perth Mint. Rodrigo learnt about the gold rush in Western Australia in the late 1800s, and tried panning for gold.
On April 28th, Rodrigo attended the meeting of the Rotaract Club of South Perth, meeting the other members and guests he had not met before. Rodrigo was a very popular guest of the meeting!
After the meeting, Rodrigo returned home with Maya for one last stay at her house. He then went back to Simone’s house on April 29th for one last day with Simone’s family, before heading back to the post office to embark on his journey to Bali, Indonesia!
Last updated on Monday 30th of June 2008 by Ian Ball © copyright 2000 - 2010 Rotaract Club of South Perth
Rotaract is a non-profit, non-political, non-religious international professional development and volunteer service organisation of students and young professionals aged between 18 and 30. The Rotaract Club of South Perth, District 9470, Western Australia, is sponsored by the Rotary Club of South Perth-Burswood. ~~ May Peace Prevail on Earth! ~~
