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As mentioned on our website earlier this year I was the proud recipient of the Professor Geoff Farrell Media Award for my story titled "The Silent Epidemic" which was about the impact of Hepatitis C in the indigenous community. As part of that award I received an overseas trip! Now as it worked out my trip would be to Canada...which was a dream come true!
As part of this working holiday was to bring back a story about how Hepatitis and HIV are causing similar concerns to Canada's Indigenous people. I was blessed to meet some very brave people who were very welcoming and very open about their stories. It was unfortunate to hear and see that the Indigenous peoples there are combating almost identical issues that our mob face. But they are rich in their culture and I was honoured to receive some handmade gifts that showed off their culture.
As for the country...well I knew it was going to be beautiful, but everything I saw totally went above my expectations. What a magical place. The places I visited were: Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna...all three were great and I really enjoyed my time everywhere.
Vancouver, which will play host to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in February, was my main base and it's such a picturesque town with great big rivers and mountains surrounding the city. The ferry ride from Tsawassen to Victoria is spectacular...what a view! It takes an hour and a half and the whole time you're watching the scenery and taking in the lake and the abundant pine & maple trees.
Another wonderful place...where I'm looking to retire...is Kelowna. Just the plane flight out there is amazing, you head over the snow capped mountains and then the huge lake comes into view as you descend. The city here is set amongst a mountain range and is a popular place for people to visit because of the lake and the weather...it was 36 degrees when I arrived!
The other thing is how friendly the people are. Everyone from the people in the story to the staff at hotels to the cab drivers to the people on the street...and they all commented on my "Aussie accent"! Also the Vancouver Canucks Ice Hockey side is my new team now! It was certainly a great trip and I would go back in a heartbeat. Be sure to check out the photos from my trip and watch the story from Canada on Monday 14th September.
As part of this working holiday was to bring back a story about how Hepatitis and HIV are causing similar concerns to Canada's Indigenous people. I was blessed to meet some very brave people who were very welcoming and very open about their stories. It was unfortunate to hear and see that the Indigenous peoples there are combating almost identical issues that our mob face. But they are rich in their culture and I was honoured to receive some handmade gifts that showed off their culture.
As for the country...well I knew it was going to be beautiful, but everything I saw totally went above my expectations. What a magical place. The places I visited were: Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna...all three were great and I really enjoyed my time everywhere.
Vancouver, which will play host to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in February, was my main base and it's such a picturesque town with great big rivers and mountains surrounding the city. The ferry ride from Tsawassen to Victoria is spectacular...what a view! It takes an hour and a half and the whole time you're watching the scenery and taking in the lake and the abundant pine & maple trees.
Another wonderful place...where I'm looking to retire...is Kelowna. Just the plane flight out there is amazing, you head over the snow capped mountains and then the huge lake comes into view as you descend. The city here is set amongst a mountain range and is a popular place for people to visit because of the lake and the weather...it was 36 degrees when I arrived!
The other thing is how friendly the people are. Everyone from the people in the story to the staff at hotels to the cab drivers to the people on the street...and they all commented on my "Aussie accent"! Also the Vancouver Canucks Ice Hockey side is my new team now! It was certainly a great trip and I would go back in a heartbeat. Be sure to check out the photos from my trip and watch the story from Canada on Monday 14th September.
