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The Fishers of 36 Gibson Dr., Port Perry, returned home after a year's stay in Australia, part of an exchange program that involved Australian and North American teachers. Andrew, 10, is seen trying out the '"didjeridu," while parents Jack and Joan and sister Julie, 13, look on. Not only does Andrew get a few notes out of the native instrument, but he's learned to master the boomerang. Area member chairman of school board Former secondary school teacher and long-time resid- ent of the Port Perry area, Yvonne Christie was elected chairman of the Durham Board of Education by acclamation last Monday. Mrs. Christie was a trustee on the board for three years. The vice-chairman's spot she vacated, was filled by Steven Saywell. Ir an address of the 1976 inaugeral board meeting, she called finances the major concern of the Dur- ham board in the coming year, and said that Durham region taxpayers are "in for a rude shock" this year despite the fact that the board has not spent up to its grantable ceilings in pre- vious years. She suggested a review of the effectiveness of the Dur- ham board's administration, with an eye to possible expense cuts. The new board chairman also expressed the hope the. board's on-going curricular studies will continue. "This board devotes more time to curriculum review Warnings only AA Y, \/ 'i 3F Pid ~ Mrs. board in the spring. less of finances. OPP Commissioner Harold Ue H. Graham announced today that although seat belt legis- lation became effective on January 1st, 1976, by agree- ment with officials of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, mem- bers of the Ontario Provin- cial Police Force will issue warnings only to violators of the new seat belt legistlation until February 1st, 1976. The purpose of this policy is to permit the motoring public to become accustom- ed to "buckling-up' and to allow a period of grace from prosecution during which motorists have an opportun- ity to re-equip their vehicles with seat belts that were removed. i ' No stop-check) program is contemplated by the OPP at any time to enforce seat belt legislation. Seat belt infrac- tions observed after Feb- ruary 1st, 1976, will be treat- ed as any otheg traffic viol- ation by memBers of the force during the course of their patrols. SATO at the board level than many others in Ontario," she said. Christie said the future of the early childhood education program in Dur- ham will be discussed by the "My own opinion is that nursery programs away from the school institution are more viable for socializ- ation of children." she said. Mrs. Christie told the trus- tees in her acceptance of the chairman's post, "being a board of education must come first in 1976," regard- Strike out from Port Perry to visit the Orient, the far east, and take in some of the romantic and mysterious spots of that part of the world for weeks at a time, and you're talking about spending many thousands of dollars. For the Fishers of Port- Perry,. however, it was all the advantages with none of the disadvantages, in an exchange program with the Victoria (State) school authorities and the Ontario government. A matter of dropping everything here, packing up and off to Victoria. "We traded homes and jobs for a year," said Jack Fisher, who returned home with his wife and two child- ren two weeks ago. Probably repeating many of their experience for the 20th time, the Fishers find that they're enthusiasm for the venture hasn't yet sub- sided. "It was just wonder- ful...something we wouldn't have missed for anything...a once in a lifetime opport- unity. When we talk about it,"" he said, we get excited about it all over again. A year in a different coun- try and in a part of the world completely different from North America has left the Fishers with enough exper- iences to last them a good - while. While in Australia, the Fishers lived at the home of their Port Perry-bound counterpart, a city of some 8,000 people in Castlemaine, Victoria (State). That's on the southeast end of the continent where a vast majority of Australians live. It's like Canada that way," Mr. Fisher points out. "Most of the population is in one small section of the country, while much of the remaining areas in the country are pa) Port Perry family tells of Australian visit sparsly populated due to harsh climatic conditions." In some parts of Austrailia, according to Mr. Fisher, the heat has driven inhabitants to build homes underground. "People can tell you about these things," he said, *'but you have to see them to believe it. It's absolutely fascinating." Even on the southeastern coastal areas where more moderate temperatures pre- vail, it gets to above 100 for sustained periods lasting two or three weeks. But the Fishers adapted. "It isn't quite as humid as it is here, so it was not quite as hard to take," said Mr. Fisher. And in Australia, when a north wind is forecast, you put on your bathing suit and discard you're heavier clothes. It's a scorcher." Farming in Australia, is a little like the legendary Texas...big. That's not because there are a lot of wealthy cattle barons, but because of the scarcity of water. About 26 acres to every animal is all some of the dryer parts of the coun- try will sustain. In other parts, it hasn't rained in four years. If the experiences of living in a new land, with new people and new ideas is the most rewarding aspect of the exchange, then the op- portunity to travel is a close second. Their temporary Castle- maine home was see by the Fishers as a "home base" from where they could travel from whenever the opportunity arose. And there was plenty of that...80,000 miles worth... around Australia, as well as New Zealand, Indonesia, Japan, the Philipines, New Guinea, Hong Kong, Taiwan and cruises to the Great Julie Fisher shows off the many dolls she collected from the Great Barrier Reef to Hong Kong. - SECTION . Barrier Reef, and more. Experiences ranged from opal mining in the desert for six days to a ride on the Canton railway right up to the border of Communist China. The years stay in Aus- tralia, Mr. Fisher is almost embarrassed to admit, was almost a year of vacation, despite the fact that he was teaching full time. "If you're going to travel, [ guess this is about the best way to do it," he said. "No language problem or disrup- tion of life. It's just a matter of walking right into a new home, job, and com- munity for a year." But it was the children who perhaps got the most out of the exchange. 'They're at a perfect age for that kind of thing." said Mr. Fisher. He said the children quickly adapted to their new sur- roundings and new people. Julie, 13, and son Andrew, 10, not only adapted, but learned much from their experiences. Involved in sports here, both quickly became involved in sports in Australia, such as soccer and cricket. Getting involved in sports wasn't hard. The school system emphasizes sports and physical training much more than in Canada, des- pite the fact that actual school facilities are some- what less than they are here. 'One reason," ex- plains Mr. Fisher, "is that the climate allows more out- side sports most of the year." School programs include such things as golf, swim- ming, net ball, soccer and more. Are students any different than they are here? Do they work harder? Fool around less or study more? "You soon find out in this business that kids are kids the world over," smiled Mr. Fisher. "I didn't see any great differences." As far as their educational system compared to ours, Mr. Fisher wouldn't say. "It's like anything. They have their good points. ang, we have ours." The idea was to try and fit in with their new commun- itv. Mr. Fisher points out, rather than approach it with an attitude that we know better. That's about the best way to learn about a new situation, to adapt rather than confront, feels Mr. Fisher. How much do Australians know about Canada? "About as much as we know about Australia." he said. Most of all, the trip has given the Fishers a much different outlook on the world, than they had a year ago. "I think we all have a much broader outlook on a great many things." he said. "I think we're more toler- ant of other people and other views." Would they do it again? At the drop of a hat.