Supporters of the Cirencester and the City of Bathurst Friendship Initiative gathered at The Mansion, Cirencester Park, for a special reception marking two milestones in the Young Persons’ Exchange programme.
Guests came together to bid farewell to William Arnold as he prepared to return to Bathurst and to welcome back Harry Janssen following the conclusion of his time in Bathurst. The evening featured a seated Q&A conversation with William and Harry, chaired by Mark Harris, Chair of Cotswold District Council. Attendees had a chance to hear first-hand reflections from both young people.
William Arnold began his exchange in March 2023, when he was 19 years old, travelling from Bathurst to Cirencester. During his time in the UK, the Friendship Initiative assisted him in securing both employment and accommodation at the Royal Agricultural University.
Reflecting on his experience, William shared: “This was my first time in the UK, and it was exactly what I had pictured England to be like. When I first arrived, I was worried about being somewhere and not knowing anyone. Working at the RAU has been really special to me because it was my first full-time job, and I have met some of the best people I have ever met. The relationships that I have created here are the things that I will cherish and miss the most when I return to Australia.”
Following a three-year delay caused by the pandemic and university commitments, a then 22-year-old Harry Janssen began his journey to Bathurst in October 2023. Through the Friendship’s network, he secured employment as a family law paralegal at Kenny Spring Solicitors and accommodation at Charles Sturt University.
Looking back on his exchange, Harry said: “I can distinctly remember whilst travelling to Bathurst thinking ‘what am I doing?’ as it was a daunting prospect to travel to somewhere so far away by myself. I had planned to go for just three months, but what surprised me about Bathurst was how much like home it felt. It’s a rather rural city and has a similar community feeling to Cirencester. I found it incredibly easy to establish myself in Bathurst and after a couple of weeks there, it felt like home. So much so that I ended up staying for two years!”
The Friendship Initiative has been proud to champion the Young Persons’ Exchange for several years and remains committed to its growth. Speaking at the reception, Lord Bathurst highlighted the impact of the programme:
“The wonderful thing about the Exchange is the experience it provides to young people. When Alice Chander was the first person chosen to go in 2019, she was a young girl whom we had chosen to send to Bathurst. But we had the knowledge that she would be safe over there and looked after with our connections. When she returned, she came back a confident and mature young lady, which was fantastic to see. It’s been a similar experience for both Harry and William. We have seen the growth in confidence and progress that you two have made, and it’s a great credit to you both that you’ve made such a success of your exchange trips.”
The reception came at a moment of transition for both participants. On Wednesday, 25 March, William began his overland journey back to Australia, travelling via Istanbul, through the Caucasus region, and across Central and South-East Asia before returning home in mid-June.
Once back in Australia, he hopes to enlist in the Royal Australian Navy, motivated by the promise of a new challenge and further travel opportunities.
Harry, meanwhile, returned to Cirencester at the end of last year. Inspired by his experiences in Bathurst and his involvement working with the Cirencester Bathurst Friendship, he has now taken his marketing and business development agency full-time and is excited to see it grow further.
To learn more about the Friendship Initiative, the Young Person’s Exchange programme, and the journeys of Alice, Harry, and William, visit www.cirencesterbathurst.org. For enquiries, email info@cirencesterbathurst.org.
