With some uncertainties about the number of ambassadors from Peru, eventually 19 ambassadors from Lake Hartwell and 11 ambassadors from La Libertad arrived on Monday 14 March. The pot luck Welcome Dinner had been arranged for that evening but late notice from La Libertad advised that they would be arriving from Perth at 9.20pm. It was decided to go ahead with the Welcome Dinner for the Americans and to have a smaller one for Peruvian hosts and ambassadors on Tuesday evening. This was held in the house of one of our members and all those present joined in singing and dancing initiated by the Peruvians.
The program started with a City Day during which there were tours of Parliament House and the Museum and lunch at the Casino. The next day was a tour of Haigh's Chocolate Factory and then to Glenelg. Club members, who are zoo volunteers, gave tours of the Zoo on Thursday, with special attention to the panda enclosure. Some of the ambassadors were taken to the practice race of the Clipsal 500 held around the city circuit. A bus tour of the Barossa Valley wine region was enjoyed by all on Friday. A seaside mystery drive on Saturday proved to be a lot of fun. It was a lovely sunny day and Adelaide beaches looked their best. The Port Noarlunga RSL offered their club rooms for a delicious gourmet sandwich lunch.
On Wednesday evening the ambassadors, hosts and many club members enjoyed home hosted dinners at the houses of various Adelaide Club members. A lawn bowling evening and BBQ at the Novar Gardens Bowling Club on Thursday was a novel activity for many of the visitors and much appreciated. Sunday was a free day where hosts had the opportunity to take their ambassadors to places of interest, to visit family or just to catch up with washing etc at home.
The piece de resistance was the Farewell Dinner on Sunday evening where Club members organised the 'Flight to Nowhere'. When the eighty travellers arrived at the hall they had to wait at the door until the 'gate' was open and then were put through security before receiving their boarding passes and going to the Mile High Lounge for drinks and nibbles. Then to the Emu Airlines plane, which was a plane interior, made out of weed mat and held up by a frame. The flight attendants took their boarding passes and showed them to seats arranged two by two down the plane. Airline meals were served on a tray with a choice of beef or chicken with a roll & butter. Dessert was a choice of lemon or pecan tart and biscuits and cheese. Drinks were served from a trolley.
On Monday eleven of the Lake Hartwell ambassadors were taken to Hahndorf to be met by the Murray Bridge Club for their next exchange. Others left for different destinations. The Lake Libertad ambassadors flew out in early evening to their next exchange in Sydney.