General News
21 July, 2026
Lions exchange students explore Aus
Three students recently finished their time in Maryborough through Lions Club International’s exchange program.
Exchange students from across the globe got a glimpse of Australia and local hospitality this month.
Three students from Canada, Spain, and Brazil came to Maryborough as part of Lions Club International’s exchange program.
They were hosted by the Hoober family, with support of the Carisbrook Lions Club, for the past three weeks.
While an Australia trip may have been a first for the students, hosting them wasn’t anything new for the Hoobers, after 16 years and many visitors.
Kate Hoober said they all became a part of her family.
“They’re all welcome to come back,” she said.
It’s a connection that didn’t go unappreciated by Canadian Emersyn Marshman.
“I’m going to miss them so much,” Ms Marshman said.
“They were so accepting and ready to help us, hold us up, while we learned how to be here.”
It’s a sentiment Africa Saavedra, from Spain, echoed.
“It’s a new country, we don’t know anyone, we really hang on to them because they’re like our parents here,” she said.
“Kate is our mum, Jefferson is our dad, Jackson is our brother. It’s just like another family.”
Together they explored Maryborough, and the wider region, throughout their stay.
Ms Marshman said they toured local businesses, explored Melbourne, and saw sights throughout Victoria.
“We’ve travelled all around this area and further,” she said.
Jefferson Hoober said even he experienced some firsts like visiting the Twelve Apostles by the Great Ocean Road.
“It pushes us outside our barriers and gets us out in the sunshine,” he said.
A highlight for Ms Saavedra was seeing kangaroos at a wildlife park.
“Not even with fences. You can walk with them and touch them. That was really a shock,” she said.
Touring local print business McPhersons was another stand out.
“That’s something I’ve never done before and it really impressed me,” she said.
Ms Marshman said Melbourne’s laneways, filled with graffiti and street art, were a highlight.
“Those were so cool and we don’t have much of those in Canada,” she said.
Another highlight, for each of them, was the Maryborough community.
“It’s like a really close knit community where everyone helps everybody,” Ms Marshman said.
Ms Saavedra, who comes from city life, said saying hi to everyone was unusual at first.
“I think that’s a really special community that they have here,” she said.
“Because there’s less people you know everyone and you feel more a part of the town.”
However, when it came time for goodbyes, there were tears in this found family.
Mrs Hoober said the last two days were always the most difficult.
“It’s very very sad,” she said.
However, it’s not goodbye forever, with an open invitation there if they want to come back.
Which, as a summer person, Ms Saavedra said she’ll take up over Christmas one day.
“Everyone was so kind to us,” she said.