READERS of the Alpine Observer and Myrtleford Times will have noticed stories about the adventures of local lad Harri Silvester as he spends a year at his youth exchange location in northern Italy.

Harri described it as 'a life lived in a year', and anyone who has participated in one of these programs will tell you how exciting and life–changing it is.

As a result of Harri's visit there is now an opportunity for local families to get their own taste of the program – to 'dip their toe into the water' as it were, by becoming a short term host to an international student.

Roberto, a charming 16yo from Chile, will be hosted in Mount Beauty for a year, beginning about the middle of July.

Students are normally allocated to three or four families during their stay, and all expenses are covered by the local Rotary Club.

On Wednesday, May 24 at 7pm Rotary will host an information session at Mount Beauty Secondary College where you can speak directly with local families whose lives and children's lives have been enhanced by being part of this wonderful program.

More information on the Rotary Exchange program is available online or by contacting Rotarian Bob Flower on 0417 246 303.

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THIS week is volunteers week and today Alpine FM volunteer coordinator Helen McDougall is putting on a morning tea for the team of volunteers at the station.

I will be speaking with volunteers from the community, Australia Day award winner (Citizen of the Year) Meg Crebbin and her husband Jim.

Both do so much for the community.

There will be an interview with another couple who also give so much to the community, Helen and Paul L' huillier.

Helen volunteers with Red Cross and Paul with U3A and the Men's Shed.

Last week on the Brunch program while speaking with Alpine Shire Mayor John Forsyth, he said we needed more young people to become involved with volunteering across the shire.

Mount Beauty has some fine young people who do volunteer which makes me think the future is in good hands.