It wasn't the first time. Or the second, or even the third, but this visit to the Arava was special: Tamara Bruce, one of the founding members of the Arava-Australia Partnership (AAP) activist group in Melbourne put the principles of our Partnership into action when she joined local volunteers in the evaluation and prioritization of projects to be operated by the Partnership in 2010.

The visit was intense, and Tamara didn't waste a moment. Within minutes of arriving in the Arava she was on her way to the most important meeting of the year for the ACE (Art, Community and Education) subcommittee. All of the committee members in the Arava and in Australia had carefully studied the written material on the projects proposed for funding by the 2010 Partnership; at this meeting the project initiators had a chance to make presentations to the committee.

Tamara's remarks on the presentations were insightful and incisive, going to the heart of the matter and asking the hard questions, while at the same time pointing up the projects' positive attributes.

At the end of the four-hour meeting, after parting from her Israeli colleagues with hugs and kisses, Tamara carried on to meetings with Partnership Director Cochy Avny, Regional Council Head Ezra Ravins and the staff of the Limmud Arava project.

As one of the initiators of the Limmud Arava project, this meeting was particularly close to Tamara's heart, and she was extremely impressed by the clarity of purpose and energy of the Limmud staff. At the end of this very long day Tamara had dinner at the home of local activist and old friend Celia Yitzhak.

The next morning began early with a breakfast meeting with Celia on art in the community; Celia and Tamara were among the first supporters of the idea to take advantage of the abundance of local talent to brand the Arava as a region associated with the arts.

From there it was on to a meeting with Partnership Co-chair Peter Rabin, reciprocal relations subcommittee head Evelyn Biton and Cochy Avny for a discussion on the future of the Partnership, and the visit ended with a tour of the recently founded Leadership Academy on Moshav Hazeva.

Tamara returned to Melbourne with a clearer picture of the aims and goals of the projects that the Partnership will operate in 2010, which she will share with her Australian colleagues. Her visit was invaluable to us all - this is what our Partnership is all about!

Following are Tamara's impression of the visit in her own words:

"My recent visit to the Arava was incredibly brief, intense and inspirational.

 I really felt the winds of empowerment in all my meetings.

The Community Education plan makes so much sense, it is taking advantage of being a small community to attend to the individual educational needs of children from pre school to bagrut.
The Art exhibition and the enthusiasm of the local artists led by Celia Yitzhak is very exciting.

I think it is the beginning of a grass roots or bottom up process to brand the Arava with Art and get things happening.

The Limmud committee are doing a superb job, I only wish I could be back for Limmud Arava, I'll plan to come next time.

I was so impressed during my visit to the Mechina (Leadership Academy)  programme, it is indeed a way in which the values of the Arava way of life can impact on the greater Israeli population.

I have been talking to a lot of young people in Melbourne about it.

Lastly, it was wonderful to see all my friends and reconnect after such a long time,
Lehitraot,

Tamara"