As we prepare for the arrival of the 2025 German exchange students, we look back at a Melbourne girl who went off to Wuppertal in Germany in the mid 80's. Joanne Jukes maintained an interest in the German language and culture as she returned to Melbourne, studied law and went into legal practice. Her position as a lawyer with Siemens took her back to Germany over a decade later, where she renewed acquaintances with a German GASSie Tobias. The two went on to become one of the several long-term marriages which SAGSE's exchanges have produced.
Year of exchange: 1985 / 86
Group Leader: Angus Cameron (NSW)
School: Korowa Anglican Girls’ School
German Teacher: Frau Starr
Sponsor: Frau Starr contributed the scholarship from her own funds!
Town / city of exchange in Germany: Wuppertal (famous for its Schwebebahn)
I was hosted by Familie Schmaeling and host sister Andrea. The family ran 2 butcher shops and my host father Guenther worked extremely long hours (4am to 9pm, 6 days). I would sit and talk with him when he got home at night. I remember sledding in the park with Carsten and Simone Wolff. On Christmas Eve, I remember singing “O Tannenbaum” before the beautifully decorated real Christmas tree and then (to my horror) eating ox tongue. The Regensburg camp in the New Year was a highlight as Fritz von Einem Joosten attended, and that is when I first sighted my future husband, Tobias Meyer, a loud blond-haired beer-swilling Bavarian. I also had a very memorable trip to Cologne with Holger Weiland to see INXS and Michael Hutchence in concert.
On return, I studied Law and Commerce at The University of Melbourne and proceeded to a career in law, initially in private legal practice and then as in-house lawyer with Siemens, one of the exchange sponsors. Over 1998 to 2001, I spent 3 years working for Siemens in Germany in project finance, living in Nuremberg. During this time, I reconnected with former Gassies including Tobias. Tobias and I were married in Passau, where Tobias grew up, with the church service in the Mariahilf Wahlfahrtskirche overlooking the Inn River. It was a marvellous wedding. We have 3 children, now 19, 21 and 23.
I head the legal function for Siemens Healthcare in Australia and New Zealand, (diagnostic imaging and laboratory diagnostics) and have completed a Master’s degree in Health and Medical law. I am also a non-executive director on the Board of an Aged Care facility in Bayswater which has strong links to the German community.
The SAGSE exchange has played a significant role in my life’s journey. Aside from marrying an exchange student, many of my closest friends even today are those I met through the exchange. We have also hosted a German student in 2019, Mattis Wagner, which was a great experience for the family.