About us

Friendship Force International was founded on March 1, 1977 in Atlanta, Georgia by Wayne Smith. President Jimmy Carter was its first Patron. Since then more than 500,000 Ambassadors and Hosts have participated through more than 5,000 home-stay exchanges.

Friendship Force home-stays have created tens of thousands of enduring friendships and has led to the establishment of ties between communities throughout the world. There are now over 360 clubs in 55 countries. There are 24 clubs just in Australia. The Head Office of Friendship Force International is located in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

As a member of Friendship Force you may participate in international outbound exchanges with the Central Coast Club or with any other Club in Australia, or the world. You may also be involved in inbound exchanges by hosting a visiting single or couple from another club, or by helping with the conduct of the exchange.

Domestic exchanges provide opportunities for other Australian clubs to visit and make new friendships. We usually welcome two overseas exchanges, and embark one overseas exchange per year, and one  domestic exchange each way per year. 

For more information about how Friendship Force works - please click here

Our Club was chartered in 1986, the first in New South Wales, Australia.  We currently have about 75 members.

Social gatherings are arranged between meetings and a very interesting newsletter is published 6 times per year.   We also have an active social calendar, including regular get-togethers at venues around the Central Coast.

Our Club undertakes at least two inbound one outbound overseas exchanges each year.  

Club Executive
2011 - 12

President

Vacant

Anne Coggan

Vice-President

Deidre Abdy
Vice-President

Photo coming soon

Rae Snell
Secretary

Marj Hines
Treasurer

Our Patron

Councillor
Jim Macfadyen
Gosford City Council

About Transport

INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT: Sydney Kingsford-Smith Airport
Coach Cost, Airport to Club,
up to 21 seats ... ...about $450AU.
30+ seater ... ...about $600AU.
Many inbound exchanges include a coach tour of Sydney city and some harbour suburbs.

Please come and join us!  We'd love to have you visit.

Just so you get some idea of the scale of Australia. (Click on the card)

Things you should know before you leave to visit with us:

Customs - see http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page4443.asp

Immigration - see http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/tourist/

Quarantine - see http://www.daff.gov.au/aqis/travel/entering-australia/cant-take

Click here for a more detailed map

Would your Friendship Force club like to come visit us? LEARN ABOUT THE CENTRAL COAST The Central Coast area has some of Australia's finest beaches, extensive picturesque lakes and estuaries, national parks and dense rainforests and is home to a large variety of flora and fauna. We have Art Galleries, a University - Technical College - Adult Education campus, a Conservatorium of Music and modern sporting facilities. All these make this one of Australia's premier education and holiday destinations. The Central Coast enjoys a mild sunny climate all year round, with maximum summer temperatures averaging 28-32 degrees C (about 83 - 90F), and winter temps about 18 - 22 C (64 - 70F). It never snows, and rainfall occurs mainly in Autumn and Spring. The region is mostly coastal plain with several large salt-water lakes, and stretches from the Hawkesbury River in the South to Newcastle in the north. An hour and a half drive north-west takes you to the world-famous Hunter Valley wine growing area, and an hour and a half south is Sydney Harbour. A train service links the Central Coast to Sydney and Newcastle, the trip to Sydney from Gosford takes about 1 and 1/2 hours. Find out more about the most beautiful part of the Australian coastline..