The town has a population of about 6000 people, while the main industry on the island is agriculture.
Soon after arriving in Australia, Emil saw his first AFL match and was immediately hooked.
Emil, 17, decided that he would play Aussie Rules football and began to train with Benalla’s under-18 team.
He worked hard on his fitness and skills and to his delight was chosen to play in the team.
And two weeks ago the team had its first win.
Emil said he was keen to keep playing Aussie Rules when he returned to Denmark in July.
There happens to be an Australian Rules league in Denmark (Dansk Australsk Fodbold Liga) that is considered the largest and most successful competition outside the English speaking world, so Emil will be able to keep playing his adopted sport.
Alongside his football endeavours, Emil also attends Benalla P-12 College where his studies include maths methods, chemistry and English.
He has particularly enjoyed studying outdoor education, which has given him the opportunity to see many places of interest in rural Victoria.
One of his most memorable experiences was camping in the snow at Mt Stirling.
When Emil first arrived in Australia he was met by Amanda Challis and Deb Randich, who were his first host parents.
His second host parents were Kristy and Drew Morrison, whose daughter Grace, was a Rotary Youth Exchange student in France last year.
Emil is living with Diane and Brian Murphy, whose daughter Teagan is on a Rotary Youth Exchange in Germany.
Their older daughter Lauren was also a Rotary exchange student.
For more than 50 years, the Rotary Club of Benalla has participated in the youth exchange program.
In that time, students from many countries, including France, Germany, Switzerland, Japan and Brazil have experienced life in rural Australia.
Students have been hosted by Rotarians and their families as well as families from the wider Benalla community.
In many cases these exchanges have led to lifelong friendships.
Many Benalla hosts have visited their exchange ‘‘children’’ in their home countries, have been invited to weddings and have become ‘‘grandparents’’ to little ones, who will perhaps become the next generation of Rotary Youth Exchange students.
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