More than 40 years after her first visit when she arrived from Aachen, Germany, as a 16-year-old exchange student, Dr Julia Meyer (nee Thomas), recently returned to Grafton.

Joined by her husband Dr Bernhard Meyer, Dr Meyer rekindled her fond memories of the riverside community while admiring the flowering jacaranda trees Grafton is famous for.

Hosted by Bernie and Jill Gill, Bill and Fay Skelly, and Sherry and Ted Michael during her student exchange in 1980, which was initiated by the Rotary Youth Exchange and the Rotary Club of South Grafton, Dr Meyer also enjoyed catching up with her host sister Sharyn Andrews (nee Gill) and her husband Tony Andrews during her visit last month.

The Meyers also visited See Park to view the floodlit jacaranda trees during Illuminate Jacaranda, indulged in some purple ice cream, and watched a sunset over the Clarence River.

While 43 years have passed since her initial visit, Dr Meyer has kept in close contact with her host families, who were thrilled to welcome her back to Grafton during her current holiday in Australia.