Students represent College at home
October 7, 2011
Nudgee College PNG boarders returned home for the recent school holidays where, before joining their families, they represented the College during school visits and a rugby game.
Mr Ken Mitchell (Director of Boarding) and Mr Paul Daly (Director of Development and Communications) joined the students in Port Moresby before travelling on to Lae and Mt Hagen. Mr Daly reports on the visit.
Nudgee College has enjoyed a long connection with Papua New Guinea and the many families who live there. This connection was further enhanced as members of staff visited Port Moresby, Lae and Mt Hagen during the first week of the schools holidays.
The trip also brought together 20 young Nudgee College PNG students who had returned home for the holidays for a cultural exchange with Korobosea International Primary School and a friendly rugby match against the Port Moresby International School (POMIS).
Many of our PNG students had attended Korobosea International Primary School in Port Moresby and were excited about representing Nudgee College at the school assembly and sharing stories of their journey to an Australian boarding school and their aspirations for the future.
A game of touch footy on the oval at morning tea was a highlight for the primary school students before the Nudgee College boys departed for a visit to the Port Moresby War Memorial which recognises the many Australian soldiers’ lives lost during the battle of Kokoda.
That afternoon the Nudgee College PNG team assembled for a friendly rugby match against POMIS who, only weeks earlier, had celebrated a premiership winning season. Watched on by some 700 students, families and friends the POMIS team proved too strong winning 14-10 in a match that was played in the spirit it was intended.
Following the match the students extended a gift from Nudgee College to their opposing player then enjoyed a BBQ to finish a very successful celebration of community spirit.
During the visit to Port Moresby, Lae and Mt Hagen the College presented information sessions to interested members of the public about ‘Boarding Life In Australia for Boys and Girls’ covering information about selecting schools, how boarders are cared for, managing expectations, cyber bulling and many other aspect of boarding life. All sessions were well attended and expressions of interest were high generating many enrolment enquires … even for girls!
The College also used the opportunity to donate sporting uniforms and equipment to local clubs and looks forward to this format being a regular event each year. Certainly the very proud PNG students of Nudgee College are keen to have greater community involvement on their next visit.
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