Fudooka student Tomomi Kunimasa with KSHS student Lara-Maree Boyle

August 3, 2013

Kingaroy State High School officially bade farewell to its visitors from Fudooka High School at a dinner for teachers, host families and students in Kingaroy on Friday night.

It’s been a short visit for the 28 Japanese students – 25 girls and three boys – but everyone agreed it had been a very worthwhile stay.

The students flew into the Gold Coast last Friday (July 26) and after a brief orientation arrived in Kingaroy at 3:30pm that day.

During their time in Kingaroy, they attended classes with their appointed “buddies” as well as visiting local schools, the Bunya Mountains, the Visitor Information Centre, South Burnett Regional Council and PCA where they watched peanuts being processed.

They also were involved in the school’s “Flair” concert held on Thursday night.

A visit to Australia Zoo – where they had the opportunity to pat kangaroos and koalas – was a highlight of their Australian visit.

Each student stayed with a different host family, and joined in that family’s activities.

The dinner, held at the high school, was prepared by KSHS Home Economics students and staff.

Hospitality students whipped up “mocktails”.

Principal David Ballin told the visiting students they had all been great ambassadors for their school.

He said the visits from Fudooka had become a tradition in Kingaroy.

“It’s been almost 20 years since the first students visited in the mid-1990s,” he said.

And he said the reception Kingaroy students received in Fudooka was always very warm.

“We have made many friends at Fudooka High School,” he said.

The students will be leaving Kingaroy early on Monday morning and will spend two days at the University of Queensland as part of a “Super Science” program before returning home to Japan.

Naoto Inagaki, Rihito Hoshino and Mototsugu Sakuma … Rihito spoke at the farewell dinner on behalf of the other students

Chihiro Fukushima and Kaho Obana

Chiaki Yui and Nami Uchida
Hospitality students Casey Milsom, Carleigh Hansen, Jackie Krosch, Jasmine Bonwick and Zac Dennien were making “mocktails” for the farewell dinner 
Mina Mochizuki, at back, with Rika Hashimoto, Yuria Endo, Saya Okazaki, Mayuko Ochi and Ayaha Komamiya
KSHS Japanese teacher Megan Truss with visiting teachers Shinobu Sakurada and Hiroyuki Matsumoto, and KSHS principal David Ballin