1981 School Magazine

The Japanese Cultural GrouP

After the founding of the Japanese Cultural Group at the beginning olthe year, we held several functions to introduce more people to Japanese. The first was a dinner at the Little Tokyo Restaurant in March. This was a roaring success and started the year in a great way. This was followed up by a cooking demonstration and film night at school. We saw two films on Japan then were treated to Yakitori (Chicken Saties) which was cooked by some of the mothers. Early in the year we embarked on a wine-bottling venture (with a little help form some Fathers' Group members) and sold nearly all of the wine immediately. At the end of July came the highlight of the Cultural Group's first year - the visit by the Hirayama Gakuen. This was the lirst time the visit had not been organized by the school and surprisingly it was very successful. On Saturday lst August, rve held an ollicial welcome lor the Japanese with many dis- tinguished guests such as Mr Iwasaki (not from Yeppoon) the Consul-General, the Hon. Mr Hewitt M.L.A. and Mrs Nelson M.L.A. There was a lovely smorgasbord, French and German dancing, Japanese singing, a performance by the Concert Band and a damper-cooking demonstration by some Duke ol Edinburgh Scheme girls. The welcome was a great success and gave many people a chance to see what the Cultural Group does. On School Day, we put on lkebana (flower arranging) and Tea Ceremony demonstrations. It was announced during the visit from Hirayama Gakuen that next year the Cultural Group is conducting a trip to Japan in December, so start sav- ing. lt will be worth going. Throughout the year, eager parents have been struggling with evening Japanese classes and remarkably there are still quite a lew persevering. The first year has gone very well and we can but cross our fingers and hope next year isjust as great. Gillian Moses

The Japanese Sister-School Report

Once again this year, B.G.G.S. played host to a party of girls lrom our Japanese sister school, Hirayama Gakuen Tsushima Girls' High School. Much to everyone's excite- ment (and extreme nervousness, especially for those hosting billets lor the first time), the girls arrived at the school on the alternoon of Wednesday, July 29th, and after an afternoon tea were escorted to their respective homes by their host sisters. It was in fact a great reunion for many, as five of the Japanese girls were visiting Australia, and their host families, for the second consecutive year. After a generally successlul first night of introductions to host lamilies, the next day was spent by the girls searching the city lor the ingredients of a traditional Japanese meal that night, at the school, as a thank you to all the host sisters and their tamilies. The billets worked very hard together in the school canteen to produce a delicious Japanese dinner which was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. This year, with the formation of the Japanese Cultural Group led by Mrs. Moses and including representatives from the Japanese classes, many of the arrangements for the visit were made by them. A block booking was made for "The King and I", and despite the fact that the girls couldn't understand the dialogue, many of them, particularly those with host sisters involved, enjoyed the colour, costume, singing and dancing. A welcome to the girls, again at school, was held on Saturday, with musical entertainment from the Concert Band, followed by a typical Queensland seafood smorgasboard - all organized by the Cultural Group. Several day trips around the sights of Brisbane were arranged for the girls during the week, while their host sisters remain- ed, much to their disgust, at school. However one day was taken from school to take the billets to the opening ofParlia- ment followed by lunch in the old Botanical Gardens. A cruise down the Brisbane River ended in an afternoon at the extremely popular "Lone Pine". Generally, the entire experience was wonderful for all - many friendships were struck, and many old ones renewed. In lact after a very tearful send-off on all sides, there was generally a very definite pledge from everyone to make a return trip to Japan, with the school, in the near future. Elizabeth Jameson I I Gibson

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