Italian students on a study tour visited their sister school Greater Shepparton Secondary College on September 16. They are pictured with three GSSC representatives (front).
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
In an exchange of cultures, 14 students on a study tour from Italy this week spent time in Shepparton, stopping by Greater Shepparton Secondary College for a First Nations Dreamtime experience.
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Last year, 17 language students from GSSC travelled to Italy, staying with host families from the Liceo Cardarelli arts school in La Spezia.
Now, the families of those local students are returning the favour.
Silvia Ronzello, 16.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
The Italian students, aged between 16 and 18, are spending around two weeks in Australia.
It is the beginning of the new school year in Italy, now that its summer break has ended.
The group’s first week included trips to Melbourne, the Great Ocean Road, Daylesford and Ballarat; the latter being the most popular among the students so far due to their visit to the city’s Gold Rush tourist attraction, Sovereign Hill.
On September 15, the students arrived at GSSC for a tour, before visiting Tank’s Art Gallery and Shepparton Art Museum.
Simone Bartolucci and Niccolò Nistri.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
The following day, they engaged in cultural learning and created Aboriginal-inspired art, followed by a tour of the Shepparton Heritage Centre and Shepparton’s street art and Moooving Art cows.
Later in the week, they planned to meet City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Shane Sali at GSSC and sketch at Kialla’s Australian Botanic Gardens before taking a walk along the Goulburn River.
Thea Compani, 16, Giorgia De Rosa, 17, and Caterina Toselli, 17.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
They will also visit the nearby tourist towns of Glenrowan, Beechworth and Echuca before spending their final weekend in Australia with each of their individual host families.
Families and students from both countries will enjoy a final barbecue together on Sunday before bidding each other farewell.
Martina Favicchio and Bianca Tassanelli.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
The exchange program is similar to one that was running at Wanganui Park Secondary College before Shepparton’s public high schools were combined to create Greater Shepparton Secondary College.
GSSC and Istituto Vincenzo Cardarelli school, where the Liceo Cardarelli arts students hail from, are exploring a ‘sister-school’ relationship for ongoing travel and study opportunities.
