THANK YOU TO ALL

Welcome home to all!

Thank you to all involved, Tumut High staff, Blakeney Millar Foundation Trustees and travelling teachers for giving our son this most wonderful, once in a life time experience! The stories are fascinating and just keep on coming as I am sure they will for weeks if not years.

Thank you again

Catherine and Rodney Anderson

To all -----------Tumut High Europe 2009

Dear Tumut Travellers,
As I write this you will be enroute home. We wish you all godspeed for that safe arrival and know that you will be welcomed by your awaiting families and communities with enthusiasm and relief. Many in the community have watched and listened and read with interest your activities while away. We at Blakeney Millar Foundation trust that this experience has offered each of you some delights, some special experiences and some time for insights about the world ,her history and your future possibilities as the global citizens you are.
We are very proud of you all, and look forward to hearing of your time away. We also thank as ever the leadership and fellowship offered to you by the trip leaders, your teachers, especially Ms Stroud on this occasion. The care offered to you all by the very fine teachers accompanying you is integral to the success of this project.
We are confident that Mrs Blakeney Millar would endorse this project as meeting the aspirations in her bequest for innovation in education. It is my hope that we as trustees and certainly as parents and community cannot even yet imagine what might be the long term results from the collective appetites inspired by this special community opportunity here in Tumut.
Yours sincerely,
Jenelle Becker -Chairman -Blakeney Millar Foundation

Hayley and Chris

Hi Hayley and Chris. It's Lori. You might not get this message before you get home but I thought I would send you one last one to wish you a safe trip home. Ryan came out to annoy me today. We played Canasta then went to miniball. Mum forgot that we had a bye but she stayed and helped in the canteen anyway. Because we were at miniball we missed you on the radio Chris. Sorry! I'm very excited about having our 2 french billets on Wednesday. We might show them around Tumut and maybe take them up the dam for drive to see some kangaroos and emus. I think they'd like that. Did you see any animals in France or Italy? I've had fun sleeping in your bed and Amy is coming out for the day tomorrow to play. Love you both heaps and can't wait to see you in 2 sleeps.
Lori xx

Hi Lisa

Got your e-mail. Your report was great. We will tune in tomorrow to listen to the Community Radio report, just like we have every day.

Melinda - Lisa's mum

Hi Chris .Your trip is quickly coming to an end. Lisa did a lovely report on ANZAC day service. It was great to just watch it on the TV knowing you all were there, so I can only imagine what it would have been like to have actually been there. We have had lots of rain over the weekend and it has turned cold. Bulldogs won yesterday. Enjoy the last couple of days. Love Mum,Dad, Allison & Ryan.

Back to Paris

Today ,after 2 days with our host families, we met up at the train station at Amiens to say goodbye. It was quite emotional.
In Paris we left our packs at the hotel and made our way to the Moulin Rouge. From there we went to the Sacre Couer, and ate our lunch and then walked up the many stairs to one the highest points in Paris.
We caught the metro across the Seine River to Notre Dame, spending time admiring the huge stained windows and the organ music.
Dinner tonight was in a restaurant only a short walk from the hotel.

a cold but beautiful anzac day

after an early morning wake up of 3:30 am, we made our way from the host families houses either by private transport or mini bus from the school. although we had been constantly warned about the extent of the cold it came as a surprise to us just how freezing the weather really was. upon arrival we were greeted with the kind and familiar voices that followed the accents of the australian soldiers. one soldier that was handing out programmes and badges said in a typical australian manner; "get your free programmes and badges, yeah come on mate you know you wanna." the mood as we all bundled together as a group was one of reflection and in my case extreme awe of the love and gratitude the people of france, particularly villers bretonneux, have for australian's. this feeling was finalised with the kind treatment we received at our host familie's house. as the ceremony proceeded, the emotion of the event reached everyone in the audience and we rediscovered the significance of anzac day. brad, laura and dylan made us all proud by laying a wreath infront of the crowd on behalf of tumut high school. the freezing cold weather was not enough to stop us all from experiencing and discovering a new meaning to anzac day as well as getting first hand experience and insight into the strong bonds between australia and france. the ceremony over all was very touching and was definately a highlight of the trip. particularly visiting la hamel, the town in which my host family resided, and seeing their memorial with australian trenches and the meaning behind each stage of battle displayed in english and french on boards leading up to the flags of australia, france, usa and canada. i will never look at anzac day in the same light again. love lisa.

amiens

This morning our host families packed us huge lunches and dropped us off at the train station to spend the day at amiens. when we arrived in the city we went on small motorised boats around canals. it was very relaxing and interesting; seeing all the tiny farming houses along the canal. we then walked through amiens on our way to the notre dame cathdral, a replica of the cathdral in paris. we were intrigued by the stuatue of the crying cherub leaning on a human skull.

after walking around the cathedral we made our way to the park and ate our lunches next to the lake, sone people taking the chance to have a play on the equipment.
after 3hours of free time shopping in amiens we were all exhausted and glad to see our families waiting for us at the Villers station. we all went home for a huge dinner and tried to get some sleep before our early morning wake up for ANZAC.

Paris

We divided into 3 groups today - giving the students a choice of where they wanted to go for the morning.
Mr Dietz and Mrs Vanags led a train trip out of Paris to the Palace at Versailles, only having time to see the gardens before returning to our meeting point at the Opera.
Mr Burns took a few Science students to the Marie Curie Museum - small but interesting and Mrs Stroud and myself took the metro to the Cimetiere du Pere Lachaise where some very famous people are buried - including Jim Morrison, Edith Piaff, Chopin, Moliere, Oscar Wilde, and Abelard and Heloise. These 2 groups met up to experience the coffee culture at the Hard Rock Cafe (too expensive, so found a cheaper alternative!).
After meeting all up at the Opera and having lunch we returned to the hotel to get our packs and then to the Gare du Nord to catch the train to Amiens, where we changed trains for Villers Bretonneux.
Our reception at the school at Villers Bretonneux was incredible. The foyer was decorated in all the symbols of Australia - the green and gold, kangaroos etc. After being introduced to our host families, we all went our separate ways.
Ms Nicholls

Hi Catherine.

We watched very carefuly through the ANZAC service to see if we could see anyone of you guys, till we saw Bradley laying the wreath. We then watched him walk back to see where he was going but lost him. Matt rang this morning said "HI" he had a good day 4 ANZAC , pizza and 2 beers.

talk latter. Lots of love and missing you heaps. Karen, Terry, Jono and Matt.

Bradley

Hi, we saw you on the ABC putting the wreath on! Ella said you should come home now. You all looked frozen. Hope your having a great time with your host family. We've enjoyed the photos and can't believe how quickly it's gone by. Enjoy the rest of your trip everyone.
lots of love
Mum, Dad, Jack & ELLA xxxx

Hi Catherine.

We just got the internet back on , checked out the site and love the photos, it sounds like you are all having so much fun, i wish that I could be with you. We went to the dawn service today and thought of you and Mathew. Say Hello to your host family for us. Looking forward to seeing you or any one of you on TV today.

Missing you heaps, Love Karen, Terry and Jono.

Hi Mealz, hope the legs are OK and have a good day on ANZAC day. It is raining here and dad is happy.Hope you and Kate are behaving for your host family and not causing too much mayhem.Only 5 sleeps then back to the real world of work, school, work so enjoy it while you can. missing you heaps love mum,dad and william

Hello Brodie and Brad it's Amelia

Hi Brodie and Brad

It's only 5 sleeps till you get home. I am so excited. I hope you like living with Contance for 3 days Brodie. I love your photo in Paris. I went to the Canberra Zoo and fed a baby white lion. I will show you the photo when you get back. Can you tell Laura and Catherine that I fed the lion. Say hello to them for me too please. Hope you have a good day on ANZAC Day we are going to watch the TV in case we can see you or Brad or Laura or Catherine or anyone you are with. I love you and miss you but not long till you are home. Can you bring me a present from Paris too please. Just a little one.

Lots and lots of love from Amelia xxxoooxxxoooxxxoooxx

Tour of Paris

Yesterday (Tuesday) we ventured from Venice to Paris via Milan. During this trip of 12 hours we briefly took in the sights of Milans historic stataion bulit by Mussilini and the incredible scenery of the snow capped alps. On the entry into France there was a long delay caused by the removal of some illegal immigrants from the train.
Finally, with not much sleep and plenty of card gamzs we arrived in Paris at the Gare de Lyon where we were bused to our hotel and to our beds at about 1."à am.
After a good but short nights sleep, we were up early ready for our first look at Paris. Our guide was Evelyn. We caught the metro to Musee d Orsay were we saw works by Monet, Manet, Degas, Van Gogh, and Evelyn explained the historical development of their style of painting.
After an hours tour, we moved onto the Eiffel Tower where the queues were very long.This did not lessen our spirit. We caught the lift to the highest level where we experienced amazing views across Paris. We descended by the stairs- the whole 700 plus of them. We crossed the Seine River and made our way to the Arc de Triumphe, a magnificent monument built in 1836 to celebrate Napoleons victory at Austerlitz.
The traffic in Paris is generally not as chaotic as we saw in Rome and Naples. The roads around the arc are chocked with traffic seemlyingly not following any rules. After lunch we were keen to do some washing so we made our way back to the hotel and used a local laundry. Dinner was at a lovely restaurant, Cafe Barjot. We had a lot to share at the nightly D&M after these 2 full and exciting days.
Love Hayley, Nick B and Dylan

Mip xx

Heading to Paris
With lots on their minds
Are 20 Tumut High students
In two straight lines
They left their hotel at half past nine
In search of a little girl named Madeline.

Hi Mip, Do you like my poem? Hope your having fun, miss you heaps. Love Moo xx
P.S. Say hi to Madeline (If you see her)

Mitch we are all missing you, Have the best time, Treasure every moment.. Cant wait for the photos and stories you will have to show and tell.
love Mum xx

Hello Beautiful Stacey

Hi Stace,

It looks like you are having a great time from the few photos we have seen. Can't wait to hear all your stories and see the rest of the photos, time is ticking away fast and you will be home before you know it. I hope the weather has been kind. It's been cool here of a night but really pleasant during the day.
Take care and keep safe. All our love Robby and Tan xoxo.

P.S Robby said hello Thathey are there any French girls asking about him... Typical it's all about him

Hello Nicholas Anderson

How was the view from The Tower? We will put some money in your bank just incase as we are heading for the camping trip in Batmens Bay on Friday. The weather is looking bad and we think we are going to be cold, wet and wind blown. 

Missing you, Love Mum, Dad, Eliza, Zac and Lachlan.

DY

Hey Dylan
All is good at home. Dad said turf needs mowing where are you??????????
Connor has been staying at our house loves your bed. Connor has been riding Cecil, he got thrown today to busy worrying about eating. Bingo tomorrow. Arnie has grown heaps. Dad said Bulldogs up there on ladder.
We watch the blog looks like you are having a great time.
Bye All the Bucketheads.xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Love the photos. Hugs n kisses