Now in its ninth year, upper primary students from each school visit the other for week-long visits in their respective communities. The aim of this partnership is to provide educative experiences for all children involved.

It is a two-way partnership as the southern students learn as much from their Wugularr friends on country at Beswick, as the Wugularr kids do in Victoria. The children love to play and learn together, and do so with ease.

This week, a mob of students and community members, along with the Wugularr School Principal Brian Devereux and his wife Jane, visited Melbourne to participate in a special music festival being held at Penbank.

This festival, featuring Indigenous artists such as Dan Sultan, Baker Boy and the Indigenous Hip Hop Projects, raises funds and awareness for the partnership. Playing before a crowd of 1500, two students – Tyqwan and James - and Assistant Teachers Dunstan and Davis from Beswick, performed a special dance which was well received by the enthusiastic crowd.

Whilst in Melbourne the Wugularr mob attended school at Penbank each day, went surfing at local beaches and enjoyed a fantastic visit to the Melbourne Zoo. Not to be outdone, the boys also joined in a rigorous footy training session with the Mornington Bulldogs in preparation for their big game on Saturday.

The experiences gained from this trip create an even deeper bond of friendship between the two communities. It is obvious for all to see that this special relationship is based on mutual trust and respect.

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