Each year Geebung State School hosts a group of students from Japan’s Ritsumeikan Junior High School, providing them with the opportunity to experience a different culture and engage in typical Australian activities.
AFL Queensland has partnered with the school for the past three years to provide a distinctly Australian coaching experience to the Japanese visitors and their new Geebung friends.
Geebung SS Deputy Principal Matthew Meharg said the overseas students valued the opportunity to learn something new.
“Ritsumeikan JHS students study NFL, Tennis, Baseball, Soccer and Gymnastics at their school back home in Japan and this opportunity to learn some basic AFL skills really excites them,” he said.
“As a host school for their study tour we value the opportunity to engage Geebung Students with the Japanese students, whilst building and developing sporting skills.”
AFL Queensland Development Coordinator Angus Armstrong has been involved with the program for the last few years.
“It is great to see overseas participants learning the AFL’s unique skills and enjoying the experience,” said Armstrong.
Geebung and AFL Queensland look forward to continuing this partnership for many years to come.