During the recent school holidays, a group of Gippsland Grammar students embarked on an unforgettable 10-day study tour of Japan, continuing the school’s long-standing sister-school relationship with Hikarigaoka Girls High School
in Okazaki.
The tour combined cultural learning, language immersion and international friendship.
Students began their journey in Kyoto, where they visited the historic Kiyomizu Temple, enjoyed a traditional Maiko experience and explored
sites dating back more than 1000 years.
From there, they travelled to Osaka for a day at Universal Studios Japan before visiting Hiroshima, where they reflected deeply on the history of the atomic bombing and listened to the moving testimony of
a survivor.
Japanese teacher Masami Sugisaki, who co-led the tour, said the visit to Hiroshima was an experience that would stay with students and staff for years to come.
“It was beyond our imagination to comprehend what happened 80 years ago right where we were standing,” Sugisaki Sensei said.
Beyond the history and sights, the most memorable part of the experience came when the 20 students had the opportunity to reconnect with familiar faces at the Hikarigaoka Girls
High School.
“Gippsland Grammar has been making the trip to visit our sister school every two years since we established the relationship more than 30 years ago, which is very special,” Sugisaki Sensei said.
“It’s allowed us to form longstanding relationships and when we visit, we feel safe and valued. We visited some amazing places in Japan, but I really think it was the chance to see familiar faces and truly immerse ourselves in the language that was the highlight, for both teachers and students.”
The final days of the tour were spent in Okazaki at Hikarigaoka, where the Gippsland students rejoined their friends for language lessons, games and cultural activities, including a performance by the school’s renowned dance club.
“It was wonderful to see the kids talking to their peers, laughing together and meeting up with students they knew from earlier this year when some of the Hikarigaoka students visited us in Sale,” Japanese teacher Rachel Patton said.
“This really is what it’s all about.”
Year 11 student Lloyd Turnbull said his personal trip highlight was the time spent at Hikarigaoka, where he gave a speech in fluent Japanese on stage in front of all of the Hikarigaoka students.
“Though we only spent three days there I loved almost every aspect about it,” Lloyd said.
“Everyone was just so nice and helpful and there was just a great atmosphere around the whole school and many of us made friends during our visit.
“I went to Japan not really knowing what to expect, and by the time I boarded the plane back home, I was wishing I could stay for another 10 days.”
The partnership between Gippsland Grammar and Hikarigaoka Girls High School began in 1992 under then principal Campbell Bairstow and Japanese teachers Jan Chalmer and Helen Patton.
Over the past 33 years, it has flourished into a cherished friendship that extends beyond the classroom, with many students maintaining contact – and even returning visits – with their host families long after their school years are finished.
Several former Hikarigaoka students have since joined Gippsland Grammar as language assistants.
Gippsland Grammar’s head of languages Arthur Chen said the opportunity for students to embrace cross-cultural learning through exchanges and study tours was invaluable.
“Language is so much more than just communication,” Mr Chen said.
“It is a shared understanding of cultures, customs and values. Through the hard work of our tour leaders Sugisaki Sensei, Patton Sensei and Glen Dihood, these students have been able to experience first-hand a slice of this shared connection.
“The memories they shared with their classmates and the Hikarigaoka students will be lifelong friendships bridging cultures through their
common language.”
The partnership with Hikarigaoka Girls High School continues to be a cornerstone of Gippsland Grammar’s international program, with the next visit to Sale by Hikarigaoka students scheduled for 2026 and the next Japan Study Tour scheduled for 2027 for students then in
years 9-11.
Next year the languages and humanities departments will join forces to host a 13-day study tour for students then in
years 9-12.
French teacher Bronwyn Barbetti said the French study tour would offer a rich program of cultural and educational experiences “from Paris to Amiens and from Caen to Saint-Malo”.
“Our study tour to France will be more than sightseeing,” Ms Barbetti said.
“It’s a chance for students to step beyond the familiar, immerse themselves in another culture and return with new perspectives. Every street walked, every conversation practiced, and every historical site explored helps our students grow in ways a classroom
alone cannot.”
