NINETY-four Weydon School students and 12 staff travelled to Australia for a sports tour this summer.

The students started the tour in Sydney and travelled extensively, taking in Newcastle, Koffs Harbour, the Gold Coast, and a day in Brisbane.

They played netball, rugby and football matches against local teams and stepped up to the challenge.

There were six teams in total. The fixtures included netball and football matches against Rosebank (Sydney), Mereweather (Newcastle) and Miami State (Gold Coast).

The rugby matches were against St Joseph’s (Sydney), Mereweather (Newcastle) and Miami State (Gold Coast).

Other than sporting fixtures the students enjoyed sand boarding on the dunes in Newcastle, surfing at Surfers Paradise, a day at Sea World theme park, a dolphin cruise and a day at Manly Beach.

They also visited Bondi Beach, enjoyed a day at a reptile park, attended a professional Aussie Rules match and tour of the Olympic park, a professional netball match in Brisbane, five nights at a sports complex and tours of Sydney and Brisbane.

There were some outstanding achievements by students on the tour, with awards handed out to the following winners:

* Under-14 netballer of tour - Maisie Iddles-Heptonstall.

* Under-16 netballer of tour - Lauren Outridge-Needs.

* Under-14 rugby player of tour - Stanley Platt and Ollie Ryman.

* Under-16 rugby player of tour – Tom Casali and Ben Atkins.

* Under-14 footballer of tour – William Taylor.

* Under-16 footballer of tour – Jack Fabry and Sam Griffith-Jones.

Adam Allaway, Weydon’s year seven progress and achievement leader and one of the tour organisers, said: “We thought taking 94 students across the other side of the world was going to be a real challenge but these students were a real credit to Weydon School.

“They embraced the culture and performed very well against some very tough Australian competition.

“It really was a trip of a lifetime and they will have made some memories they will never forget.”

Weydon School would like to thank all the sponsors for their kind sponsorship of the teams kits: Coco Bay, Ash Vale Saw Mill, Ruby Mane Hairdressers, Velsheda Consulting, Canvas Events, Coan Foods (Biltong & Jerky), Ikinema.