From Okinawa to LNSC

Lalor North Secondary College had the pleasure of hosting 20 students and 3 teachers from Okinawa, on a 10-day adventure. Our guests had a deep dive into being students enjoying classes in Cooking, Music, Dance and incursions with the Indigenous Outreach Project, as well as visiting Melbourne University, Whittlesea Technical School and many more events.

Okinawa is a Japanese prefecture comprising more than 150 islands in the East China Sea

 between Taiwan and Japan's mainland. It's known for its tropical climate, broad beaches and coral reefs, as well as World War II sites. On the largest island (also named Okinawa) is Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum, commemorating a massive 1945 Allied invasion, and Churaumi Aquarium, home to whale sharks and manta rays.

Our Okinawa, Japan Visitors. 

By Luca Mylas

          On Day 1, the Japanese students from Okinawa, Japan arrived at Lalor North Secondary College and were welcomed to our school. This was just the beginning of their adventure in Victoria.

On Day 2, some of the students from Lalor North Secondary College took a bus with our guests from Okinawa to Whittlesea Tech School to see how an Australian Tech School operates. We enjoyed a lovely lunch provided by the principal of Lalor North Secondary College, Timothy Cottrell, who also shared some welcoming words with the Japanese students. After lunch, we went on a tour of The University of Melbourne. We then had lunch on the south lawn before heading back to Lalor North Secondary College to conclude the day.

On Day 3, the Japanese students from Okinawa returned to Lalor North Secondary College and had the opportunity to participate in some of the various programs and activities we offer. They joined in our music program, put on the aprons and baked with our food technology students making Lemon Myrtle cookies, saw a dance performance by visiting company, Indigenous Outreach Project and learned to print Australian plants onto paper using ink, and even participated in some dancing, including the Nutbush and the Macarena.

Lemon Myrtle Biscuits

Serves: 15 Biscuits                                                                           Oven Temperature: 180’C

Ingredients:

125 grams Butter                                                                              1/4 Cup Corn Flour 

2 Tablespoons Icing Sugar                                                             8 Macadamia nuts, cut in half

3/4 Cup Plain Flour                                                                          1/4 Teaspoon Lemon Myrtle

Method:

1. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Add sifted flours and lemon Myrtle, mix well.
3. Roll into small balls and place a half a macadamia nut on top of each biscuit.
4. Place on a baking tray.
5. Bake in a Moderate oven for 10-12 minutes until pale golden brown.
6. Cool on wire rack. 

Lemon Myrtle has been used by Indigenous Australians for 40 thousand years, by               wrapping the leaves in paperbark to flavour fish dishes, and to treat headaches by crushing and inhaling the leaves. The leaf was used for food flavouring and as an insect repellent when the volatile leaves were burned on a campfire.

Macadamias first evolved in the rainforests on the east coast of Australia over 60 million   years ago. Healthy, delicious, and very special, they are an integral part of the Australian story and a product of which we can all be proud.

By Sonia Cuthbert (ES- Food Tech)

On Day 4, students from Lalor North Secondary College and the students from Okinawa revisited the city. We took the bus into the city and visited Parliament House for a guided tour. Afterwards, we strolled towards Melbourne Central for lunch. Following that, we boarded another bus to Scienceworks where everyone enjoyed themselves with the many activities available. We then headed to a smaller building where we were treated to an incredible light show called the "Glow Show." Unfortunately, we had to leave before the show concluded to ensure we arrived back at school on time.

On Day 5, it was the farewell day for the Okinawa students at Lalor North Secondary College. Some Lalor North students were in the library when Principal Timothy Cottrell delivered a speech that touched everyone. Following the speech, a video created by me, Luca Mylas, was shown to the Japanese students, eliciting tears of joy as it was their last day. The Lalor North students who helped with the tour for the Okinawa students were feeling emotional as they said their goodbyes to the friends they had made. We wished them all a safe journey home and hope to see them again in the future.