Bushfire Support

Collège Jacques Brel

The Collège Jacques Brel, our sister school in the town of Villers-Bretonneux in France show support to Australia during bushfire crisis. 

The Collège Jacques Brel in Villers Bretonneux which is Warrnambool College’s sister school honours historical ties between the Somme and Australia since WWI by lending its support to Australia gravely affected by unusual fires this season. The school community of this small town where Australian and New Zealand Army Corps defeated German troops on 25th April 1918 are taking action to show support and bring comfort through several initiatives.

Led by the school’s Australian Club and Céline Hondermarck, the school principal, pupils from each form have written a letter in english to be sent to Australian firefighters in the direct zones: over 36 fire stations through Australia will receive this powerful mark of solidarity in the upcoming weeks.

Students are putting their artistic talents to contributions through a drawing competition, and also through singing: with the help of Monsieur Basset, music teacher, students are composing and recording a song to be performed at a solidarity concert by the school’s choir in the municipal hall. This will help raise more funds for the solidarity fund.

The Villers-Bretonneux municipality is setting up a march in solidarity for the bushfire victims on Sunday 2nd February 2020 at 2pm. His Excellency Mr Brendan Berne, Australian Ambassador to France will be in attendance.

A group of 20 students from Warrnambool College will be travelling to France with three teachers in late March 2020. As part of their three week cultural study tour, they will be visiting our sister school Collège Jacques Brel and stay with host families for five days. It will be an exciting opportunity for these students to explore the historical link between the town of Villers-Bretonneux and Victoria and to show our gratitude to Collège Jacques Brel and the residents of the little town of Villers Bretonneux for their support to the communities affected by the bushfires.

Australia – Villers Bretonneux

Allies in the past, Friends in the present.