Representatives from the AJS-QLD Committee recently joined Consul-General Ishikawa and Mrs Ishikawa at a special assembly at Ironside State School, St Lucia.
The assembly was held to farewell students and staff travelling to Japan as members of the school’s Japan Study Tour program. The program, involving exchanges with three schools in Kobe, Sakai and Haga, has been running for an incredible 44 years.
This year’s Japan Study Tour was particularly special as Ironside students also participated in the AJS-QLD’s second Brisbane Kobe Student Art Exchange project – celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Brisbane Kobe Sister-City relationship. Other stakeholders in the project include: Brisbane City Council; Kobe City; Ironside State School and Tanigami Elementary School. The Consulate-General of Japan, Brisbane has also supported the project.
(The first Student Art Exchange project was held by the Society in 2005 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Brisbane Kobe Sister-City relationship.)
Ironside students participating in this year’s Japan Study Tour were invited to create artworks that were then exhibited at Sannomiya and Tanigami in Kobe City, together with artworks by students from Tanigami Elementary School in Kobe. Members of the Ironside Study Tour were hosted for morning tea by the staff and students of Tanigami Elementary School and Ironside students were able to see their own artwork exhibited in Kobe.
The AJS-QLD has had a long association with Ironside State School’s Japan program and was delighted to have Ironside students participate for a second time in this important grassroots project between Brisbane and Kobe.
The Brisbane Kobe Student Art Exchange exhibition, including artworks from both Ironside State School and Tanigami Elementary School students, will be held at the Brisbane Square Library from late October to December.