YEAR SEVEN SYDNEY CANBERRA TRIP Since 1991, the Year Seven students have undertaken an annual trip to Canberra and Sydney. For many years this involved a fifty-two hour coach trip across the Nullabor, as well as visits to many places of significance in Canberra and Sydney. In recent times the coach trip across the Nullabor has been replaced with flights, which has reduced the amount of time spent travelling to our destinations. Our time in Canberra includes a visit to Parliament House as well as tours of the Australian War Memorial, the National Museum, Old Parliament House and a number of other places of significance. A day trip to Perisher to play in the snow is always a highlight for the students. In Sydney the students get to experience life in a big city. The Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge and a ride in a Sydney ferry across the harbour to Manly are some of the highlights. The students get to spend a day in the Blue Mountains visiting the Three Sisters, the Sky Rail at Katoomba and the Leura Lolly Shop, which is always a highlight! Federal government funding, under the PACER programme, helps families with some of the costs involved in the trip. Many students fundraise to make the trip more affordable for their families. Over the years, this trip has become an integral part of the Year Seven programme. Most students participate and it provides them with great opportunities to make new and deeper friendships with their peers. Parents often comment that the trip has helped their children to become more independent and responsible. As a Christian college, we are keen for the students to use the trip as an opportunity to learn to trust God in new ways. For many of them it is the first time they have been away from their parents for nine days. The students are cared for by being assigned to a small group of approximately eight students with an experienced leader who makes sure they are well looked after for the duration of the trip. Devotions are held each day and students are encouraged to pray for one another and support each other. A trained nurse travels with the group to administer any medication and make sure the children’s health needs are met. The trip is a highlight for most students and something they continue to talk about for the rest of their school days.