Countdown to China July 2009

In July 2009, the Tianjin International Children’s Culture and Art Festival will be held, this is a very prestigious event held every 2 years in China.

This year 22 of our children from years 7, 8 & 9, accompanied by Peter Kraft, Stephen Clarke and Dolores Dunbar will represent not only The McDonald College, but also to represent our country – Australia.

Each delegation is accompanied by either the Arts Minister – the Mayor of the City – or a dignitary  of some kind.

Dolores Dunbar who has attended the Festival several times said "One year I contacted the Australian High Commission in Beijing and they sent the Under Secretary’s secretary or some such and she visited the kids at one performance and said “you’re really good” and left."

"The organising committee have a formal meeting at Government House, followed by a dinner – where all the heads of delegations are invited. These are all then bussed to the Opening Ceremony, (which is televised live throughout China) and they are treated with the utmost respect, with preferential seating etc. In the past I have been the head of the Australian Delegation – save once when Imre stood in for me." Dolores said.

This trip is mostly sponsored by The Department of Friendship With Foreign Countries – China.

The McDonald College team is flying out Cathay – very, very early the morning of 22nd July and arrive home 8.10am Sunday 2nd August.

They are flying into Beijing for 2 days of sightseeing -  Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Olympic Site etc., before heading to the festival. Some of the activities apart from performing their own ½ hour “Aussie” show will be seeing other countries performances, the Great Wall Race (our Callum McInerney won last time)- visiting the Peace Wall and mixing with children from over 40 other countries.

This is a very exciting trip and we'll keep updating the news as more comes to hand.