MHC Australian Sports Tour
On the early morning of July 6th a group of forty students and four staff set out for Australia on the Mount Hutt College Rugby and Netball sports tour.
The tour involved 7 days on the East Coast of Australia, based around Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Included was a professional coaching clinic for both the Rugby and Netball teams, 3 games for each team and a day at Movieworld. Once arriving in Brisbane our first day involved settling into our accommodation and catching a bite to eat in the center of Brisbane. The first night included Pizzas and watching the All Blacks on the big screen.
Day 2 most of the group opted for Dreamworld, with some taking a tour/shopping trip around Brisbane CBD with Mrs Staples and Miss Johnson. Monday and Day 3 saw the boys travel to the Brothers Rugby Club for a professional coaching course involving ex All Black Jeff Toomaga-Allen in the morning and then a tour of Suncorp stadium before supporting the netball teams. The girls also had a professional coaching clinic with Queensland Firebird Tippah Dwan and a tour of Nissan Arena in the afternoon, before night games against the Blue Jays Netball club. Tuesday saw a rest day for netball and the first game for the boys against St Paul's School Brisbane, the game was midday one with temperatures in the mid 20's for the boys who had come from single digit temperatures. Wednesday involved a transfer to the Gold Coast and another game day.
The late morning arrival meant there was time for the group to explore Surfers Paradise before the girls travelled to St Hilda's school to play their netball teams and that night the boys played the Eagles Rugby Club under lights. An early start on Thursday saw the girls playing their last games of the tour against Helensvale State High School, the girls from Helensvale had made the State finals so this was a good competitive match up for our teams. Midday was spent at Harbour Town outlet shops for some retail therapy and then the boys travelled back to the Eagles Rugby Club to play a touring team from New South Wales, Redfield College.
Dinner for Thursday was an all you can eat buffet at the Southport Sharks AFL club. Friday and Movieworld was on the itinerary for the group, warm temperatures and school holidays meant the theme park was busy. Saturday and the last day meant spare time in the morning was spent at Pacific Fair shopping mall to make any last minute purchases before flying back home. The students showed the school PRIDE values, representing themselves and their community with excellence.
The Mount Hutt College Australian Tour group would like to thank the local businesses and community for their help and support with fundraising and activities.
Scores: MHC teams first
Netball vs Bluejays vs St Hilda's vs Helensvale State HS
A's 46-29 A's 25-14 A's 23-44
B's 25-36 B's 11-17 B's 10-31
Rugby vs St Paul's School vs Eagles Rugby Club vs Redfield College (NSW)
60-0 17-21 38-5
