2003-02-04 Brisbane, Australia: Farewell at school assembly for four Iona College boys due to fly to Hong Kong tomorrow....for work at Canadian American School in Zhaoqing, China from February 17.
(anyone have any more photos of this day?? please email to jdwomi@hotmail.com )

August 3, 2002 photos

+ Article in Brisbane Catholic Leader weekend of February 16 re 4 Iona Boys (thank you, Darlene):
 FOUR students who graduated last year from Iona College, Lindum have given up a year of their lives to help teach English in China.  Michael Graham, Aron Oulton, Kieran Salsone and Matthew MacDonald have volunteered to assist the Oblate Mission in China.  Graeme Fuller, who is dean of administration at Iona, said the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, who run Iona College, have a missionary presence in China.  He said the young men will meet Oblate Father John Wotherspoon, an old boy of Iona College, in China.  Fr Wotherspoon has arranged for them to teach English to Cantonese students aged from five to 17 at an American-Canadian International School.  
Mr Fuller said the four were looking forward with anticipation to the trip.  Michael Graham said he was hoping to experience a variety of Chinese cultures and in some way become immersed in some of their history. "I hope to pursue a career in journalism or law on my return and become a foreign correspondent and I feel exposure to a Chinese language will be advantageous in my chosen career." 
 Aron Oulton said it was a great opportunity to travel and to learn Cantonese. "It will be my good fortune to have new experiences in different situations which should help me if I pursue a career in education on my return." 
 Kieran Salsone said he saw the trip as an opportunity to better himself by becoming bi-lingual through different worldly experiences.  "I hope to develop language skills, make a good impression as an Australian to the Chinese and it is a time to grow into adulthood." 
 Matthew MacDonald said it was an opportunity not to be missed.> "I hope to grow a lot more in a different way and become more understanding of world situations," he said. 
 The college fareweled the four students at a special assembly on February 4.  The four were stopping over in Hong Kong for a week to obtain a work visa for China and some orientation for their forthcoming year. 
 They will be based in Zhaoqing.