School students from Japanese Sister City Ibusuki, will visit Rockhampton this month.

Rockhampton City Council Acting Mayor Cr Jim Webber said the students, who would be based at Central Queensland University’s Language Centre for English Classes, would spend 12 days touring Rockhampton and Central Queensland.

“The students will attend a reception at Rockhampton Botanic Gardens, and will visit all the local tourist attractions including the Capricorn Caves, Koorana Crocodile Farm, Dreamtime Cultural Centre, Rockhampton Heritage Village, and Cooberrie Park Wildlife Sanctuary,” Cr Webber said.

“The children will learn so much about Rockhampton and our great way of life, especially as they are boarding with local homestay families while they are here.

“It will give them a chance to experience a different culture and hopefully a chance to practice their English language.

“The Botanic Gardens reception will include a tour of Rockhampton’s Ibusuki Gardens – which was a reciprocal project, developed as part of the Rockhampton-Ibusuki Sister City relationship.

“We will host a welcome barbecue with music by the Cathedral College Band. The Cathedral College has also chosen 27 student “buddies” for the visiting students.

“In turn, the Ibusuki students will entertain Rockhampton with Japanese song and dance, and will tour the gardens, zoo, and later will visit the Rockhampton Art Gallery to see the statue presented to Rockhampton by Ibusuki City.”.