HOME: Marinia and teacher Shirley Noble show students atBy KATH GANNAWAY
BEING out in the bush, as are the students of Millwarra Primary School at East Warburton, it’s probably not so unusual to see a small wallaby or two!
But when that little wallaby comes all the way from Finland that’s quite another story.
Sevenyearold Finishborn Marinia SorjonenWard joined the grade one and two class for a few days while staying with her grandparents, Griffin and June Ward of Big Pats Creek, to experience school in Australia.
“Marinia comes from an Aboriginal word for “small wallaby”,” explained Mr Ward, whose son Peter and his family now live in Finland.
Marinia said she was enjoying her stay but thought school in Australia was very different to school in Finland.
“At home you don’t have to bring your own lunch, and you don’t have to wear a uniform,” she said.
Teacher Shirley Noble said Marinia had just slotted right into the class and that her visit had been a wonderful opportunity for students to share what they know about Australia’s native flora and fauna.
Marinia, who flew back to Finland last week, told the Mail she had enjoyed her time at the school, had made lots of new friends and was looking forward to returning home to tell her friends about life in Australia.
The cultural exchange may continue with Millwarra looking at the possibility of an email linkup with Marinia’s school in Finland.
