Country kids get taste of uni

It wasn’t one of Hervey Bay’s warmest days of the year, but the cold weather didn’t stop a group of North Burnett students from enjoying their Unilife day on August 26.

Almost 50 students from Monto, Biggenden and Gayndah high schools spent a day at the University of Southern Queensland’s Fraser Coast campus.

The students were given a tour of the campus and took part in university classes. Each of the four faculties from the campus presented a lecture on subjects such as marketing, counselling and music education.  For many of the students it was their first visit to a university.

Biggenden High sports captain Suzie Mace, 15, said it had been a great experience.

'This is my first time at a university and I have learnt a lot,' she said.

Monto High’s Racheal Farley said she was very impressed with the university grounds and its facilities.

Fifteen-year-old Eliza Smith, from Biggenden High, said she had been interested to learn about the various pathways to university.

'I’ve never been to a university before, and it is really nice here,' she said.

'The information has been very interesting and I certainly have learnt some new stuff about university.'