In 1969 Sayoko Akaoka came to Port Macquarie as a Rotary Exchange student, attending Port Macquarie High School for the year. Her memories of Port Macquarie as a beautiful seaside town have stayed with her and brought her back on more than one occasion. Since 1982 Ms Akaoka, in her role as a member of the Hokkaido Australia Society and the Australia Exchange Centre, has been bringing students from Hokkaido, Japan, to Port Macquarie on short exchange programs. On many occasions these students have been billeted with students from Port Macquarie High School. This year, eight students from the town of Naganuma have been billeted and attending school for the week. Ms Akaoka said that her students love the experience in Port Macquarie and learning about both the academic and environmental differences. She noted that both in the past and today students here are very friendly, but today they are more aware of Japanese culture and language through technology and the development of Japanese language programs. Ms Nicole Wells, Port Macquarie High School’s language teacher, said that it has been a delight to have such a wonderful lady involved in this program and looks forward to seeing her when she next returns with a new group of students.
