Travel/Visa/Insurance

Due to the SARS epidemic we are now flying Quantas (QF10) to Melbourne via Singapore.  We will be in Singapore Airport for 2 hours.

In order to process the Visas we will need a photocopy of the back page of each tourist’s passport so that the Travel Agents can clearly see the passport number and the expiry date.

We are fully insured through the school for all our travel eventualities.

Kit

The players will be presented with a certain amount of kit.  Caps and swimming trunks have been purchased already.  Depending on finances it is hoped to provide T-shirts, a cap, a pair of shorts and a rain jacket/fleece. There may be enough to provide a swim bag as well.

Please fill in the form for personal details at back of tour booklet.

Luggage

Everyone should attempt to travel as lightly as possible and we would suggest one bag per person.  Most of the time the weather will be somewhere between mild and warm during the day and a little cooler in the evening.  A smart shirt and a decent pair of trousers should be included in the luggage and the rest should be casual wear.

In both Adelaide and Brisbane the hosts will be willing to launder clothing and really a weeks worth of clothing should be more than adequate.

Everyone will need sun cream and should wear it on exposed skin even when the weather is cloudy.

In Australia school children wear their sun-hats virtually all the time. Check the Churchie web site.

Money

We think the best policy here is for each player to have a bank account and their own cash card that can be used in Australia.  All banks have accounts for young children that give worldwide access as long as the account has money in.

What costs £1 in England costs A$1 in Australia.  We would suggest a maximum of £300 spending money for the trip.  At present the exchange rate is around A$2.40 to £1.

The advantages of a card is that if the boys wish to purchase anything at Singapore Airport then they just need to use the machine. They don’t need to be carrying their passport everywhere and if necessary you can top up your sons funds as and when you like.  Cash shortages will be emailed home !

The boys will be expected to purchase their own lunches and other incidental costs so should not spend all their money at the first duty free shop!

Medical/Dietary Requirements

 

If boys are on any medication then we will need to know about it and also any dietary allergies or requests i.e. vegan, especially for the flights. 

There is a form at the back of the back of the booklet, which needs to be completed.

Code of Conduct

At the back of the booklet there are a series of generic school risk assessments and the parents booklet for school trips abroad, which you have received previously. 

We hope that the boys will accept the decisions of all the adults in the party with good grace.  It is our holiday too and we have all paid for it.

It should be clear that the school takes the conduct and attitude of its students very seriously when they are representing Bedford Modern School.

We would be grateful if you would sit down at some time and go through the tour documents with your sons.  The safety of the party is of paramount importance.

We trust that the boys will behave in a way that will reflect positively on them at all times.  This is first and foremost a sport tour and we all have to show respect for our hosts and opponents.  We have to realise that we have been invited into their homes, to share their lives and we must adopt their culture and way of life wholeheartedly.

Obviously attendance on trips that have been organised for our enjoyment will be compulsory.  The boys will get a chance to go off and explore the cities and resorts we visit in small groups and never alone.  They must honour curfew times and be punctual.

Alcohol and Smoking are strictly forbidden at all times.

Any member of the tour seriously misbehaving will be repatriated immediately.

Gifts

Boys should purchase gifts for the hosts.  We hope to get some mini polo balls with a logo on and plenty of T-shirts. These items are also good for ‘swapsies’.