Brisbane Welcomes International Students 2010 welcomed over 3,000 international students Saturday 6 March in Brisbane’s Reddacliff Place.

Brisbane’s Lord Mayor, Rt Hon Campbell Newman officially opened the event, arriving on a segway to welcome international students from all over the world to their new home, Brisbane.

Students came to access vital information on starting life here in Brisbane from over 40 exhibitors including Optus, Urbanest Student Accommodation, Visible Ink, English Corner and Brisbane City Council.

The exhibitors included education providers, student accommodation providers, entertainment, travel services, transport, student safety services, banking, sporting and more.

Students got to experience a wide range of entertainment from a traditional aboriginal smoking ceremony welcome and dancing to some great local bands including Lamplites, The Rooftops and The Satellites Trio.

Ben Southall, Island Caretaker and Best Job in the World Winner, spoke of his love of his new found home, Brisbane, and media partner Nova’s Jill Snape, kept the crowd entertained as master of ceremonies on the day, giving away a host of fantastic prizes.

The major prizes of the day were scooped up by the following group of lucky winners.

Kinta Kodama from Japan won the major prize valued at over $2,200 donated by QUT. The prize included QUT merchandise, a trip for two to Stradbroke Island and learn to surf at the Gold Coast, a QUT bookshop voucher worth $300 and an Apple Macbook Pro Laptop 13” 2.53GHz.

The Dolphin Getaway package for 2 adults for 2 nights valued at $950, donated by Tangalooma Island Resort was won by Kaira Jean Llyln from the Philippines.

The third prizes of a bike and helmet (over $300) and QUT book vouchers ($300) were won by Juliet Armstrong, USA and Jie Wang, China respectively.

Other event highlights included the incredible Australian wildlife displays by Geckoes Wildlife and Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary The wildlife included koalas, wombats, snakes and owls and for some of the students, this was their first time seeing these Australian natives!

The Gallery of Modern Art put on a fun and interactive art activity in the foyer with students contributing to a large installation of fruit made out of cardboard cutouts.

Australian sport was represented well on Saturday with the Brisbane Roar, Queensland Cricket and the Brisbane Lions all coming along to the event as exhibitors hoping to gain some new supporters and to teach them a few Aussie sporting skills.

Study Brisbane would like to thank its Principle Sponsor, Urbanest, Media Sponsor Nova 106.9 and all Major and Supporting Sponsors for their support as well as the Exhibitors for providing vital information to students on the day.

A full list of sponsors can be viewed below.