Melbourne, 2025
We are thrilled to be taking our Senior Football group on an exciting trip to Melbourne, a city renowned for its rich sporting culture and passion for Australian Rules Football. This promises to be a memorable experience for everyone involved, with a fantastic itinerary carefully planned to offer a great mix of competition, team bonding, and exposure to the professional football environment. From high-quality matches to visiting iconic AFL venues, every detail of the trip has been designed to inspire and reward this fortunate group. We can't wait to share this journey and create lasting memories together in Melbourne.
Dates:
Wednesday 25 - Saturday 28 June 2025.
Transport:
Return flights arriving and departing via Melbourne.
Staff:
Heath Lawry, Marianne Collier, Seamus Maloney, Emily Woods, Jon Dyer, Kelly Warren.
Itinerary
Wednesday 25 June
10.00 am: Meet at ADL Airport, Virgin Australia check in area
11.50 am: Flight VA 0218
1.40 pm: Land in MEL
2.00 pm: Bus to accommodation
3.00 pm: Check in to Adina Apartments, Queen Street Melbourne
4.00 pm: Walk and stretch - Flagstaff Gardens
6.30 pm: Dinner, Max on Hardware - Pizzeria
Thursday 26 June
9.00 am: Walk and stretch - Flagstaff Gardens
11.00 am: Bus to Ballarat
1.00 pm: Arrive Ballarat, lunch
2.30 pm: Arrive Ballarat Grammar
4.00 pm: 1st XVI Girls game
5.30 pm: 1st XVIII Boys game
6.30 pm: BBQ dinner provided by Ballarat Grammar
7.00 pm: Bus to Melbourne
8.30/9.00 pm: Arrive Adina Apartments
Friday 27 June
8.30 am: Pool recovery Girls, Adina Apartments
9.00 am: Pool recovery Boys, Adina Apartments
10.00 am: Tram/walk to MCG
11.30 am: MCG Tour & Australian Sports Museum
2.30 pm: Lunch in Melbourne CBD, students to purchase
3.00 pm: AFL Club Tour (club TBC)
6.30 pm: Dinner, Royal Melbourne Hotel
Saturday 28 June
9.00 am: Accommodation check out
10.00 am: Free time, DFO Melbourne Docklands
11.30 am: AFL Club Tour (club TBC)
3.00 pm: Bus to MEL airport
6:15 pm: Flight VA 0241
7.10 pm: Arrive ADL, parents to meet in baggage claim
What to bring
Football Gear:
Westminster School football uniform (jersey, shorts, socks)
Football boots
Water bottle (labelled)
Clothing:
Casual clothing for travel and downtime
Sleepwear
Swimwear
Warm layers (jumper, jacket)
Comfortable footwear for travel and leisure
Other Essentials:
Toiletries
Small backpack
Personal medications
Important Notes:
All items should be clearly labelled with the student's name.
Valuables should be kept to a minimum.
Students are responsible for their own belongings.
Ensure all clothing complies with the School's dress code.
FAQs
What if a student gets sick or injured?
Staff are trained in first aid, and there will be a clear plan for accessing medical care if needed. Parents will be contacted immediately in case of any serious issue.
Do students need to wear their school uniform?
We request that students wear their sports uniform at the following times:
Wednesday – travel
Thursday – travel to game
If I have a food allergy will there be appropriate food for me?
Yes, travelling staff will have a handover from the Health Centre for all students. We will have alternate breakfast options as well as appropriate dinner choices.
How many bags can I bring?
The allocated bag allowance on our flights is 2 x 23kgs bags plus up to 7kg carry on.
I am a boarder, how will I get to the airport on the Wednesday morning?
Boarding house staff will take boarding students to the airport.
I am a boarder and need to vacate the boarding house before we go on the trip, what do I do with my extra luggage?
The flight allows 2 x 23kgs bags, you can take everything with you if it is within these restrictions. If you have more luggage than the allowance please discuss with Heath regarding your individual travel arrangements.
What are the hotel room/ sleeping arrangements?
All students will be allocated a room in either a 3 or 2 bed apartment.
Are electronic devices and phones allowed?
Yes, phones and other handheld devices are allowed. Students will be encouraged to not be on their phones late at night as we have a busy schedule.
How much money should the students bring?
Breakfast and dinners are provided, lunch and snacks throughout the day are to be purchased by the students. We will also have time for shopping if the students wish to purchase any items.
Will there be any free time?
We have put together an exciting and busy schedule, however there will be allocated free time for students to explore parts of Melbourne CBD in small groups.
Can we leave the accommodation?
We will advise students not to leave the accommodation once we return from dinner or activities.
How many staff are attending the trip?
- Heath Lawry, Football Coordinator. E: football@westminster.sa.edu.au T: 0411 504 529
- Marianne Collier, Sports Administration. E: mcollier@westminster.sa.edu.au
- Seamus Maloney, School Staff & Senior Boys Coach. E: smaloney@westminster.sa.edu.au T: 0437 740 470
- Emily Woods, Senior Girls Coach. T: 0402 984 091
- Jon Dyer, School Staff. E: jdyer@westminster.sa.edu.au T: 0420 537 236
- Kelly Warren, School Staff. E: kwarren@westminster.sa.edu.au
How can parents contact their child during the trip?
All students are allowed to have their phones with them. If there are not in contact, parents may contact any of the staff members directly to make contact.
Will there be any trip updates while they are away?
Yes, we will be posting updates on the Westminster Football Facebook page.
What should students pack?
Please refer to the ‘What to bring’ page.