The Castle Hill captains board with Cootamundra’s vice captains for three days and vice versa, the four captains gaining a taste for what life is like in the city/country.

Sofie Parle and Mathew Knight of Castle Hill joined Cootamundra’s Sarah Godman and Tim Masters for Breakfast in the Park yesterday morning, with Sofie and Mathew addressing those gathered.

Sofie brought to everyone’s attention the differences between the two shires, most notably that of population. While The Hills has almost 190,000 residents, about 8000 people call the Cootamundra Shire home.

“The thing that struck us most about Cootamundra from our research and from spending time here is the notion of community,” Sofie said.

“Living in such a large district, we come in contact with people we have never seen before every day of our lives and outside of our neighbourhoods and friendship groups, we don’t really experience what that true sense of one united community is – that unique sense of community that can only come from living in a country town,” she continued.

Sofie and Mathew discussed the party atmosphere in Castle Hill on Australia Day with a huge community festival complete with sausage sizzle, rides, stalls, performances and fireworks. While there is plenty for all involved to see and do, they said Australia Day is really about people coming together, which is exactly what Cootamundra’s Breakfast in the Park gives locals the opportunity to do.

“Perhaps this is the most beautiful part of this whole exchange process – sharing our bond and coming together as Australians, regardless of our backgrounds, to celebrate our beautiful country and Australian heritage on Australia Day,” the pair concluded.

While in Cootamundra Sofie stayed with the Godman family and Mathew with the Masters family.

All four school representatives and both families came together on the eve of Australia Day for what is arguably the most Aussie of traditions – a barbecue.

The foursome also headed to Pioneer Park for a bushwalk, with Sarah and Tim showcasing Cootamundra at its finest.

Sofie and Mathew reported they were having a great time in Cootamundra and very much enjoying their brief look into country life.