Visiting the Tweed on the New South Wales north coast, they spent a full day with Mark and Delma Tronson reflecting on Well-Being Australia's Art Ministry and how that ministry engages the community with the visual arts.
A component of their coursework is a segment on community related art. This aspect is increasingly becoming a part of many Arts courses in Universities, in order to make students aware of where the professional or academic arts practitioners and the community may be able find common interests.
Brittney travelled to Australia in the seat next to the Tronson's, when they were returning from their American trip in February. Over fourteen hours of flight they established a friendship. The subsequent relationship with these three exchange students have became firmly established.
Mark and Delma Tronson were returning to Australia after a hectic Mission excursion to Vancouver to discuss protocols for Religious Services for the 2010 Winter Olympic Villages and a speaking tour in association with the mission 'Coaches of Influence' in Los Angeles (and an associated TV interview).
Most notably, in Dallas Texas, Mark and Delma received Gold Medals for their 27 years of Olympic and Sport Ministry, awarded by 'Lay Witnesses for Christ', Chaplains to the Olympians.
"We kept in close touch with Brittney, and when her final exams were over, we arranged for her to visit us in the Tweed," Delma Tronson explained. "We extended the welcome to two of her fellow art students, also on exchange from California."
After some local sightseeing, Brittney, Mallory and Samantha viewed Tronson du Coudray's studio with its display of finished and unfinished works, followed by a visit to Kinfscliff TAFE's Caldera Restaurant, one of the community Art Ministry projects where the manager, Fran O'Brien, warmly greeted them and gave an overview of the project.
"Although we are of an older generation, these young Californian art students are keeping in touch with us," M V Tronson smiled. "They even invited us to a student BBQ as their adopted Aussie parents."
The day concluded with an amazing sunset and picnic on Kirra Beach before Mark and Delma Tronson drove them the 40 minute drive back to their student accommodation at Griffith University, thus saving them another onerous bus journey.
"Not only did these three art students see first hand some art in the process of creation, and how it can be used in community projects, but they gained some ideas of their own to implement within their own communities in California," noted Mark Tronson. "This was a very pleasing outcome."