They were accompanied by their wives, who are also good friends.

The group between them has held a variety of senior positions, including former chairmen of the law firm, current President of the Children's Court of NSW, Commonwealth Ombudsman, Law Reform Commissioner, NSW Justice Medalist, co-founder of a leading Spiritual Centre, chairman of the Australian Securities Commission, Professor in the School of Government. chairman of the Pro Bono Resource Centre, director of the Aboriginal Legal Service, Deputy Chancellor of a leading Australian university, General Counsel of the university, founding director of the Chris O'Brien Cancer Centre and current chairman of and consultant to other national law firms.

Organiser of the visit and spiritual leader, Peter Stapleton, summed up their enduring friendship this way "A glass of wine, a loaf of bread and us: bonded forever".

The group hired the community bus from Millthorpe for a celebratory dinner at Athol last Saturday night.

As a memento of their visit the group donated funds for the supply and installation of a tow bar for the bus.

This now means the bus can be used by the high school for transporting not only students but also their sporting equipment and luggage to various events.