mmg.com.au

‘‘He spends more time upside-down.’’

These are the words of Bernie, the father of Benalla 31 Grade Three student Angus O’Halloran who has been selected for a circus school in Albury.

As part of a Flying Fruit Fly Circus scholarship, Angus will attend primary school in Benalla three days a week and travel to Albury every Monday and Friday where he will do everything from riding a unicycle to swinging on a giant trapeze.

The opportunity for Angus to participate in this program hasn’t come as a shock to those around him — his proud dad said Angus had always loved gymnastics, while his school principal Heather Leary said she had never before shared a student with a circus school. ‘‘But there is a first for everything,’’ Mrs Leary said.

Growing up, Angus spent a lot of time climbing trees on the family farm.

‘‘He spends more time up a tree then he does on the ground,’’ Bernie said.

But at the circus school — despite it being only early days yet, Angus has found his niche.

‘‘I have made lots of friends already,’’ he said.

Bernie said Angus was completely comfortable with the tricks he was leaning.

‘‘He bounces around with 20-odd kids up there, he really does have no fear,’’ Bernie said.

While it is the opportunity of a lifetime, with only two students Victoria-wide receiving the prestigious scholarships it was an effort to get one.

In what his family describe as a 2.5-hour torture session, Angus was left upset at some of the stuff he was asked do.

But with acrobatics his ‘thing’, the anguish was short-lived when he received the news that the school would be his part-time home for the next seven years or so, with the scholarship running right through until Year 10.

From there, it’s hoped Angus can make the Australian Institute of Sport.