Principal's Message

Dear Students, Parents, Carers and Families

YEAR 5/6 SOVEREIGN HILL CAMP!

Last week our Year 5/6 students travelled to Sovereign Hill Camp in Ballarat. Once we arrived we began our time with an educational learning session and some gold panning. Quiz night finished off the day which went to a tie breaker. 

During an action packed second day, students learnt about how different life in the past was through artefacts. Everyone enjoyed trying to write using old fashion writing with ink wells and chalkboards. The trooper fired his musket and told us a lot of interesting things about life on the goldfields - what a character! A bit of old school ten pin bowling fun. Playing 10 frames would have taken forever. A tour of the underground mining tunnels 20m below ground was a highlight. 

Everyone was intrigued watching the gold pour demonstration! Melted to 1100 degrees then poured into a 3kg gold bullion bar valued at about $310, 000. Needless to say that inspired another visit to do some more gold panning for the second time of the day.

The Aura light and sound show on the last night was brilliant! There were lots of ooh's and aaah's during the 3D part of the show before we moved on to the open air theatre. The imagery and story of the Wadawurrung people as the Traditional custodians of the land on which Sovereign Hill is located was spectacular. The final part was great and gave an account of events about the Eureka Stockade.

For our last day, we explored the Red Hill mine, had some free time to do some more shopping. Mostly the infamous raspberry drops, some chocolates and even a few harmonicas! Of course, a day on the gold fields wouldn't be the same without some more panning for gold. The students were awesome in using the correct panning technique and adding the gold they found to their collection. After lunch it was time to head back home and say goodbye to Sovereign Hill. 

Take care and stay safe!

Kind regards,

Darren Wallace

Principal