Excursions 

Zaynab Syed, Year 11, Ridgeway Campus 

In the last week of Term 1, the IB Indonesian Ab Initio cohort had the wonderful opportunity to go on an excursion, accompanied by Ms Irwin and Ms Delvi. The purpose of this excursion was not only to see the language we had learned applied in real life, but also to gain an understanding about Indonesian culture. To start the day off, we went to ACMI and watched an inspiring and moving biographical drama called, ‘Susi Susanti – Love All’ about an Indonesian athlete who persevered in the face of adversity and eventually won gold at the 1992 Olympics. Afterwards, we learned how to play a simple tune on the angklung, a traditional Indonesian musical instrument made from bamboo tubes and a frame that is bound together with rattan strings. We also learned about the history of this instrument and how significant it is to the ethnic group that this instrument originates from.  

And finally, the cohort made their way to Enak, an Indonesian restaurant that serves a wide range of authentic dishes, everything from classics such as sambal (chilli sauce) to Sop Buntut (oxtail soup). Overall, the excursion served as a beneficial opportunity for us as a cohort to learn a bit more about Indonesia and its rich culture outside of the classroom. I write on behalf of my peers when I say that it was an intriguing and educational experience, which further motivated us to continue our study of the Indonesian language.  

Lachlan Byrne, Year 11, Plenty Campus 

On Thursday the 13th of March, VCE Unit 1 Media Studies students got the chance to experience a once in a lifetime event, venturing outside of our usual classroom environment to instead spend the day immersed in the world of the Australian Grand Prix. 

With unrestricted access, we were able to visit the track during the first day of public access, bringing in a variety of camera gear to capture the event and our experiences. Later receiving a private tour, we were able to get insider access into not only the public displays at the F1 but also the F2 and F3 garages, providing us with a deeply personal experience behind the scenes of one of Australia’s biggest events. 

This experience also allowed us to test out our photography and videography skills by capturing the event through our cameras, which we had on us at all times to test out different shots, settings and techniques. 

The day was an invaluable experience that connected personally with me and all my fellow classmates, giving us an experience we will truly never forget. I would like to express my gratitude to not only the Hopper family for setting us up with our tickets for the day, but also to Mr Callegari, Mrs Devlin and the school for helping to facilitate the day. It was a truly memorable experience that we will never forget.