Werribee Gorge Excursion

The Year 10 Outdoor and Environmental Studies Excursion

The Year 10 Outdoor and Environmental Studies group took on the Short Circuit Trail in the Pentland Hills, as part of their Werribee Gorge excursion. Students began the hike with a safety briefing, which included an overview of the area's history and the importance of the creek system that nourishes the region.

Just as the walk was about to start, a significant downpour delayed us by about 20 minutes. The rain was quite heavy and made the track more treacherous than usual. I’m pleased to report that, despite the muddy and slippery conditions, none of our students slipped!

Along the way, students learned about ongoing conservation efforts at the Gorge, including the preservation of local platypus habitats and monitoring for invasive species such as the European Red Fox and Indian Myna birds. Unfortunately, we only made it about one-third of the way along the trail before deciding to turn back, as the rain and slippery conditions meant the walk was taking longer than expected.

I was very proud of the students’ resilience in tackling steep elevation rises without too much complaint, despite the challenging conditions. Not only did they deepen their understanding of the local flora and fauna, but they also demonstrated leadership and perseverance throughout the hike.

- Nathan McLean  

Year 10 OED Teacher