Marine Biology Camp

The annual year 9 Marine Biology camp departed for sunny (and windy) Queenscliff on Wednesday 4th of December. The camp is always such a fantastic way to bring together a year of marine discovery. This year we were joined by a pod of Bottle Nosed Dolphins on our boat snorkel which was a genuine highlight. We swam and canoed with sharks, rays, pufferfish, urchins stars and cucumbers, squid, sea jellies and seals. We learned from the Marine and Freshwater discovery centre marine biologists about the local environment and stood in the place where the ancestors of the Boonwurung and Wathaurong would have sat witness to the breaking of the last iceage 10,000 years ago to form Port Phillip as modern day super tankers were piloted through the heads following the ancient Birrarung channel through the bay. We counted ourselves lucky that Mr Vance left his Ukulele at home and couldn’t serenade us with his version of “riptide” by Vance joy.

Thanks to all the students for being such a pleasure to take on camp!

Below are two artistic reflections on camp- first some poetry by Ms Lucas and second, a song that was performed by Helena Pham, Bella wright, Makalya Motz Amelia Phillips and Lily Riston Morrison

Marine biology camp 2019

It’s time for the last camp of two thousand and nineteen What an action packed, exciting year 2019 has been The year 9’s are excited to hang out at the beach To observe and touch anything marine within their reach

The discovery centre touch pool had shells and rocks and crabs Watch the sea stars and sea urchins they’re too spiky just to grab Or what about the shark jaws with rows and rows of teeth We don’t want to meet a real one just hanging at the beach

Vance tells the story of the nerm and the river birrarung Im sure the elders told this storey but odds on it was sung How the bay was once a flood plain filled with birds and Roos Covered north to south and east to west With mobs of wallabies too

Of times where seas were lower and the birrarung a longer river Full of fish and murrnong, it’s waters a life giver The ice age lowered sea levels to make the heads a waterfall It still exists today but underneath the sea the cliffs stand tall

The waves and sea mist roll in across the sandy grass With bellies filled with fish and chips it’s a happy giggling class Some are playing cricket others have a chat Enjoy the space and freedom but don’t give Vance the bat

Day 2 started early, up and into breakfast quick You want to pay attention, so that you don’t miss a trick...

As we’re heading off to paddle, on a windy, shallow bay What will we do if students get blown away today??

Then slide on a wetsuit and snorkel and a mask Spotting marine fauna was the activities only task Oh my gosh it’s freezing it’s an Icecream headache now Who cares we’ve spotted banjo sharks this activity’s a wow!

And there’s a little sting ray, and seaweed colours dancing We spotted wrass and puffer fish the move to is entrancing It’s an underwater garden complete with flowers and colours both Sea anemones and urchins which would qualify as the most...

Interesting item, that we have seen today...

But wait we’re off a spotting, seals and dolphins in the bay Everyone’s excited to swim and play with seals Let’s grow some fins and sleek dark coats and imagine how it feels...

To be swimming free and powerful surfing down the waves For most this was quite challenging but the bestest of best days!

The dolphins hug out with us swimming in in suns bright glow We tried to hang out with them but they had little ones in tow

Everyone will sleep well tonight, unless there’s a sugar stash Will you sleep or will you party, this might just cause a clash The loudest are on wake up call I wonder if it’s you Another day on marine camp what will the group be asked to do???

It’s treasure hunting season at queenscliff Harry’s beach Finding marine creatures and rubbish within your reach We’ll leave this beach a better place than the state we found it in By putting all the rubbish into the correct disposal bin

Have you enjoyed the learning on offer these three days Relaxed to sounds and smells of wind and sand and waves??

Thank you mr Vance for sharing your passion for the sea For filling me with stories and reminding me to be....

An active conservationist and a curious human being To relay what I’ve heard and tell stories of what I’ve seen To make the world a better place for generations yet to come So they too may learn on beaches in the sun

Thanks to Helena Pham and Co for putting the camp into song. (Sung to the tune of New York by Alicia Keys):

global warming

i’m rapping to your institution,

we need to stop the pollution

yo we in a crisis,

we gonna drop like mices,

i think of global warming when i’m in a queenscliff state of mind,

we need to do something now i think we’re running of damn time,

get yo stuff in line

we gotta stop the mines

although this is coming out in rhyme,

everyone needs know this is crime

in queenscliff,

plastic jungle is called the ocean,

let stop this commotion,

now we’re in queenscliff!

clean seas will make you feel brand new,

these words should inspire you

now we’re in queenscliff queenscliff queenscliff!!!!

ayo, i mean it right now i mean what i said,

plastic ends up in your digestive system it’s not in our heads,

the fish are now dying so we shouldn’t be lying,

to ourselves about single use plastic because earth is now crying,

and dying because there’s a point in time we’re it will be too late to start trying.

one hand in the air for a clean ocean,

two hands in the air for a closed ozone,

say YEAHATWAH SYEAHAHYE

in queenscliff,

plastic jungle is called the ocean,

let stop this commotion

now we’re in queenscliff

clean seas will make you feel brand new,

these words should inspire you

now we’re in queenscliff queenscliff queenscliff!!!!

Melbourne Girls' College

Issue 20 · 12 Dec 2019

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