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Year 12 Bunurong Coast Camp
Wednesday 25 February - Friday 27 February
Wednesday February 25 saw the Year 12 Outdoor & Environmental Studies class depart for a 3 day Bunurong Coast experience, taking in Phillip Island and Wonthaggi. “Changing relationships with outdoor environments over time” was our theme for the camp and students received a number of opportunities to explore and collect data related to the impacts of; indigenous peoples, the early European settlers as well as people throughout Pre and Post Federation times.
After our drive to the Island and setting up camp, Wednesday afternoon saw us head to Smiths Beach for a surf lesson with Island Surf School. The surf was reasonably large but winds made the waves somewhat sloppy. We had many successes but couldn’t identify any future world surfing champions, although we may have seen future stars practicing at Smiths Beach?
Thursday was a big day. We were up early and headed to Cape Woolamai to watch some of a World Surf League qualification competition. The Island Surf School instructors informed us about the competition while we had our lesson so why not seize the opportunity to witness the pros in action?
From there it was a trip across the Island to the Nobbies/Seal Rock. We made a short stop on the way at the Phillip Island GP circuit and witnessed a few bikes tearing around the circuit. At the Nobbies we saw a multitude of conservation efforts aimed at protecting penguin, seal and Cape Barren Geese environment as well as exploring the former Summerland Peninsula housing estate (bought out by the Victorian government to expand the breeding colony for the little penguins).
A quick stop in Cowes for lunch preceded our visit to Churchill Island to experience the relationships held by the early settlers. Students gathered primary data for later use in their Investigation Report for Unit 4 as well as witnessing various farming activities (milking cows, sheep shearing, working sheep dogs and whip cracking).
Thursday evening was spent at the Penguin Parade watching the nightly spectacle of little penguins waddling up the beach to return to their nesting boxes to feed their young chicks..
Friday morning saw us very quickly pack up camp (between thunderstorms) at the Caravan Park and head to Wonthaggi for a visit to the Victorian Desalination Plant. The irony of commissioning a Desalination plant just as the drought was over was not lost on the students and they appreciated the need for it to keep running for maintenance reasons despite not needing to sell any water.
A quick visit to explore the State Coal Mine in Wonthaggi gave students insight into the life of a mining community in the late 1800’s. After a quick lunch break in Wonthaggi it was time to hit the road and head back to DHS.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable 3 days for all and thanks must go to Miss Sherry for her valuable assistance.
Mr P. Dietzsch
Year 12OES Teacher