Coastal Experience & Budj Bim Outdoor Environmental Studies 

During week five the Year 12 Outdoor and Environmental Studies group travelled along the Great Ocean Road to Camp Cooriemungle to study the changing nature of relationships with outdoor environments between Indigenous and Non-indigenous Australians. 

First stop was the Loch Ard Gorge, the site where the ship ‘The Loch Ard’ ran aground crashing into Mutton Bird Island in 1878.  Our group then visited the 12 Apostles and Gibsons steps. We then set off for Camp Cooriemungle, our camp for the night, an old prison farm with a collection of individual prison cells that are still standing.  

On day two we departed early for the Flagstaff Hill Maritime museum. We listened to an educational officer who discussed the Middle Island Project’s educational experience, where we learned about Little Penguins and the importance of the Maremma Dogs who protect them. We also visited the museum and had a look around at how Early settlers lived.

That afternoon we had a surf lesson at Warrnambool with help from Port Fairy Surf school. It was a great day for surfing and all students had a great time.

Later that afternoon we departed Warrnambool for the World Heritage listed Budj Bim. We camped the night and we were able to observe the myriad of wildlife at this site. The Budj Bim campsite is situated within the Budj Bim National Park. Budj Bim is the Gunditjmara name, meaning "High Head". Large areas to the west and south-west of the mountain have been World heritage-listed. 

On Day three, we drove to the Tae Rak Aquaculture centre, a facility designed to showcase one of the world’s oldest and most extensive aquaculture systems. It is located on the shores of Tae Rak (Lake Condah) From here, we left for the Tyrendarra Indigenous Protected area. This region was/is a traditional meeting place and camping area for the Gunditjmara people and an important ceremonial site. It also is another area important for its stone houses and aquaculture systems.

Many thanks to intrepid Bus Driver Gilly who helped with the driving and Lucas Taylor who helped with the supervision of a great cohort of students. 

Ms Merrin Shannon

Outdoor & Environmental Studies Teacher