Year 6 Canberra Trip

Canberra 2024

Students from our school  have recently undertaken an education tour of the national capital. Students were given the opportunity to participate in a variety of educational programs with a focus on Australia’s history, culture, heritage, and democracy. The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the national capital as part of their Civics and Citizenship education. To assist families in meeting the cost of the excursion the Australian Government is contributing funding to our school in the amount of $30.00 per student under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate program towards those costs. The rebate is paid directly to the school upon completion of the excursion.

A Memorable Journey: Exploring the Delights of Canberra

I initially harboured anxiety and apprehension about my trip to Canberra and I was hesitant to proceed. However, my perception underwent a significant transformation following my first hand encounter with the city.

Upon embarking on the three-hour bus trip, time seemed to linger, but upon arrival in Canberra, I was captivated by the journey's outcome. Our initial destination was The Australian Parliament House, which exhibited a level of security akin to that of an airport. The prevalence of clocks throughout the premises was later explained to me as a necessity for specific parliamentarians and politicians to reach the House of Representatives within four minutes, lest they face being locked out. Currently comprising 151 Members, the House of Representatives sees each Member representing an electoral division. These electoral boundaries are periodically adjusted to maintain approximate equality in the number of electors, given the substantial variation in Australia's population distribution. Members are elected through preferential voting, wherein voters rank candidates in order of preference. 

One of the engaging activities at Parliament House was a debate held in the chamber, where no cameras were allowed. The debate centred on the topic of whether Native Australian animals should have designated areas to stay. I had the honour of representing the role of the Prime Minister of Australia, and our team, advocating the affirmative stance, emerged victorious in the debate.

Following the compelling debating activity, we engaged in a discussion with Jenny Ware, the representative for Hughes, regarding Australian law. Subsequently, we had the opportunity to observe a debate in the House of Representatives, providing valuable insight into genuine political discourse.

Following our visit to Parliament House, we took a brief lunch break before proceeding to our next destination, the War Memorial. We arrived at the War Memorial within a few minutes and commenced our visit by watching an introductory video. Subsequently, we embarked on a guided tour of the remarkable exhibits. During the tour, we were enlightened about the poignant story of James (Jimmy) Martin, an ANZAC soldier who valiantly served in WWI and tragically lost his life.

The penultimate destination we visited was Mount Ainslie, where we later learned that was where Canberra was designed. We spent approximately fifteen minutes there, admiring the picturesque view and capturing a few photographs.

Prior to departing from our accommodation, our group had the opportunity to visit the National Capital Exhibition. During our visit, we had the chance to delve into the history of Canberra and engage in an activity where we designed an eco-friendly city using plastic blocks.

Upon arrival at the Capital Airport motel, we were given a brief orientation regarding the cabins and the establishment's regulations. Subsequently, we were afforded 15 minutes of rest in our accommodations prior to dinner.

Following a satisfying meal, we changed and took the bus to the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), where we engaged in electronic sports games that demanded physical exertion. This institution provided us with the unique opportunity to engage in electronic sports games that not only tested our mental acuity but also required a significant amount of physical energy, akin to traditional sports.

During our visit, we immersed ourselves in the digital realm of competitive gaming, experiencing the thrill and excitement of virtual sports. The Australian Institute of Sport's state-of-the-art facilities and knowledgeable staff enhanced our understanding of the physical and mental demands of e-sports.  After spending approximately an hour at the institute, we returned to the motel.

Upon our return from our activities, we were able to take a shower and then had some free time until 10:00 PM. During this time, we were able to engage in personal activities such as reading, writing, or simply relaxing. At 10:00 PM, it was time for lights out, and we were expected to conclude our day and prepare for sleep. This routine provided us with an opportunity to wind down and ensure we were well-rested for the following day's activities.

The following morning, we were awakened at approximately 6:00 am and were expected to prepare for the day. Following a satisfying breakfast, we departed the motel to visit the Old Parliament House. During our visit, we gained insights into the functioning of a referendum, as well as the historical context of voting regulations. Additionally, we had the opportunity to participate in simulated voting exercises. 

We enjoyed a lunch break at the Rose Gardens and proceeded to Questacon, a destination renowned for its engaging scientific experiments and games. Following our visit to Questacon, we had the opportunity to explore the souvenir shop and purchase mementoes of our trip. Subsequently, we made our way home, where we stopped at McDonald's for a pleasant dinner before being reunited with our families.

By Declan S

 Scarlett Mailey 

Day 1: The Australian capital Canberra was the best trip ever. I was so excited to go and thought I would have the best time and I did. We had so much fun not only learning new things but exploring new places. The first thing we did was get on a bus at 6:00 am very early in the morning and the ride to Canberra was three hours. We stopped half way at Sutton Forest to have some morning tea and then it was back on the bus for another hour. When we got to Canberra the first thing we did was go to the new Parliament House.

Day Two: By Taya

Day 2 was crazy, but SOOOO MUCH FUN!!! We started off at Old Parliament House where we played a game and learnt about our democratic voting system. Our vote was on whether you liked bananas, apples, oranges or peaches, apples won.

We then headed to the Rose Gardens which was close by and we had some lunch and some play time. Our next and final stop was QUESTACON. I had bought some money to spend at the shop. We went to all the rooms, but number 5 was my favourite. It had the Free Fall slide and a throwing simulator and pipes that have air to transport one cloth to the other side of the room. I was terrified of the slide, I just couldn't go down, but then my friends encouraged me and it felt like I was flying. Then we had to leave. Even though everything has to come to an end I didn't want to leave. The ride home was amazing. We watched some movies and got McDonalds. I desperately want to go back, because the memories I made in Canberra were ones I will never forget.  By Taya

Questacon: By Anthony Broomhall.

Questacon is the BEST place we went out of the whole trip. Questacon had everything, double bouncing explained to pressure rockets, vertical slides to mind bending tricks, even a LEGO periodic table. There is a spiral ramp with 8 different room’s and in the middle was a big inflatable moon. After the room’s were done, we went to the gift shop and I bought a packet of freeze dried skittles and a lava lamp. IT WAS AMAZING.