Staff in Focus

A deep dive into Maritime and Marine Studies

With the arrival of new Science teacher Mr Brad Cotterell - combined with Mr Tom Dempers’ nautical experience – St George’s is excited to grow its Marine and Maritime Studies Program for Year 11 and 12 students. From next year, our city school aims to offer ATAR Marine and Maritime Studies as well as our existing APEx pathway for aspiring skippers, Scuba divers and students with a passion for marine science. Here we meet the teachers and take a deep dive into the subject! 

Q &A with  . . . Mr Dempers 

Is it true that you worked on boats and had a surf shop before you became a teacher?

Yes! For most of my adult life I have been on or around the ocean. I graduated UWA studying Marine Biology and Zoology and while I was studying, I was lucky enough to be given a scholarship to study Coral Reef and Fish populations on the Great Barrier Reef for six months, diving and doing work while studying at James Cook University in Townsville. I was also fortunate enough to have been given a scholarship to do work and study in a bioreserve in Mexico for three months, diving and looking at the health of the coral reefs in the Yucatan Peninsula. I have worked on boats as both a deck hand for a commercial fishing vessel and a tour guide operator for a whale watching and wildlife charter. While at university, I started a surf clothing brand as a hobby, which took off and enabled me to purse that for a few years, selling it in stores both nationally and internationally and online. This led me to open up a surfing shop in the process. Then I decided it was not for me and started teaching almost three years ago which I am really grateful I did. I love teaching and am so glad that I made the switch.

Where did your passion for the ocean begin?

In high school. I was a keen swimmer and surfer and spent most of my days after school at the beach, which opened up my passion for the marine environment, fishing and boating. I have owned many "tinnies" throughout the years, so it has stemmed from that, as well as having friends with the same interests. The ocean is most definitely in my blood. 

How do you share your knowledge?

I love that the course is very practically based with a high percentage of the course being assessed through hands-on application. It enables students to get outside and experience both Marine and Maritime components firsthand. There is no better way than to see things hands on. Students get to learn about the weather and ocean conditions as well as responsible skippering, by undertaking sailing lessons and powerboating, obtaining their Recreational Skippers Ticket. Students do a range of activities, like measuring and analysing water samples of the Swan River for salinity and nutrients and looking at bioreserves using quadrats to measure wildlife. Next year, we even hope to be introducing Scuba, so students can obtain their Scuba Certification. The course is most definitely an exciting one – but you need to be able to swim!

What will students experience if they choose the new ATAR pathway in Marine and Maritime Studies?

In Year 11 students will undertake their Recreational Skippers Ticket, learning about sustainable skippering and trip nautical concepts. Later students learn about management of fish stocks, and will undertake excursions to Fisheries and AQWA, as well as scientific investigations in the field and at UWA. In Year 12 they will get their Scuba certification and learn the basics of snorkelling, while experiencing the many other practical components of the course. 

And APex?

Next year, if all goes to plan, we will introduce scuba certification to the APEx course in Year 11, as well as a handful of sailing lessons at Mounts Bay Sailing Club. There will be many practical components outside and a wide variety of excursions. I have even heard that Rottnest could be a possibility. 

Q and A with  . . . Mr Cotterell 

What fascinates you most about Science and oceanography?

I grew up visiting my grandparents' farm and talking to my uncle who was in wildlife management and farming. My passion led me to my studies where I completed a BSc with an Honours in Wildlife Science and this love of all things wildlife led me to running Scuba co-curricular as a means to observing and enjoying marine ecosystems. Having moved from Johannesburg, which was 700km from the sea, the proximity now to the ocean here in Western Australia has allowed me to take my experiences in teaching ecosystems in ATAR Biology to Marine & Maritime Science. It remains a passion of mine so I love teaching these subjects. 

Why is it important to learn about sustainability of our ocean’s resources?

The oceans are viewed as an infinite source of food and other resources, due to the fact that people know so little about them, and they always seem perfect on the outside. Once those resources are gone, where do we turn? The value of different aspects and organisms in our oceans is only now coming to light, especially around global warming and carbon dioxide levels. We all need to play our part in treating nature and especially the ocean with the greatest of care. 

Why would you recommend our students explore this field?

This field is essentially new in terms of schooling and studies! We see the ocean almost every day but are totally unaware of how it links to many aspects of our life. In terms of future job prospects, the MMS course is a gateway into many different fields from Engineering to Behavioural studies. We know less about the oceans and seas than we do about the moon. It’s also such an interesting subject, why would you not select MMS?!

What is on your bucket list?

I have always wanted to visit and dive the northern coast of WA. A tour to Ningaloo and the reefs around that area would be amazing. There are currently many studies being undertaken and so to be able to practice our diving skills and to aid researchers in gathering information via transects and other means would certainly re-enforce any content taught in class.

Mrs Lisa Quartermain

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