Year 7
Humanities Excursion
Ashlyn Western
In Humanities, Year 7 students have been learning about Ancient Australian History and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives. On Monday 30th of May, we travelled to several local Gunaikurnai sites of significance to learn about Indigenous cultures and histories. These sites included Howitt Park in Bairnsdale, Krowathunkooloong Keeping Place and the Knob Reserve in Stratford. We were fortunate to be able to participate in a guided tour of Krowathunkooloong Keeping Place, where students were able to ask questions and view primary sources.
On Monday 30th of May, Year 7 students headed to Bairnsdale for a Humanities excursion. Our first stop was the Krowathunkooloong Keeping Place and Howitt Park to learn about Indigenous culture. At the Keeping Place we learnt about how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made tools and canoes and many other Indigenous cultural artefacts. At Howitt Park we looked at the Scarred Tree and learnt that it was about 170 years old. In the afternoon, we travelled to the Knob Reserve in Stratford and looked at the ancient rocks on the side of the hill that had divots and grooves where First Nations people would sharpen their tools. We learnt that the Knob Reserve was a meeting place where Indigenous people would dance sing and share tools. We also learnt that the Avon River’s Indigenous name is Dooyeedang. At the end of the day, we had some spare time to play some football and I was able to tackle Miss Weston and Dylan -Hunter Appleton 7B
On Monday we arrived at school at normal times. Today, we were going on an excursion. We went to Bairnsdale and Stratford. In Bairnsdale we went to Howitt Park to look at an ancient scar tree and the Mitchell River. We also went to the Keeping Place to look at all the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander historic artefacts. We went back to Howitt park for lunch and played on the playground, which was one of the best parts. After lunch, we went to the Knob Reserve in Stratford. There were 2 scar trees there and we also went up to the look out above the Avon river on the bluff lookout. In Aboriginal languages the Avon River is called Dooyeedang. We found some clap sticks which are used in Indigenous ceremonies. I also learned about the dates when things happened and how old artefacts were - James Morris 7B
