AROUND THE COLLEGE & BEYOND

Happenings in the Humanities

By Jon Sorensen - Head of Department

JCU Legal Studies Day 

The Year 11 and Year 12 Legal Studies classes attended JCU on 12 August to experience university life and possible career pathways in law. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Mabo decision, the university organised a variety of key speakers  from organisations such as the Cape York Land Council, Environmental Defenders Officer, LawRite and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services. Students learnt about new Cultural Recognition Orders whereby an order is made by the Commissioner that transfers a child’s parentage from their birth parents to their cultural parents for Torres Strait Islander peoples from Commissioner C'Zarke Maza from the Office of the Commissioner (Meriba Omasker Kaziw Kazip). The Queensland Police Force also presented various career pathways. We thank JCU for organising the day. 

JCU and BLA Mediation Competition

St Augustine's entered two teams into the inaugural JCU and BLA Mediation Competition held at JCU's Cairns Institute at "the bird's nest" on the evening of 17 August. Noah Conlan, Sidney Whipp and Jacob Watson represented the Year 12 Legal Studies class and Aiden Cridland, Alex Leng and Michael Doolan represented the Year 11 Legal Studies class. The students were presented with a neighbourhood dispute about noise and an unmanicured lawn. They ensured that the conversation between the two neighbours was respectful and aimed at reaching a resolution. Unfortunately, we did not obtain a podium position this year, however, the judges commented on our students' confidence, listening, reframing and transitioning skills within their mediation. We thank JCU and BLA for organising this event. 

Year 9 Geography - Skybury Excursion 

All our Year 9s travelled to Skybury Farms on the Atherton Tablelands on 18 August.  The students were provided with information about sustainable farming practices and alteration to natural environments for agricultural purposes. The students visited the nursery under the direction of Nursery Manager, Bongani, where they learnt about double cropping and the use of humidity sheds to expedite the growth of coffee and papaya plants. Callum Robertson from Year 9 said, "It was a fun excursion. It was interesting to look at the science behind the planting of papaya." The busy packaging shed was also observed under the direction of Packaging Shed Manager, James. The students noted the fragile environment required to maintain and package papaya. The students also observed the biochar or organic compost pile where Skybury puts a lot of waste products into their compost. Interestingly, their papaya is sweeter from the use of mill mud from a local sugar mill. We thank Skybury Farms for providing our Year 9s with such a unique experience. The students will be using the data to write a geography report.