HEALTH

YEAR 9 CAMP INDIGENOUS FOOD TOUR

Warrnambool (Gunditjmara) - from the language of the Kuurn Kopan Noot Aborigines, meaning ‘a growing tree’, 'place of plenty’ or ‘ample water’. 

Tower Hill (Worn Gundidj) - one of Victoria’s oldest dormant volcanoes located near Koroit, has a 65,000 year old culture enabling visitors to discover and get close to some of Australia’s most iconic native animals.

The recent Year 9 camp at Warrnambool, enabled the cohort to experience this seaside location and, unexpectedly indulge in various types of Indigenous foods. This was a highlight for many students during the three-day extravaganza. 

Two students, Rachel Milner and Lulu Liang have both reflected on their experiences during this taste testing of Indigenous foods.

Ms Tiffany Zikou

Year 9 Food Technology  Teacher

My experience on the Indigenous food tour was very positive. I truly believe that it was an eye-opening experience. 

We first started our journey in a beautiful landscape filled with animal and plant life - Tower Hill. We got to see an Emu during our introduction to this tour in its natural habitat. It was a beautiful and captivating blue and black coloured bird. This was just the beginning. As we walked through the forest and bushland we set upon a beautiful field surrounded by a lake mirroring the sky above. We got to see two beautiful Koalas hugging the gum tree that they called home. 

Along our intriguing walk, we set upon countless numbers of native bush shrubs and plants. Under the guidance of our tour guide, we were invited to taste test, so we did! We were casually eating leaves and plants along our walk, all of which tasted like the food we have in our pantry. I really do recommend visiting this moving and peaceful piece of land.

Rachel Milner

Year 9P Student

During Year 9 camp there was a tour at Tower Hill. This was an absolute blast! During this guided bush and nature tour, we were able to experience bush flora, which was shown to us by our Indigenous guide named Paul. He took us through a hiking trail, explaining different plants and animals along the way. We ate tree sap which tasted surprisingly bitter. We also ate leaves that were salty. The different types of leaves had different textures and different amounts of saltiness. 

During the walk we also had many encounters with fauna such as a Tiger snake on a rock, as well as Koalas and Emus. We even had to wait for an Emu to cross the road for the bus to get past! Overall it was a great experience and I was able to learn and experience Indigenous culture”.

Lulu Liang

Year 9C Student