Fine conditions with variable winds and slightly warm temperatures were the perfect backdrop for the Year 7 Cultural Tour held at Lake Arragan, and Brooms Head on the 24th 25 and the 26th March. Over the three days 139 students and 20 staff participated in the activities of the tour that were hosted by the Yaegl Elders.
The students were put into two groups and shown areas around Lake Arragan and areas around the Red Cliff Headland that were pertained to Womens’ and Mens’ Business respectively. Areas of high ground for the boys and areas of low ground the foreshore of Lake Arragan for the girls.
Students were then taken to the eastern end of Brooms Head beach to look at the lagoon and how it was used as a fish trap. They then went to the top of the Headland to look at the geology which was a great source for stone axes and implements. Aunty Glenda MacPhail, Uncle Cyrill Mercy and Uncle Shane McLeay spoke to the staff and students about plants, animals and their experience in the area as children. Students were given information about the plants and their uses animals were named in language, and the detail was given as to how the Yaegl people utilised the environment and landscape in the areas.
Morning Tea was spent on the headland looking south towards Sandon and back beach Brooms Head. Conditions on the headland were quite windy. The students were divided into groups to go through different activities. Aunty Glenda and Uncle Shane talked to the students in situ regarding country, history, stories, and tools, and Maclean High Staff led sessions line drawing of the coastal landscape, geographical skills, and plant identification.
The tours are a very important part in the school calendar and are the beginning of thematic teaching that will occur in Year 7 from now and in Term 2 which is all part of the River of Learning program, and the celebration day planned for Term 2.
This year the Year 11 Aboriginal Studies class accompanied the Year 7 students and assisted with the activities which enabled them to do some field work and to listen to the information that was being given by the Elders on Country. This experience will be invaluable for the students as a major part of the Year 11 course focusses on Aboriginality and the Land.
Such events cannot happen without the generosity of our Elders, who have, for many years, willingly given up their time to spend with our students and staff to give them a personal and authentic experience, which is learning about Country. Thank you to Aunty Glenda, Uncle Cyrill Mercy, Uncle Neville Vesper, Aunty Eileen McLeay, Cheryl Breckenridge, Gloria Currie, Aunty Lenore Parker and Uncle Shane for leading the tours and making the experience so memorable for our students and staff. A big thank you to the Maclean High School staff, Anjanette Warburton, Deborah Breckenridge, Sam Kapeen and Kerri McLeay who attended the tours as well as the staff who ran the workshops on the headland. Seeing teaching and learning happening in such a unique landscape was wonderful. Thank you to Year 7, who exhibited exemplary behaviour and interest throughout the tours; well, done.
Liza Hamilton
Cultural Tour Organiser.
