We left a flurry of faces and hands waving at us and saying goodbye as we headed to our National Capital. In Canberra we had the opportunity to participate in a variety of educational programmes with a focus on Australia’s History, Culture, Heritage and Democracy.
It was a couple of hours' drive to our first stop, which was the Museum of Democracy at Old Parliament House. It was incredible to walk along the same corridors and sit in the same seats as those who have led and set up our nation. There was a display upstairs filled with artefacts and information about all the Prime Ministers of Australia, from Edmund Barton to Anthony Albanese. It was amazing to explore.
That same day we investigated the AEC, where we got to hold and vote in our own election and even visited the E-town of Democracy City. I can’t wait to be able to enrol to vote! It is such an important responsibility.
In the cool evening of night, we got to adventure around the Botanic Gardens. We saw a couple of owls, some sugar gliders and possums. It was so silent and then suddenly a loud piercing scream…don’t worry, it was just a statue of a cassowary but, how it fooled us late at night!
As the sun rose, we crept out of bed and dressed for another amazing day. That day we visited The War Memorial and saw some incredible real planes and boats from the war. We visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to reflect on the sacrifices so many people made to ensure Australia remained a free and fair nation.
As we walked into Questacon we were greeted by a handful of spinning, twisting illusions. Giant stairs led to eight different interactive science rooms we had time to investigate. Each was filled with exhilarating activities and enlightening experiences. In one of the rooms, bent mirrors reflected out deformed shapes! One of the mirrors made us short and really thick, and the other made us tall, and thin as a twig! Another room had volcanic eruptions, lightning bolts and spinning tornados.
The next sunny bright morning brought excitement and joy as we left for our Snow day at Perisher. For some of us it was our first time seeing and playing with snow. Crusader Leader’s taught us how to build snowmen and then umpired a snowball fight. We made big trenches and lots of barriers out of the snow. It even snowed on us while we were there. This was such an incredible once-in-a-lifetime experience to have in our final year of Primary.
On the following icy cold morning, we awoke and looked outside our cabins and saw it had snowed overnight and there was fresh snow all around us!
As we headed back home we had a final stop to make, Parliament House. It was surreal to be in the place where so many decisions that shape Australia and ensure our future are made. It is wonderful how they have made it a straight line from here to the War Memorial, so as our leaders plan for our future they remember the past and the sacrifices our nation has made to ensure freedom.
The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the National Capital as part of their Civics and Citizenship Education. To assist in meeting the cost of the excursion the Australian Government is contributing funding of $30.00 per student under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate Programme towards those costs. The rebate is paid directly to the school upon completion of the excursion.
Our journey to Canberra and the Snow were absolutely a camp worth waiting for. Thank you to our teachers who ensured it was such an incredible trip!
By Tristan M, Holly N, Daniel M and Ella M.
