Last week, fifty-two Year 6 students and five staff visited our nation’s capital, Canberra, as part of the Civics and Citizenship program.
The group flew from Brisbane on Monday morning and first visited the summit of Mount Ainslie to get a bird’s eye view of the city. Then, they went to the National Gallery of Australia, where they participated in the Stories of Art program, which celebrated the resilience of our First Nations people and the connections between art, people, and Country. The students also participated in hands-on science activities at the CSIRO Discovery Centre before visiting the National Capital Exhibition to learn about the history of Canberra and the vital role the city plays as our nation’s capital. To cap off an exciting first day, the students were privileged to participate in and lay a wreath at the Last Post Ceremony at the Australian War Memorial.
On Tuesday, the students went on a tour of Parliament House, where the politicians were busy preparing for the budget’s delivery. The atmosphere was electric, and being there for such a significant event was exciting. Throughout the day, students learned more about the importance of democracy with visits to the Electoral Education Centre and the Museum of Modern Democracy at Old Parliament House.
Another highlight was the personalized tour of the Governor General, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC, home and gardens. Students were even able to learn about the sacking of the Prime Minister in 1975 and view the room where this significant event occurred.
There was so much to see and learn in Canberra, and we also enjoyed visits to the National Portrait Gallery, the National Museum of Australia, the Royal Australian Mint, and the High Court of Australia. The experiences and relationships that developed over the course of the week made this a very memorable trip that students will remember for years to come.
