Annual 9-12 Camp, September 2001

from Usha's & Margaret's Northside News article September 24, 2001

The 9-12 camp to Dubbo and Bathurst was a big success!

Some of the highlights include: hand feeding giraffes at the Western Plains Zoo; being put in the stocks and solitary confinement cell at Dubbo Goal; panning for gold; preparing a camp site, cooking morning tea over the open fire; participating in a mock trial at Hartley; and exploring a gold mine.

The children’s behaviour was exemplary, and it was a pleasure to accompany them. We will be sharing excerpts from the children in our next newsletter.  The children, Usha and Margaret would like to thank Robert and Michael (fathers who accompanied the class) for their tireless patience and great sense of humour, even when being served sausages for the sixth time in a row, or having to don gas masks while supervising the big boys room clean up at the end of the camp.  Thank you again, and we really appreciate your help and support.

from Usha's & Margaret's Northside News article October 22, 2001

As promised we have included some excerpts from 9-12 Camp diaries:

• It was an interesting experience making mud huts like pioneers (even if we did not get dirty).

• I love the museum. I am having the best time.

• In Hartley we had a mock trial in the Court House. I got to be the guard. We had a script – it was fun.

• I like the monkeys at Dubbo Zoo the best. They were good acrobats and made really loud noises – our eardrums really cracked.

• Wellington Caves was really good. There were lot of beautiful stalactites and stalagmites.

• The early morning walk at the zoo was really interesting. The guide told us lots of things and we got to be really close to the animals.

• Rhinos are very territorial. We had to keep stepping back in case it sprayed us.

• We went to Hill End. We had a town history lesson but it was more like a treasure hunt.

• We looked for quartz crystal at Sunshine Gully.

• Gold panning was the best. What you did was put your pan with dirt in the water.  You wash out the clay and pick out the rocks.  As gold is twice the weight of lead it will stay at the bottom of the pan.

• I found a speck of gold but my back hurts from bending over.

• Going down the underground mine was chance of a lifetime. Going up the ten ladders to get out was extremely outrageously fun.

• The Sheep and Cattle Drome was great. They had all different types of sheep and cattle. The Merino was my favourite.

• The bush dance was good fun. The music was cool but I didn’t like dancing with girls.