From 28 March to 5 April, 30 students from S3 to S5, accompanied by Ms Kary Chan, Ms Tracy Mak, and Ms Anna Ng, embarked on a journey to Sydney and Cairns during Easter, even celebrating Easter Sunday at St. Kevin’s Catholic Church in Sydney. With God’s guidance, our educational trip concluded successfully.
Throughout this meaningful journey, our students created unforgettable memories and gained valuable insights into three diverse aspects: culture, conservation, and marine life.
Historically, Aboriginal people have resided in Australia for at least 65,000 years. Visiting the Kuranda village helped us understand their traditions and lifestyles from the past to the present. For example, to hunt for food, their wise ancestors not only created tools like boomerangs and didgeridoos but also utilized different body movements to imitate animals, strengthening communication with fellow clan members. As their culture is highly conserved and promoted by the Australian government, more tourists have the chance to appreciate their wisdom and unique culture.
Apart from its culture, Australia is famous for its biodiversity. On day 1, we visited Australia’s largest zoo, home to over 350 species. The Taronga Zoo includes iconic local animals like koalas and kangaroos, as well as endangered species such as Corroboree Frogs and Sumatran Tigers. At Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures, we witnessed numerous gigantic crocodiles during our boat ride and fed Cassowaries, a keystone species that facilitates the spread of fruit seeds through its faeces. The Australian government has been conserving its biodiversity by actively educating the general public and tourists, teaching them the correct ways to handle animal encounters in the wild. Moreover, strict travel restrictions prevent tourists and locals from bringing invasive species into Australia to protect their habitats.
Additionally, the Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef, nurturing over 400 types of corals and 1500 fish species. We were fortunate enough to visit Green Island and take the glass-bottom boat. Green Island is the only island within the Great Barrier Reef that has a rainforest. On the island, we participated in a competitive island hunt organized by our teachers, which deepened our understanding of the significance of the Great Barrier Reef. We also realized that coral bleaching intensifies day by day. During the Cairns Aquarium visit, we learned about scientists’ response to the phenomenon. By collecting coral samples and constructing a coral biobank, scientists aim to prevent the extinction of coral in the Great Barrier Reef. At the same time, we can develop a green lifestyle to slow down climate change and coral bleaching.
In addition to learning about Australia’s culture and biodiversity, many students aimed to improve their English and boost their confidence in speaking with native speakers during the trip. Therefore, our teachers tasked us with interviewing strangers on Manly Beach, which encouraged us to step out of our comfort zone and make use of our communication skills. Through social interactions with native speakers, students learned more about conservation methods and the daily lives of Australians. Their detailed answers allowed us to appreciate this country from a different perspective. Additionally, we had the wonderful opportunity to tour around James Cook University. Some friendly students introduced us to their school life inside the campus, especially valuable for students who want to study overseas in the future.
In conclusion, this educational trip truly broadened our horizons in many different aspects, and we are extremely grateful for this opportunity.
Crystal Yau (3A)