Mrs Ali’s Year 2 class recently spent the day exploring some of the historical beginnings of Busselton.
The students, along with staff and parent helpers, made their way to Wonnerup House, when they were able to see first-hand the way of life experienced by our early pioneers.
From seeing the kitchens and cooking implements, through to sitting at an old classroom desk in the original school room, the students were not only able to explore the homestead at the heart of Busselton’s history, but also to see how much has changed since those early years.
The seats in the classroom, were pronounced as ‘uncomfortable’, and the beds ‘lumpy looking’. It is clear that in the past, life was harsh. The owner of the land, George Layman cleared the property of huge Tuart trees by hand. Today’s students are accustomed to a gentler way of life, but the experience of witnessing what these early settlers endured was an education in itself.
Whilst the students were on the groups of Wonnerup House (which comes from the land being called ‘Wannerup’, an aboriginal term meaning place of the ‘Aborginal Woman’s Digging Stick’) they had specific questions they had to answer, which would leave the experience of the excursion having distinct learning outcomes .
A lovely time of exploring history and enjoying a beautiful setting at the same time. Well done Mrs Ali.
