This article brings together a range of student voices, sharing their reflections on the recent Year 9 Southern Tasmania trip. Through this collection of honest, thoughtful, and often insightful quotes, it captures the experience, and the learning that shaped their experience. These reflections offer a real insight into what the trip meant to the students—in their own words.

“I have just come back from an unforgettable journey to southern Tasmania…. This trip really changed my perspectives on how Australia has developed” Madeline Hall

“Last week four groups of Year 9 students from their respective Houses made the trip down to Port Arthur to investigate and learn about Tasmania’s convict history.  The Year 9s participated in numerous activities across the three days learning through activities held at Port Arthur and the Hobart surrounds.” Thomas Byrne

“We discovered that the Richmond Gaol was established in 1825 and was used until 1861. It was used for convicts, both men and women, and when transportation ceased, it became a Water House. We then set off to explore the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery….  One part of the museum that I loved was the environmental section the different biomes, this really interested me…” Amelia Carter

At the Richmond Goal … “We saw the flogging yards in which they [convicts] were punished and whipped by another convict, the small solitary confinement cells… (it was) interesting to see how worn down the stone steps were from years of people walking on them and the little errors in their bricks that were made by the convicts” Bronte Krapf

“The ghost tour was definitely my favourite part of the trip. The stories were very creepy, and it was interesting to hear the things that “happened”.” Ayla Rowlings

“I was moved by some of the stories from convicts about the punishments they faced and the treatment they received. Some people got lucky though, like Mary Leary …”  Noah Lovell

At the Isle of the Dead … “It was very interesting to see all of the tombstones that had lots of spelling mistakes as people weren’t as educated back then in those times.” Archie Young

“It is important for young Australians to learn about the convicts and how they were treated so we don’t repeat history and punish people the same way. It is also important, so we learn about Australia’s past and how we got to where we are today. This trip made me reflect a lot on how the convicts were mentally and physically harmed in the past and made me hope that nothing like this will ever happen again.” Aggie Lyne

“Seeing the historic sites changed my perspective about how cruel some convicts were treated I am glad Scotch Oakburn ran the Southern Trip because now I know how much Australia has changed over time.” Flynn McLoughlin

 

Joy Russell
Year 9 Humanities Teacher