Day 5 - The Day Knowledge Rained on Us

As we woke up to a bright and warm day, we went down and had a very important breakfast. On the schedule we are going for 3 different activities today at Moonah (Not MONA): Golf, Bowling, Ice-Skating so getting enough energy for these activities was needed.

First stop, Putters Golf, it’s a bit like our MiniGolf at BigSplash but just not air-conditioned. Bits of information about the place, there are 2 different areas, The Mountain (In the sun), The Mill (In the shade). One group went to the Mountain and the other 2 groups went to the Mill. Being a first time for some, it was a great experience to try golf. While we had fun, there were moments where luck was needed. When the ball goes into the water, we have to restart. There are moments when the ball was really close to the hole but it didn’t go in. So after some laughs and sadness, we completed our course having mixed feelings and eager to go for the next activity.

Next stop, AMF Bowling, also there were first-timers, thus it was new experience for them to bowl. Some people haven’t actually seen a bowling ball go at 4.5 km/h and that was what I bowled! J What was encouraging was cheering on everyone after their turn, regardless of their score; even our buddies followed us making the place livelier. After much joy, the person who emerged overall champion is Trexel with a score of over a 100! We were raring to go Ice Skating partially because it was new to most and also due to the heat.

Our final stop, Glenorchy’s Ice Skating Rink. Though the opening hours for today is 2-4pm, we were allowed in before their opening hours so that we could have the whole place to ourselves. Most of us were beginners at ice-skating, most held to the side keeping balance, those who could balance move about slowly. Those who are regular skaters learnt a new trick from our buddies. Those who were regular skaters tried to help the beginners to balance, move around. After getting wet, cold, 2 people managed to stay above the ground and not fall, me and Yat Bun J

What we did after dinner was play Touch Rugby and a few of us followed the teachers to
Bi-Centennial Park, they met many kinds of wildlife that sadly are nocturnal. A good experience to see wildlife and get up close to nature.

After a day packed with activities, though we are tired but we are looking forward to tomorrow’s activity, Salamanca Markets, where most of our shopping would be.

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Seow Ryan

Day 4 - The Day the Sun Bore Down on Us

After many cool windy days, here comes the heat. Being around (27-30)^oC, around Singapore weather but much more windy, it is actually considered a heat wave the our buddies. Breakfast was a little heavy, with bacon (around 2-3 times bigger than those we have), a Sunny Side Up and the usual cereal. We then proceeded to meet our buddies before heading off to our separate classes.

We all observed the classes with a clear mind, realising that most of what happens in the class is impacted by the teacher. We had many different lessons giving us enough evidence for our conclusion. For PE lesson, the teacher wants to create and fun experience yet let them exercise, students were given a chance to think of a game and all games would involve the teacher. Through some creativity because one side wanted dodgeball and the other wanted basketball, they decided to combine the games together. While the students wanted to beat each other at the game, they also wanted to beat the teacher, creating some competition.

Other classes were conducted through much different methods. For science, students were given a topic on Solar Cells and then went to the computer lab to do self-research then present the information/research into a document. There is a lesson Resilience & Coping, which prepares students for the future. That lesson was on Career Guidance, we felt that they emphasised a lot on passion, what they want to do in life.

After the lessons, we went for a walk around Hobart, something like an Amazing Race, seeing new sights, new things. After a long walk for around 2 hours, we had cool bubble tea then set of on our way back. This was a wonderful experience to learn about different methods of teaching, learning and wonderful picture of Hobart.

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Seow Ryan

Day 2 – Getting up close

                After a good night’s rest, our Tasmanian experience continued on. Breakfast was a jovial affair, with milk, cereals and toast. We then headed off for classroom immersion with the Grade 8s (Singaporean equivalent of Secondary 2s), splitting into 3 groups. Their classes were great to say the least and I believe all of us observed the classes with open and critical minds, noting the contrasts between ours and their education systems. They definitely had a different style of teaching that we could take to easily, some thoroughly enjoying the lessons even. I’d wager your son would have his own take on the lessons, I certainly found it thought-provoking.  

               Our observation spanned 2 hours before we headed for Bonorong Wildlife Park. We were accompanied by Mr Irons, our bus driver who was the previous Deputy Headmaster of Hutchins and the father of the founder of Bonorong, together with students from Hutchins school. The long ride to Bonorong gave us great opportunity to strike up conversation with our hosts and they confirmed our notions of Tasmanians being wonderful people. Right as we stepped off the bus at Bonorong, our guide Mel, a volunteer who worked there, was already there to welcome us.  Without much ado, we headed straight off into Bonorong, not knowing what was in store for us. 

 

                Bonorong is no Zoo. Neither was Mel your ordinary animal caregiver. At Bonorong, the visitors could get right up and close with the animals that were preserved there, allowing for a more wholesome and unique experience you can’t find in Singapore. Mel was an excellent guide, with her chirpy, exuberant manner andextensive knowledge on the animals. You could really see the passion she had for her work. Her introduction to the Tasmanian devils was particularly good. After the koalas, we broke lunch in a wooden shed inside the park.     This particular meal was memorable for me, the first time I ever enjoyed a pack lunch. Our lunch came in paper bags, each one with a salad wrap, chips, biscuit and fruit, complete with a packet of juice. Next time you go for picnics, this is what you should do.

                 

 

                We went further into the park and saw the possums, cockatoos, emus and quolls, all of which sparked our excitement but none more so than the kangaroos. We were told we could feed the kangaroos and enjoy time amongst them and all of us were furnished with a little bag of kangaroo food. 

                Our time with the kangaroos was simply awesome. We never imagined that the park housed over 90 of the marsupials, and never did we guess feeding kangaroos could be so enjoyable an activity. You’d pour the food on your palm and reach out to them at waist level. They were eager eaters, slobbery too :) Some of us felt icky at first but soon grew to find fun in it. We were completely immersed in the activity; playing around with the kangaroos while keeping our shoes clean from the animal droppings that peppered the entire area. Just like that, more than an hour and half swept by. This was definitely an unforgettable experience, one branded with the warmth and authenticity of Tasmania. 

 - Bin Hui
29/11/2012

Day 3- MONA

Wednesday, 28^th November 2012

It was without doubt that MONA, in short for Museum of Old and New Art, was the highlight of the day.  Being the largest privately funded museum in Australia, the museum presents antiquities, modern and contemporary art from the David Walsh collection. There was a noticeable sense of excitement among us before the visit there, given that MONA has been described as a "subversive adult Disneyland." Shouldn’t it be time to grow up?

Located in the Berriedale peninsula near Hobart, we could have taken the school bus to MONA. But we went there via the other way- taking the ferry through the Derwent River. Standing at the bow of the ferry, the wind was absolutely refreshing and not to mention, cold. The winds were strong, stinging our faces as they went pass us. But it being a new experience, the elements were not much of an issue to us. At least we were having fun. 

Constitutional Dock- Where we boarded the ferry

It would be unfair if I do not mention the scenery as well. The ferry ride through the Derwent River was a feast for our cameras, as we passed by the Tasman Bridge, providing a good photo opportunity for all of us. The natural landscape- beautiful mountain ranges, tranquil seas, bright sun, all made the experience unforgettable.

The Tasman Bridge

The Berriedale Peninsula

After the ferry was docked, we had to climb this extremely long staircase to reach MONA, and we were handed an iPod and earphones for the museum tour. MONA made museums seem modern and up to date with technology for once, challenging our notion that museums are old and traditional. The exhibits in the museum had no descriptions, so that is why we had to rely on the iPod given to us, looking for the particular exhibit and its description and at times, interviews with the particular artist who painted the painting. It was a completely different experience from the conventional museums that we visited in Singapore.

MONA- Picture taken from the ferry

Moving on to the artworks in MONA, I would say that MONA has a great representation of “old art” and “new art”. The “old art” was not as old as I expected it to be-no Renaissance or Baroque paintings, but only paintings during the Romantic era. The modern art was the interesting one, as diversified as it was, there were the abstract ones, the morbid ones, and the thought-provoking ones. And to be honest, some of the artworks at MONA were not pleasant to look at, yet such things are part and parcel of modern art. While there is no “one painting for all” when it comes to art, it is all the more we should keep an open mind and take things with a pinch of salt at times. It is alright and normal to prefer certain artworks or be extremely critical of some, but as long as we are mentally stimulated, then I believe that the trip to the museum has been a fruitful one. In this case, I believe we left the museum feeling that we emerged a subtlety different person- perhaps more observant, more open minded or more intrigued into the mysterious world of art. No matter what, it was a fruitful trip. The influence of this trip to MONA on us may not have been felt instantly but the ability to appreciate art will be important should we wish to enrich our lives. For the many of us who were strangers to art until the visit to MONA, may this trip be the beginning of a journey of appreciation to the arts. 

Back to the ferry where we came from, feeling the strong winds that once blew upon us, we made our way back to the dock… 

Written By: Chua Wei Rong