Cultural Immersion
Venturing beyond the confines of their classrooms, a group of Year 9 students travelled to Cambodia and East Kimberley in the September holidays for a unique opportunity to contribute to underprivileged local communities.
Each eight-day trip was designed to offer the students opportunities beyond the reach of ordinary tourists, with a focus on projects that allowed them to assist small local communities.
In Cambodia, the students worked on two service tasks at Kong Maha village primary school, located in the Kampong Cham province, in the Central lowlands of the Mekong River.
Their projects included mixing cement, plastering and concreting, and even teaching at the school. The students were also able to interact with the local children, forging bonds and creating memories. Their last day was made memorable by a village dance party with the local students and a trip to the Kampong Cham Market.
The journey continued in Siem Reap, where the students explored the ancient temples of Angkor, including Angkor Wat, Bayan and Ta Prohm. The archaeological park offered them a glimpse into the past, with its stone corridors, towers, and intricate carvings that narrate tales of heaven and hell.
Meanwhile, another group of students ventured to East Kimberley in outback Australia. Their trip began in Darwin, with a visit to the Royal Flying Doctor Museum, where they learned about the history and activities of the staff.
In Kununurra, they prepared and delivered meals to those in need at the local Police Citizens Youth Club, organising clothing and shoes, and preparing hygiene packs for men, women, and children. The students also had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the local culture, with a trip to Emma Gorge in El Questro, a welcome by the Miriwoong clan, an archaeological talk, a lesson in sandalwood manufacture and a visit to the Indigenous art gallery, Artlandish.
They also assisted with a student wellbeing day, which included mindfulness drawing and painting, a hair and beauty workshop, basketball, music, and dancing.
A visit to Roy’s Retreat, a registered charity specialising in the care of fauna and flora in a private wildlife reserve, offered the students an opportunity to learn about the region's biodiversity.
The retreat is home to various species, including antilopine wallaroos, northern nail-tailed wallabies, sugar glider possums, and northern quolls. The flora includes native grasses, shrubs, and trees on the Long Michael Plain.
The students also visited Lake Argyle, took part in cane toad busting, and engaged in an art workshop painting the nuts from the boab trees. They ended their trip with a hike to El Questro Gorge, camping overnight at El Questro Station, and swimming in the soothing waters of Zebedee Springs. They returned with a newfound appreciation for diverse cultures and the satisfaction of having made a difference.