Recently the Year 5 and 6 students at Cathedral school attended the Far Out! Treasures to the Bush presentation by the State Library of NSW. The students learnt about migration to Australia through the lives of four historical figures and the amazing artifacts linked to each person. History was brought to life by the talented presenters as we dressed up in costumes, pretended to be passengers in first class, second class and steerage, sent messages with flags, traveled to the goldfields and saw Ludwig Leichardt discover the Leichhardt grasshopper. It was incredible to view the real artifacts we had been learning about – ex convict Mary Reibey’s land grant from Governor Macquarie, Arthur Wilcox Manning’s Journal about his voyage on the Earl Grey from Plymouth to Sydney, explorer Ludwig Leichardt’s telescope and a miner’s right belonging to George Johnston. Many thanks to the State Library of NSW for bringing this fantastic experience to our region.

Merryn Sadler Teacher-Librarian