Our two Year 9 ESSA classes attended an excursion at the Light Horse Museum in Mudgeeraba on the 26th of April. They were met by the veterans who run the museum with enthusiasm, and began the day with a raising of the flag ceremony and rifle firing. Students spent the day exploring different aspects of the First World War by completing a series of rotations.
They were able to participate in a Morse Code challenge; strategize over the attack at the Battle of Beersheba using intelligence reports and maps of the terrain; learnt about life at home and on the front line; were challenged to utilise a makeshift periscope (an ingenious Australian invention in the trenches!); competed in a horse shoe tossing competition; and got to learn about the uniforms and ration packs that each soldier was equipped with on the front line by two volunteers wearing WWI uniforms (some of the pieces original!) and plastic weapons.
The students were delighted to also meet two horses in their dress uniforms who had travelled to the Gold Coast to represent the Light Horse during the march on ANZAC day. It was a rewarding and timely experience for our Year 9s as they begin their studies on World War I’s major campaigns this week.
