VCE Grampians/Gariwerd Hike Camp

Unit 3 Outdoor and Environmental Studies

Recently, VCE Unit 3 Outdoor and Environmental Studies (OES) students ventured to the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park in Northwest Victoria to examine historical human relationships with this environment. Specifically, students focused on the Yardwadjali (First Nations Peoples of Northern Grampians) relationships with the Grampians environment before Europeans arrived, and also European relationships with this harsh and dramatic environment during early settler and pre-federation times.

The students undertook a 2-night/2-day bushwalk along the Gar and Werdrug sections of the Grampians Peaks Trail; an arduous 32kms of trail that involved over 1100m of elevation gain and loss. Carrying everything on their backs, the students demonstrated self-reliance, teamwork and leadership skills to achieve each day’s objectives.

The journey provided an excellent hands-on experience that linked to the OES curriculum, including visiting the famous Bundjil the Eagle Aboriginal rock art near Stawell, exploring Heatherlie Quarry (which provided the sandstone to build Parliament House and other significant buildings in Melbourne), and Lake Werdug, which was a vital hunting ground for Yardwadjali People and later, for European’s water needs for agriculture.