Our Own Backyard

We had our hottest day for 2007 on the eve of the New Year, 31st January, 2007. In the shade of our verandah at home we measured 43 degrees. It was opportune, or just plain bad luck, that it was my rostered day for swimming pool duty! Hawkesdale has a wonderful community swimming pool, that opens over the summer period. Solar heating and blankets ensure that the water is kept warmer during cooler days.

Volunteers operate the small kiosk and collect money from the public who come for a swim. Lifeguards are used to ensure all personnel are kept safe. So yesterday, at 1pm I proceeded to the pool and discovered that the water was 25 degrees - a very pleasant swimming temperature. Various people took pity on me at times and looked after the kiosk so that I could take a quick dip in the cool waters and maintain a far more effective body temperature. By 6 pm, I was ready to cease my duties as it had been a busy day selling ice confections, drinks, chips and lollies.

After a quick evening meal, it was on to Warrnambool to babysit our dear little grandson. We went for a delightful walk in the balmy air, watched people still swimming at 9pm at night in both the river and the surf and joined the throngs of other walkers along the famous Warrnambool boardwalk.

It is nearly Christmas in our backyard. Some of our students from prep to grade 5 have been interviewed to see what they want for Christmas and what it means to them. The images reflect some of the activities that occur in our school and the general presence of Christmas around Hawkesdale itself.

Download Video: Posted by murch at TeacherTube.com.

Here is Hawkesdale through the eyes of two year 8 girls. Images and audio tell you a little about our small country town.
Download Video: Posted by murch at TeacherTube.com.

Farms around Hawkesdale are typically 800-1000 acres, with mixed farming pursuits. Sheep farming primarily for prime lamb production and/or wool is the usual pursuit. After world war 2, large grazing areas were split into smaller soldier settlers blocks to allow returning soldiers find an occupation on the land. Since that time, holdings have been consolidated once more to allow a reasonable income to be produced. For the first time, in grazing history by caucasians, our fertile Western District was declared a drought area.
One of our students has produced a story on his farm for us to share.

Download Video: Posted by murch at TeacherTube.com.

Download Video: Posted by murch at TeacherTube.com.

The students were asked to “show me” what Christmas at their place was like - through use of the 5 senses. The only stipulation was that they had to include 3 experiences for each sense and the most important element of the writing, was that they had to “show me”, not just tell me. 

Marg Murnane - year 7 English teacher Hawkesdale P12 College

Yesterday and today we experimented in a big way with www.skype.com which is VOiP (Voice over internet protocol) where very simply, one computer can ring another computer just like a telephone. Instead of telephone numbers, people register a user name and password and the username becomes the skype number. Conversations can be recorded if powergrammo is installed and these can be saved as wav of mp3 files for future reference or to develop podcasts. Students from Korea came into our backyard (well, our library via a smartboard) to talk to our students. My friend Gail, from Geelong is over in Korea teaching English to Korean students so her class talked to ours and each day this week we will continue to learn about each other, our cultures, schools, lifestyles etc. Watch the video below that Gail took of this exciting way of communicating in real time.

Download Video: Posted by gcasey at TeacherTube.com.

Hawkesdale has an interesting historic trail with 32 numbered sites. A pamphlet can be collected from Apex Park or soon a podcast will be available for download outlining the sites.  One notable building on this trail is the old bluestone hotel which is on the main road through Hawkesdale.

Please view the podcast below to hear some of its history and listen to some of our senior residents being interviewed about their earlier memories. Enjoy!

Download Video: Posted by murch at TeacherTube.com.

I live on a farm. This year is the first year my family has planted trees on our property, I had lots of fun planting them. We planted six rows.My family has one dog, called Brim, two cats, one cat called Kitty Cat and the other cat is called Fluff Ball. We have six pet lambs, my little brother calls them all Bob. We also have four ducks. My little brother’s duck’s name is Cuddles, my other brother’s duck’s name is Straunie, my sister’s duck’s name is Troubles and my duck’s name is Bubbles. We usually get four eggs a day. We have thirteen pets all together. I make up the lambs milk to help mum. I also help feed the pet lambs.  I like to play football with my pops dog Willy.

I like to help dad in the shearing shed in shearing time. I like to squash all the fleeces for dad.I like to help my dad check the sheep during lambing season. Our shearing shed is really old and rusty.My family has just put in a new fence down the back paddock. I liked helping dad thread through the wires. I like to play games with my brothers and sister, like, table tennis, soccer, football, netball, tennis and more.I like to collect bags full of pine cones and kippling for the fire.I like to climb our trees and make cubbies.I like to help my dad feed out hay to our cows and sheep. Our hay stack is very old.I like to look at all our different types of trees in our backyard.I like to jump on our trampoline out the front, I also like to kick the football out there too. I like to help dad take the sheep to the market.I like to help mum plant roses. Mums garden looks cool, we also have a very healthy and awesome vegetable garden. Every night I like to look at the sun set from our veranda. My backyard is special to me because I have room to run around, play and ride my bike.

In my backyard I have heaps of things lying around. I don’t live on a farm but our neighbours let us use their paddocks to let our goat called Walter, eat their grass. When I’m bored I always go outside and feed him our food scraps. He enjoys it a lot. We also have lots of trees at our house. We make heaps of cubby houses in them. We even have a cubby house that we call spy house because I always spy on people when I am in it.

We have a pool at our house and sometimes I jump in it in the summer time. It is small but it always cools me down.I love to ride my bike and I am always riding it up and down our long driveway which has a round about on it.

Behind our house there used to be a railway station. My mum worked there. I always go down there and find old pieces from trains. I also find bones down there.

Several weeks ago, grade 6 and several staff went to Penshurst for an excursion. This is an attempt to upload a podcast on this excursion. I think that Chelsea did a fabulous job for her first attempt. Click below to have a listen!

Download Video: Posted by murch at TeacherTube.com.