At 6pm on Sunday September 24, a group of 36 students from Maclean HS Year 10 and four staff members assembled three hours ahead of schedule determined to find a way out of the valley due to imminent road closures.
We boarded the coach for an 11½ hour over-nighter to Gladstone Harbour. The Heron Islander catamaran was ready to take us to the University of Queensland’s – Heron Island Research Station. It was a pleasant and almost perfect two hour cruise with many of the student able to relax, with the wind in their hair, on the back deck.
The five island days and nights were filled with both amazing and educational experiences. The most memorable included:
- Four opportunities a day to snorkel or swim. Early morning and afternoon harbour snorkels, an afternoon swim on North Beach and a reef exploration walk.
- Snorkelling from the research boats, Chromis and Anthius, at Heron Bommie, The Canyons, Blue Pools, Wistaria Reef and The Cascades.
- The students observed and swam with a plethora of marine life; adult turtles laying above the high tide zone, turtles, white tip and black tip reef sharks, sting rays, shovel nose sharks, clams, sea cucumbers and star fish…..just to mention a few.
- Trips to the resort shop for souvenirs and ice poles.
- Late night lessons on collected plankton, microscope work on Heron and Yamba sand, evolution of life and classification.
- A presentation from a scientific researcher on the effect of temperature and pH to the growth of coral.
- The shearwaters serenading us to sleep and Noddy Turns being a tripping hazard.
- Marine life poster presentations at the trivia night where they dressed in a tropical theme and had to perform serval physical challenges instructed by Lisa.
- A couple of coral cuts and some itchy bites were the only injuries.
- A seriously contested game of assassin was played.
This year was another fun and successful excursion with all involved enjoying their time on the island. Thank you to Donna Watts, Ben Patch and Lisa Bevitt.
Danielle Hollis