Year 5, Developing Connections

In Term 3, Year 5 attended the inaugural Mosman Prep Coffs Harbour Camp. The primary aim of this experience was to develop authentic and positive connections with the Gumbaynggirr Aboriginal people of the Coffs Harbour region and their culture. Some students developed strong connections with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students at Kulai Preschool, others with local St John Paul College students, First Nations people and even each other.

At Kulai Preschool, the boys engaged in music and language lessons before enjoying some free play to get to know the students. It was wonderful to see them bond with the preschool students as they took turns to teach each other some of their favourite games.

Indigenous National Parks

Aboriginal Discovery Ranger, Matt Flanders, took the boys on a bush tucker tour, in Bongil Bongil National Park, to teach them about the history of the land, how to care for it responsibly as well as how to identify native plants and their uses. This was a fantastic start to our camp week and helped us to feel connected and learn about the local area. Throughout the week, Matt also showed the boys traditional First

Nations tools and weapons, told Dreaming stories around the campfire and gave cultural tours of local environments.

They had to trust, support and encourage each other during challenging activities, team building exercises and periods of downtime back at camp.

What was the s tron ge t connection that you made at the Year 5 camp?

The connections I have made have been through making new friends during my short time at Mosman Prep. I have been able to do things that I couldn’t do in Hong Kong. For example sailing, Terrey Hills, cricket and surfing. The Mosman Prep community has been very friendly and kind and I am happy that I go to this School. Archie

I feel that the connection I made with the St John Paul College students, while away at camp, was something truly special. Whenever we did activities that made us go out of our comfort zone, they would always help and calm us down. This connection was unique and it was interesting to meet boys from different parts of New South Wales. Thomas

One of the connections I made on the Year 5 camp to Coffs Coast Adventure Centre was through surfing and bodyboarding. I think this was the strongest connection because me and my friends had the best time catching and zooming across the waves together and high fiving each other as we passed. We would also do crazy stunts together such as surfing backwards, surfing on the same board and diving into the waves. We had a really great time and supported each other every time we fell or got dumped by the wave. Toby

I made an interesting connection when I was playing with the Kulai

Aboriginal Preschool students because of the abundance of similarities between the children there and students from Mosman Prep. They were very excited to play with us and I enjoyed my experience visiting the Preschool. Alexander

I made a connection with the St John Paul College students. They were really nice and came to a lot of different places. I liked the way they helped us during each activity. Benjamin I made a strong connection to the young children at the Kulai Aboriginal Preschool that we visited. We took it in turns on the flying fox, played a game of tip, pushed them on the swing and played rugby. They were so happy when they beat us! We also had a lot of fun showing them how to dunk on the mini basketball hoop. When we donated the bike helmets and toys, their smiles were from ear to ear. Harry

I bonded with the kids at Kulai Aboriginal Preschool. We connected through playing together like swinging on the flying fox, digging in the sandpit and playing rugby with them. There were smiles all around when we donated gifts to them. JD

The strongest connection I made while on camp was with a student named Saxon who goes to St John Paul College in Coffs Harbour. He helped me in many ways like getting my group to get started on challenges and making ochre.

James

Some connections I made at the Year 5 camp were with Mosman Prep students that I didn’t know much about before. These connections have been significant to me as I will be around these people for quite some time and I feel like I am now closer with each one of them. Aashray

My strongest connection was with a student at Kulai Aboriginal Preschool, whose name is Bujaing Bu-Ja-ing. We connected mostly through hand signals but we were also able to speak a little bit of English together. I remember when we were playing outside and we were trying to get to the fire pit but there were girls guarding it so we had to be sneaky. We got so close but then I tripped on a rock and blew our cover. Harrison

I feel that I made the strongest connection with Matt Flanders and Aunty Vicky. They taught us all about the places around Coffs Harbour, including the origins and about their ancestors that came to live there. I find this connection significant due to the fact that they are a part of our history and they taught us an abundance of information about the First Nations people and culture. Lyon

I found that I made strong connections with people in my cabin. I got to talk and play with people that I wouldn’t normally and now I am friendly with them all back at school too.

Charlie

I feel that I connected the most with the people in my cabin. I feel this way because we spent a lot of our down time in the cabins and when we were playing the ‘Gaga Ball’ game we played in cabin teams, so we had to work together a lot. Rafael

My strongest connection was with Jake from St John Paul College in Coffs Harbour. He was very kind and friendly. We connected during the team rescue because we had to work together. I fell in the 'crocodile infested swamp' and he went back to the checkpoint with me and helped me get to the rest of the team.

Giovanni

The strongest connection that I made on Camp was with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture when we went on a bush walk. This was significant to me because it was like an adventure and I learnt that lots of the plants are useful.

Beau Andre

Personally I made a strong connection with the Kulai Preschool. They were very welcoming and let us join in on their music and language lessons. Also at their break time I made a special connection with a certain student, we played on the swings and did lots of races. It affected me a lot because all of the time they were laughing and smiling, and at the end they gave me a massive hug.

Harry

On my Year 5 camp I made a strong connection with Matt

Flanders because he told me that there is a lot more food in the wild than you think. Matt told me that you can make face paint out of ochre and he told me stories by the campfire. Matt directed me on the hike and told me about mutton birds. Harrison

When I was at camp I made new friends, such as Toby Amstrong. When we were allowed to go and play before lunch or dinner, I would normally go to the GaGa pit and play there. While we played, sometimes people would make truces and team up on others. But even when I was losing, Toby would cheer me on and help me while playing. Since camp, I have been good friends with Toby and I hope we can be even better friends.

Oliver

The strongest connection I have made in Mosman Prep is my best friend Gio. He was important to me because he was always nice, funny and always willing to help me. He is very keen about everything which I like about him. He has a wonderful family with two brothers and one baby sister. They are always there for me and always nice to me and my family. I am super appreciative of everything they have done for me.

Rainier

My strongest connection that I made on camp was when I went to the Kulai Aboriginal Preschool where I met a little girl called Lila. I got to play with her which is where I made a friendship with her. She was very cheeky because she was always tapping my shoulder then quickly turning her head the other way whenever I tried to catch her in the action. I really hope that one day I get to see her again. Rafael

The strongest connection I made on camp was with Matt Flanders, a First Nations person. Matt showed us a lot of things like his tools and weapons. He makes them to pass on to future generations, to hunt or to sell them. We made face paint and he was really considerate because he was helping me make the paint and it turned out to be really cool.

Harry

I made a connection with the little kids at the Kulai Preschool. I played soccer with one boys and the kids were dunking basketballs. It was crazy how high the little kid was jumping. I also rode a swing with the boy. It was really fun.

Thomas

The strongest connection I made at camp was with a Mosman Prep student whose name is Harrison Bradshaw. He was my strongest connection as I never really talked to him at school but at camp we would often chat while playing basketball, in the cafeteria or when we would do activities. Now Harrison and I talk often. Arjun

I felt a connection with the First Nations culture. This is important to me because I never knew any of this information and it was interesting listening to all the stories Matt told us about. I enjoyed the activities we did with him and all the new things we tried, such as face painting, bush walks and many more.

Stirling

The strongest connection I made on camp was meeting

Hugo the St John Paul College High School kids. This is because of when we played a game called Gaga Ball. They were very kind and respectful when we were playing and didn’t cause a fuss when getting out. Overall I had a really good experience at camp with the St John Paul College High School kids.

My strongest connection at camp was with my friends. We connected by helping each other and encouraging each other. An example of this is when we did Team Rescue, where we had to help each other to cross an obstacle course. We played games in our cabin and also had some laughs.

Oscar

I felt like I had a connection with the St. John Paul college students as I never knew or had met them before. But we still talked, laughed and had fun together, whether it was on the bus at the camp or on out of camp activities. Even though the kids were older and we didn’t spend as much time together during the day, I still enjoyed their company for the three days they were with us.

Kai

The strongest connection I made at camp was with Matt. He showed us so many interesting things, like Aboriginal weapons, and showed us plants that you would never think you could eat, but you could. And he let us try them! He told us so many interesting stories and made me understand lots more about First Nations culture.

Archer