DRY CREEK WATER CATCHMENT EXCURSION

Introduction

Thinking about the world ahead of us, the world we leave behind for future generations can be hard, but it is a task we have to take on board. By considering our actions now and changing our ways it is possible for us to preserve the beauty of our planet for future generations to enjoy.

Story

It was a cold, Wednesday morning when a group of bleary−eyed students from The Heights accepted the fun, exciting challenge of gathering facts about the ‘Dry Creek’ water catchment areas. The task was to analyse facts supplied by ‘Waterwatch SA’ co−ordinator Katie Brown and think about ways to protect the quality of our waterways.

A visual display has always helped, so the year 10 ‘Ignite’ class and 8 visiting students and their 2 teachers from The Chinese High School in Singapore boarded a bus that would take them on ‘The Dry Creek’ water catchment areas. The first stop was the headwaters of ‘Dry Creek’ at Antsley Hill, where students where asked to consider surrounding stakeholders. Katie Brown informed the students that they were standing midway between the beginning of two water catchments, the Torrens River and Dry Creek.

Dry Creek Linear Park provided a peaceful, natural environment for everyone to enjoy a packed recess and play a variety of games. Boys and girls from The Heights enjoyed a range of competitive tennis ball games, while our Singaporean visitors enjoyed a traditional game involving a Singaporean version of a hacky sack. The group then explored the Walkley Heights ‘Dry Creek’ catchment where a great figure in Australian country −wear R.M. Williams pumped water onto his property to feed his stock and for household use. Further down the track was the site where rodeo was started in Australia, with a natural stadium for spectators. A student was then selected to collect water from the creek for a variety of tests that the students would perform once back at school.

After the walk along the track at Walkley Heights it was on to lunch at a beautiful scenic surrounding. Students were given half an hour to eat their lunch at the ‘Stockade Botanical Park’. With newfound energy it was off to the wetlands in Salisbury, where students were told about the Salisbury Council’s Aquifer Storage and Recovery project. Another water sample was taken, after rinsing the bottle with the water to be tested three times, as advised.

With time catching up on us it was off to our last stop, the estuary near Penrise Saltfields. Before reaching the estuary, students were visited by an unexpected guest, a horse belonging to a neighbouring property. Last, but certainly not least, students listened intently to information about surrounding stakeholders. Everybody was given the opportunity to ask questions and then it was back to collecting water samples. After a slippery expedition down the banks, water was collected and it was back to school.

On behalf of all my classmates, I would like to thank Katie Brown for her guidance, Ms. Tetlow and Mr Roberts for accompanying us on own excursion, our Singaporean visitors and their teachers and the ‘Singaporean Visit’ committee for planning a great week for all.

Tamsyne Smith−Harding