Brownies' Trip to Western Australia Day 3

Our first stop on the 3rd day was Yanchep National Park which is about 42km north of Perth. We were introduced to the Australian Aboriginal Culture - artwork, music, dance, tools and weapons.

Yanchep National Park

Dot Painting

Applying Body Paint

Making Music with Clap Sticks

A didgeridoo is hollowed by termites and the aborigines pushed hot charcoal through it to get rid of any termite that may still be hiding within. The mouthpiece of the didgeridoo is coated with beeswax and one has to vibrate the lips to create the sound. We were told that playing the didgeridoo is quite easy but the breathing technique is difficult to master.

Playing the Didgeridoo



Souvenir Shop @ Yanchep National Park

It was a hot day (about 32 degree Celsius) but the underground Crystal Cave at Yanchep National Park was cool. We were amazed by how the stalactites and stalagmites were formed. When a stalactite and stalagmite meet, they form a column and for this to happen, it may takes hundreds or thousands or years.

Inside the Crystal Cave

These Stalactites that are Hollow are known as 'Straws'

Columns

Main course for lunch was baked potato with bacon, mushroom and cheese. We had a choice of vanilla or strawberry ice-cream with scones.

Main Course

Dessert

We travelled further north to Lancelin after our lunch for the most thrilling activity of our tour - Desert Storm Adventure. We rode on the monster truck before sand boarding over the sand dunes.

Monster Truck

Sand Boarding

Wheee~

Struggling up the Dunes

We were lucky to be given a longer time than usual for sand boarding but had to miss dinner. Fortunately, we had a late lunch and were given cookies to munch on during our ride to Rosher Hall.

We were late for the unit meeting with Morley Girl Guides as the GPS broke down and we lost our way. The poor driver had to purchase a directory from the petrol kiosk at A$40! We were happy and relieved when we finally arrived.

Morley Girl Guides

Singing Christmas Carols

We took turns to bake Anzac biscuits that women in Australia and New Zealand used to bake for the soldiers during the First World War. Anzac Day falls on 25th of April and the Morley Girl Guides will camp over at Rosher Hall the night before and wake up very early in the morning.

Enjoying the Biscuits

We also made different types of Christmas decorations.

Making Friends

When shall we Meet Again?

The Morley Girl Guides gave each of us a goody bag before we left. After the unit meeting, we went back to the hotel to enjoy the apple strudel with mangoes and fruit juice. It was a long but enjoyable day.

Brownies' Trip to Western Australia Day 2

After breakfast, we went to Caversham Wildlife Park. We had the opportunity to feed the kangaroos, take photographs with the wombat and even stroke the koalas. We were told to gently stroke the koalas with the back of our hands.

Lunch was hotdog and fries. The hotdog was very large and many of us could not finish it. Some of us kept the fries for supper.

Hotdog Lunch

Chomp Chomp!

Concentrating

Delicious!

After lunch, we visited the Mondo Nougat Factory and the Margaret River Chocolate Factory. We got to sample the nougat and chocolates before buying.

Chocolate Sampling

Grape Vines outside the Chocolate Factory

Our bus driver for the day, Mal, happened to be an ex-scout. He was quite delighted when we sang Kookaburra which is a popular Australian Girl Guides song that Boy Scouts sing too. So he sang us a few songs that he used to sing when he was a Scout. One of the songs was Waltzing Matilda. From him, we learnt that the original version of the song was written by Andrew Barton "Banjo" Patterson whose image appears on the Australian $10 note.

Click to listen to Waltzing Matilda

Image of A B "Banjo" Patterson on the Australian $10 Note

Waltzing Matilda is actually a sad song. Here are the meanings to some of the words in the song:

Swagman: A man who travels the country looking for work
Billabong: Oxbow lake
Coolibah Tree: A kind of eucalyptus tree in Australia
Billy: Can with wire handle used for boiling water to make tea
Swag: A bundle of belongings usually tied at each end and looped over the shoulder and hung diagonally acroos the back
Matilda: An affectionate term for the swagman's swag
Waltzing Matilda: To travel with a swag
Jumbuck: Sheep
Tuckerbag: A bag in which food is carried
Stockman: Farmer who breeds or raises livestock
Thoroughbred: A breed of horse
Troopers: Equivalent of modern day policemen

Shopping Time @ Harbour Town!

Mini Carousel @ Harbour Town



Ice-cream Treat


Mmm ...


What are you doing?


Harbour Town

We were tempted to fish out the coins from the wishing fountain behind us but we, the honest Brownies, have good self-control. =D

After shopping at Harbour Town, we went back to the hotel for a short rest before walking to a Chinese restaurant for dinner.

Brownies' Trip to Western Australia Day 1

The Brownies' Trip to Western Australia was to enhance the Brownies' experience in the area of Guiding beyond the local context, provide opportunities for the Brownies to engage in cultural exchange as well as to forge friendships with their sister Guides in Western Australia. This is in line with one of the Challenges of the Brownies' Five-Point Programme - International.

At the Airport - So Excited!

Kings Park was our 1st stop. We saw unique plants like the boabs.

Kings Park

What were we Looking at?

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Boabs

B & B - Brownies & Boab


War Memorial

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Whispering Wall

Speak from one end of the wall and your friend will be able to hear you from the other end.

Next, we went to Lake Monger where we saw ducks and black swans. There was also a playground nearby where we had a lot of fun.

Playground @ Lake Monger


Tree Climber

Before lunch, we stopped by Cottlesloe Beach along the coastline of the Indian Ocean. We enjoyed running on the soft fine sand with our bare feet. Lunch was at Cicerello's which was established in 1903 in Fremantle. The aquarium there house many local marine animals and holds more than 20000 litres of water.

Lunch @ Cicerello's






Give me a Hand

Happy Brownies with Happy Bellies

Next, we walked around Fremantle and visited a lolly shop and learnt how the lollies were made. We were very lucky to be given free lollipops after the demonstration. =D

Lolly shop @ Fremantle

We stopped at E-shed Market for some shopping before checking into the hotel for a short rest. Our day ended with a scrumptious dinner at a Japanese Restaurant.

Japanese Dinner

Tempura

Resource Conservation Badge Award Ceremony

16 of our Brownies have been awarded the Resource Conservation Badge after they have successfully attained the Energy Efficiency Badge and the 3R Badge. They received the badges from the Guest-of-Honour at the Clean & Green Singapore Schools' Carnival on 11 November 2009.