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On the 12th and 13th of May Year 12 Geography students boarded the school bus for a two day fieldtrip. The first part of our journey included a transect across Sydney to observe the spatial patterns of urban dynamics. The group viewed market gardens at Marsden Park; large mansions complete with two tennis courts, circular driveways, landscaped pools, lakes and gardens and tight security on the outskirts of Annangrove; the global arc of Sydney from the northwest to the city; the secondary business districts of Chatswood and North Sydney; the culture of place at Kings Cross; urban renewal in Woolloomooloo; the exclusive suburbs of Point Piper; the redevelopment of Bondi; Watsons Bay and finally the airport and the old industrial suburbs.
After lunch we travelled to the south coast via Stanwell Tops where we watched in awe both experienced and inexperienced hang gliders take off in the windy and sunny conditions. By late afternoon the group was at Shellharbour discussing the changes to this sleepy coastal town into a sprawling array of suburbs that have displaced many dairy farms, changing the rural landscape forever. Our final destination was near. A visit to the Kiama blowhole in the late afternoon sunshine revealed a magnificent display as the waves surged in creating a fountain of water. With an overnight stay in Kiama we enjoyed an excellent Spanish feast. This dinner, however, was an unplanned literacy activity as it took at least 30 minutes to translate the Spanish menu into English.
Early next morning a few members of the party undertook a brisk walk along the shoreline. All joined in for a delicious breakfast at the Amaki Cottage Café. After completing a sketched transect at the hill overlooking Gerringong we arrived at Crooked River Wines. There was much to learn about the operation of the vineyard and the challenges of producing high quality grapes when the weather is so variable. In January 2013 a heat wave resulted in a day that recorded 47.5°C. Many of the grapes looked like sultanas and 100% of the crop was lost. Although there were some serious setbacks the harvest for 2014 was 100% successful and produced quality grapes that are carefully being transformed into beautiful wines. A tour with Brian was fascinating as we learnt about the high level of technical expertise required as well as the application of the most recent technology. We returned to Sydney having enjoyed a fantastic time away and gaining great insights into the economic activity of wine production.
Thank you to Mr Johnson for driving the bus and to Ms Smith for sharing her knowledge of this economic activity.