Stepping back in time at St Brigid’s Primary School, Kyogle

St Brigid’s Primary School, Kyogle, Stage 2 students engaged in an exciting historical inquiry at the Kyogle Railway Station. (7 June 2022)

Stage 2 students of St Brigid’s Primary School, Kyogle, were offered a marvellous and adventurous learning experience at the Kyogle Railway Station as part of the unit ‘Community and Remembrance.’ This immersive excursion gave students the opportunity to learn about the real lives of the Farrell boys, six brothers from the Kyogle region who enlisted in the Australian Army. The brothers said their goodbyes to family and friends at the station before travelling off to distant places during the Second World War.

This excursion provided students with a richer understanding of their community's history and emboldened their imaginations. Students were guided through a series of detailed tasks and drama devices woven into the learning experience led by Assistant Principal Jan Condon.

Students arrived at the station excited to find satchels filled with clues regarding the soldiers. They worked collaboratively to explore a variety of artefacts that hurled them back in time and grounded them in the personality of the soldiers. 

‘I love how we had to be detectives and use the clues to find out about the soldier’s personalities, their likes and the things they took to war,’ said Stage 2 student Carter. 

‘I like that the maps gave us clues to figure out where the soldier was from and where they travelled to war. It was extraordinary that the papers we looked at were copies of the original documents,’ said Stage 2 student Eloise.

Students eagerly scrolled through service records, newspaper articles, maps, photographs and treasured items aided by a touching recording by the soldiers’ niece, which helped students visualise the family's life. These remarkable historical artefacts allowed students to experience childhood memories of this family and emotional goodbyes at the station.

‘I love history, and I love mysteries. I felt like I was a real historian looking through the soldier's bag,’ said Stage 2 student Yari.

‘I liked how we saw what soldiers took to the war. I learned that the family at home would send Anzac biscuits to the soldiers at war,’ said Stage 2 student Lorelei.

This immersive experience allowed students to work collaboratively and engage wholeheartedly with historical content, concepts and skills relevant to their own community. A truly powerful learning experience students will remember for years.