The school recently announced that, through a significant philanthropic donation in partnership with G&A Kent Charitable Trust, it had purchased 35 hectares of Gunbower land.
Principal Scott Downward said multiple uses of the property, about 40 minutes drive from the school, could include agricultural studies.
“One of the primary uses is that we’re a school with a very proud tradition in primary industries and agriculture,” he said.
“So it is terrific to activate hands-on learning and have pasture for our students to learn with and through as part of their agriculture and primary industry studies.
“We also want to hold pastoral activities that focus on character development and the establishment of resilience in our students.
“We want to develop a challenge ropes course and a flying fox.
“Pastoral activities provide an opportunity for us to integrate with the local Indigenous people to undertake cultural learning activities. It allows us to take students out there for team building and wellbeing activities.”
Mr Downward said the property had been in the same family for more than 100 years.
“The historic nature of the homestead is really exciting for us as well,” he said.
“The homestead itself was constructed in the mid-1800s, and one of our goals as part of providing access for student learning opportunities at the facility is actually to restore the homestead to its former glory.”
Through his previous work, Mr Downward said he had seen first-hand the benefits of more hands-on learning.
“I’ve seen the power of real-world learning opportunities for students and what that means for the development of the whole person.
“We are very focused on our academic program at Moama Anglican Grammar, but the ability to complement that program with character education, sustainability learning, Indigenous history learning, and the history of the region is great.“
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