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School Charters

Are you thinking of a trip for your students on the Lady Nelson?

We can undertake short charters for larger groups or longer charters for smaller (often older) groups than can be all day or overnight.

We are a commercial passenger vessel and meet all the requirements dictated by Australian Maritime Safety Authority.  These requirements cover the type and number of crew, along with all safety equipment.  Our crew have Working With Vulnerable People Cards.

On our shorter trips the students can be expected to help with setting the sails, steering and ringing the bell.  The crew might also provide a "Horrible Histories" style talk that looks at some of the history of the original Lady Nelson. 

This includes the first settlers to Tasmania and the impact on the indigenous population.  We also look at the transportation of Mary Wade, along with a short play done by the students of her court case.

Here is a review of one of our trips :

What an adventure we had! Many of our Year 4 parents reported that their children couldn’t stop talking about their sailing on the Lady Nelson.

In an excursion that gave some hands-on, practical links to our Year 4 History unit on Aboriginal history and the First Fleet, students were given a taste of life on the sea for those who sailed here from Britain all those years ago.

As a teacher of nine- and ten-year-olds, I loved how hands-on the sailing was. The crew have obviously given some thought to how they could involve students in as many tasks as possible on the ship’s deck.

They raised and lowered the sails, steered the ship and ring the ship's bell. Each task was explained as they were carrying it out. Students also enjoyed seeing what the ship was like below deck.

The skipper, weaved some history into the adventure, getting students to imagine they were aboard the ship 200 years ago, teaching them about some children of that era – Mathinna, an Aboriginal child, and 11-year-old Mary Wade who was transported to Australia after being sentenced to death for stealing a dress from another child. Some students pretended to be characters in Mary Wade’s court case, taking part in a short play.

It was a welcome reminder that the classroom isn’t the only place where learning takes place, and that sometimes the most memorable learning happens elsewhere, in real-life settings.

Sarah Stephen
Year 4 teacher
Sacred Heart College
New Town

 

COVID INFO

We have Covid safety plans for each type of trip.  Lady Nelson is deemed to be transport (like a bus) 

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