Second Dam

Directions: As the name suggests, this is the second dam you will come to if you walk up Blue Metal Road from Mackenzie Gate. It can be accessed via the road or from a track that connects First Dam to Second Dam. Second Dam is bordered by two trees of significance, one living, one dead. The living tree is found immediately once you arrive on the track connecting to First Dam. This large tree is a powerful presence at a high point above the dam, giving us shade, a place to meet and a place to talk. The dead tree was once a great tall tree too but has died and fallen into the dam. After making a risk/benefit assessment, this tree offers exiting terrain to climb and explore.

Blackwood – First Nations Soap

Question: Can you identify the Blackwood? Can you use these leaves to make soap? What techniques work best? Have you washed your hands? Please consider the health of the Blackwood when removing its leaves.

Students are always looking for new and different ways of engaging with the natural world while on Mt Majura. Once they had been shown the use of Blackwood leaves as a soap by a First Nations National Parks Ranger on an excursion, this information was brought back, shared and used on every possible occasion. There is a great example of this tree located adjacent to Second Dam that students had identified themselves and have spent hours engaging with.

  • The practice of using this plant and other species of acacia for their natural antibacterial properties goes back many thousands of years and is evident all across Australia from the Kimberly and Arnhem Land to the Far South Coast. Blue Gum’s use of the Blackwood carries on this tradition and both honours and acknowledges the deep knowledge and connection that First Nations Australians hold with these lands.

Responsible Risk Taking – Climbing

Question: Climb! Explore! Take risks! What questions support your family to discuss risk management in a positive way? Can you ‘leave out the negative’?

  • Fundamental to Blue Gum’s educational philosophy is seeing students as:

    Competent

    Capable

    Creative

    Responsible

    Resourceful

    Resilient

    One way that we as educators demonstrate this view of children is to engage students in discussions and decision making around how we identify, consider and manage risk, responsibly. A major facet of the students’ relationship with the mountain is built on their physical exploration of its unique natural spaces and objects, which differ completely from those available to them indoors. To run, to climb, to jump... with any of these physical activities there are both risks and huge benefits. On the mountain, all members of Blue Gum, from Playgroup to Year 10, are supported to evaluate the potential risks and rewards of any venture and make a choice that works for themselves and their community. Is there anything you can see that might need to be moved or you may need some help with? What route will be the safest? Have you let other people know about your risk assessment? Have you communicated your plan? Do you feel safe? What is underneath you? Will others feel safe?

    Risky play is a method to introduce risk to children through thrilling and exciting activities, providing the opportunity to test their limits, challenge themselves and explore boundaries. It allows children to learn how to manage risk through practicing decision making.

    Exposure to this natural space grants students the opportunity to explore their limits, to learn new skills, connect with space and their peers through the power of play. We understand students as competent to understand the risks associated with a chosen activity, capable of determining how to manage this risk, creative in finding a solution and interacting in a positive way, responsible in ensuring the safety of themselves and their classmates, resourceful in making the most out of any situation and resilient in their ability to reflect and grow when accidents do occur.

    Fallen logs provide a fantastic opportunity to build our ability to balance, to play and take responsible risks. The Second Dam has a beautiful fallen Gum that rests over water. It offers a challenge that draws us towards and across it, the water underneath only increasing our excitement...

    The answer to your questions is ‘Yes’, we’ve had students end up in the dam after a risky maneuver Emerging wet, usually laughing, and with a new lesson to reflect on.

    Students ran and played and climbed and ran again. They talked and laughed and ran again! The fog slowly cleared to blue skies and a beautiful day... and so the students climbed and ran again!