Social and cultural experience

Anzac Hill provided stunning views of the surrounding scenery as well as the landscape of the Ord Valley. We were told that Anzac Hill is a gathering point where the Anzac Day Dawn Service is held, as well as a point of remembrance to commemorate all of those who served and fell in the wars; and it was an honour to be able to pay our respects and commemorate especially those from Kununurra who sadly lost their lives in the midst of a devastating global conflict. On Anzac Day, as the sun rises, one can see around half of the town's population (3,500 people) gather to pay their respects and commemorate all of those who sacrificed themselves for the betterment of the nation that we call home. To see such a large gathering is astounding; it shed insight into how involved and educated the majority of the town is - to bring children alongside them to the dawn service showcased that the Anzac legacy and sacrifices are being passed down through to generations that will keep traditions alive and pass down these stories that hold such historical importance.

We experienced a tour of the school and had recess with the senior students before receiving an interesting and knowledgeable talk from innovator and farmer Fritz Bolten. He told us about his choices to grow cotton, mung-beans, chia and corn in initiatives to follow and find weaknesses in the market to create job opportunities in the region. I really enjoyed this experience as it was good to compare his farm and conditions faced to farming in the wheatbelt and the seasons there.

Anzac Hill, Kununurra

A presentation on the significance and economic role of modern agriculture in the Kimberley from local farmer Fritz Bolten presented us with a wealth of information regarding modern and traditional agricultural practices and the challenges facing the industry. Fritz’s presentation consolidated my newfound historical knowledge of the region, connecting the historical aspects of pastoralism to contemporary farming practices and the Kimberley agricultural industry of today and tomorrow. The interconnections depicted through the presentation motivated me to reflect on the hardships of the Durack family and the development of the Ord River Irrigation Scheme. Following the agriculture presentation, we had the opportunity to discuss contemporary issues affecting our communities and share our historical inquiry experiences of the Kimberley with students at East Kimberley College. By hearing students’ local perspectives and stories, I was positioned to consider the historical factors that impact the town’s social, cultural and environmental aspects today.

With the Year 9 students, we discussed how climate change had a detrimental impact on crop growing which could be potentially devastating for a place like Kununurra that relies so heavily on agriculture. It was great to be able to have these conversations considering that we are the generation of people who are going to have to tackle these issues head-on and the restoration of the world is in our hands. I found these conversations very enlightening and I enjoyed being able to hear their perspectives as kids from the Kimberley.

Year 9 students at East Kimberley College