Friday

Questacon was our first stop today. Again, an interactive venue that had an educational, scientific bent. My eyes glazed over the first part and chatted to one of the staff instead. The next bit was more interesting with models of a snake, crocodile, spider that moved - took video of that. Then there was this set up that replicated how a thunder storm built up which concluded with a brilliant lightening display (again on video). We went into a display that replicated being in a house whilst a 4.5 richter scale earthquake occurred. Doors flung open, shelves fell down culminating in a huge crack appearing in the wall of the kitchen that we were stood in. Have to say, I have felt worse jolts whilst living in Rotorua and I thought it was a bit tame, but the students enjoyed it. Had to move back from the spider exhibit as even though it was obviously fake, I think I have a cell memory implanted re spider shapes and could not go any closer. The spider reared back with its legs waving in the air as it was ready to pounce on another insect - ick.

The highlight of this place was the next floor that was set up like a fair ground. There was a roller coaster simulator, a row of clowns you could throw balls into their mouths, and various other side show type activities. I put my hand into 'Zoltan's' hand for my fortune to be told. I did it three times and got the same message so who knows, LOL. I thought I might have tricked it, heh, heh. There was another fortune telling stall that you pressed buttons to get a response and got several different answers there. Two other exhibits that most of the group enjoyed/were terrified by were a 5mtre drop down a slide that looked to be polished aluminium and a simulated guillotine where you put your head and hands into appropriate holes and felt the wind and heard the noise as the guillotine dropped. Needless to say, I tried neither, LOL. Both exhibits resulted in huge adrenelin rushes for those who participated - very much in the line of feel the fear and do it anyway, and go back for more (you got two shots at the drop which involved getting into a boiler suit and hanging by your hands from a pole that was the 5 m above a curved slide so the feeling was like free falling from yr optical senses even though you knew there was a slide to zoom down on as you fell - so I am told, and observed, LOL).

Following Questicon we moved onto the Australian War Memorial Museum which was a personal favourite of mine when I visited it over 20 yrs ago, and how it has changed with new exhibits and an enlarged collection of display items. The exhibits are Still outstanding and a total tribute to those who have fought, those who survived and to those who have fallen. I defy anyone to visit this museum and not be moved at least once by what they see and hear. There are wonderful interactive exhibits (new to me) such as a helicopter landing with a moving background movie running on two walls with the sound of the helicopter in full sense around sound. We sat in a section of a bomber plane going for a sortie over Germany and again felt the vibrations as it flew, opened the guns and dropped bombs, with lights from below shining up through the plane as we were being 'spotted' from the ground, this alongside a commentary from the crew as instructions were being passed from one to another, and then a follow up of memories of the flight from those who got back and survived. There was also a destroyer simulator that did a similar thing, you could feel the swell as the destroyer cut through the tide, again with commentary.

The diaramas that I remembered from my last visit were still there but seemed to be in a different display area as you would expect after 20+ years, still very moving, especially the one of the Somme which is part of my family history. There was one of the original boats that landed on the beach at Gallipoli - with bullet holes still in it. It is hard to comprehend some of the statistics with these battles and the incredible losses sustained. Our tour through the museum focussed on the technology that war inspired - gas masks, plastic surgery, types of clothing, transport and communications to name a few. Our guide had a passion for the information he was imparting which I think communicated to us all and the students asked lots of questions. He commented on my NZ accent and asked did I barrack for the Wallabies - only when they play South Africa, France, England etc and not in any particular order of preference but NEVER against the All Blacks heh heh!.

There was an amazing research room where you could look for any Australian relation who had been in any war, dead or alive. I spoke to one of the guides there and he said they are trying to get a photo of everyone of the 150,000 dead (to date) on their data bases. The youngest Aussi to die in any war was a 14 year old lad who threatened to run away from home if his parents did not allow him to join up - I think that touched our lot as many are around that age. The Vietnam War figured prominently in the displays which were new to me and a lot of acknowledgement of how badly the returned servicemen were treated on their return from Vietnam.




This is two views of Peter Corletts' Simpson and Donkey which is to the left of the main steps into the museum and one of the most famous images depicted around ANZAC day, from my memory.

If that was not enough, after our whistle stop tour of the Museum, we were back on the buses to Parliament House where we had a tour of the House of Representatives and a Tour of the Senate. This time the students had an interactive session in a room set up like the floor of the Senate with all the various roles such as Speaker of the House, PM, Ministers, Leader of the Opposition and their Shadow Ministers, Clerks of the Court and the one who carries the Mace and leads the Speaker in (mental lapse and cannot think of the name this time of night - 11.30pm). The teacher involved in this part of the tour then put the students through their paces opening a session, with a Member posing a bill, debate on the bill, a vote etc. It was very well done and it was interesting to see how the opposition team reacted to the 'govt' getting their bill passed. Everyone got right into the role play aided by scripted bits and then their tried their own skills in the debates.

The business part of the day concluded with a drive up Mt Ainslie to see the Telstra Tower. I had been there before and was knackered so as it was Telstra communications and I am so over them, I stayed with the bus and had a leisurely afternoon tea while the rest climbed up the tower and looked at the view.

Had an hour at Belconnen Westfield shopping centre after dinner and then it was goodnight sailor for the troops after a feature filled day.