Megalong Valley REACH OUT Cultural Programme

Man, Land, & The Environment

• Rural

• Environmental

• Aboriginal

• Cultural

• Heritage

This programme covers a variety of topics for the  NSW School Syllabus in a fun & entertaining manner.

Synopsis

 Until 1950,  the adjoining valley (Burragorang) now Warragamba Dam, was once home to an indigenous culture and offered abundant hunting grounds.  Once the Europeans arrived,  the whole structure of each culture changed dramatically.

The Aboriginals were forced off their traditional grounds, the Europeans introduced feral animals and foreign lifestyles changes and then the whole valley was flooded in a radical change to the Environment.

What once was a harmonious relationship -Man, Land and the Environment - then became dysfunctional. 

 In the REACH Programme we explore each facet of the changes and how they have impacted on each other.

Facet 1. 

• The formation of the geological aspect of the Valley

• the  landforms,

• the Gondwanda land

• the uniqueness of its flora and fauna.

 Learning Video –

Slides with the ice caps and retracting of the land till the form of Australia is as we know it now. 

• The ‘trapping of the animals” on the continent

• The structure of the environment – the soils and  relationships

• Species evolving  adaptation

Facet 2. The structure of the Aboriginal Society . 

• Where they came from

• How they adapted to the land

• Their tribal customs and why

Facet 3. The European Factor-

• the impact of war on the European continent 

• introduction of forced transportation.

• Why Britain needed to transport convicts

• How they coped when sent out on the land

Facet 4. Environment under challenge.

• The effect of European practices on the land

• The need to expand and grow as a colony

Facet 5: A clash of cultures

• The process of integration and assimilation

• Recognition of rights

• The reality of power

• Traditional verses expediency

Facet 6. 

• Examination of what is reversible and what is irreversible.

• Flora and fauna mapping, 

• What is the current state of the Valley as a case study.

$19.50 per student

incl. GST

teachers free of charge!◗

The Dam

First sketches were drawn up in  1867 to dam the Warragamba River.  The Dam was started in 1953 and 64 kms of trees were cut down and cleared.. A new town was built at Warragamba and over 2000 men employed.

The Dam was officially opened in 1960.

There is 3,700 sq klms of bushland special area that support the lake which is managed by the Sydney Catchment Authority. and Dept of Conservation and the Environment. 

These now are highly restricted zones and no-one is permitted to enter or visit without a permit This applies to the descendants of both Aboriginal People and the Europeans of the Valley  whose ancestors are buried there.

The Valleys

T he old Cox's River and  Burragorang Valley with extensive river flats