Shoalhaven students get 'hands on' with Australian historical treasures

Four Shoalhaven-based schools are hosting a special visit from the State Library of NSW which is bringing some incredible historical artefacts to the area.

Nowra Hill and Berry public schools will today (Tuesday) and Nowra and Bomaderry public schools on Thursday (May 5) play host to the State Library's FAR Out!

Local students will get the chance to see some incredible items - ranging from the telescope of explorer Ludwig Leichhardt to the diary of an 1840s first-class passenger - a chance for students to see history come to life.

State Librarian John Vallance said it's been almost a year since since the organisation has been able to take these rare pieces of our shared history on the road as part of the State Library's FAR Out! Treasures to the Bush initiative, which is now in its 10th year.

"The last few years have been unusual, to put it mildly," Dr Vallance said.

"But now we are delighted to see the return of the FAR Out! program in 2022, thanks to the support of the State Library Foundation.

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"More than 300 students and their teachers from four schools in Nowra and the surrounding areas will benefit from the program."

Members of the Learning Services team will immerse students in hands on activities and stories of early migration to Australia organised around a selection of the Library's treasures including -

Convict Mary Reibey's land grant, 1812; first-class ship passenger Arthur Wilcox Manning's journal, 1839-1840; explorer Ludwig Leichhardt's telescope, marked 1847; and gold prospector George Charles Johnson's personal papers, 1872.

Of course, while Mary Reiby adorned our $20 note, renowned as "the convict girl who became a successful businesswoman", she also has a strong Shoalhaven connection.

She received one of the first land grants to be made south of the Shoalhaven River at Burrier in 1824.

"The State Library of NSW keeps Australia's history alive," said Learning Services manager, Pauline Fitzgerald.

"Students will have the unique opportunity to get 'up close' to original material and hear the fascinating stories behind these iconic items."

FAR Out! connects students and teachers to the amazing treasures the State Library has to offer onsite, online and in the community.

In the past 10 years more than 70 per cent of NSW schools (and nearly 30,000 students in regional areas) have participated in State Library learning programs.

To support schools during the past two difficult years, the library hosted hundreds of free virtual excursions for almost 180,000 participants around Australia and beyond.

"We will continue to deliver our popular virtual programs but now that restrictions on school excursions have eased, we are excited to welcome students back into the Library and take our programs on the road again," Ms Fitzgerald said.

"We want to give students every opportunity to engage with the library, and nothing beats seeing the real thing!"

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