Hydro Tasmania The Derwent School Outreach Program

Bothwell District High School

A schools outreach program inspired by current exhibition The Derwent and delivered by the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) and Hydro Tasmania has just wrapped up after visiting students across the state.

TMAG Program Delivery Officer John Retallick joined staff from Hydro Tasmania to visit schools on the West Coast and in Sheffield and the Upper Derwent Valley as part of the Hydro Tasmania School Outreach Program.

The program extended the reach of The Derwent exhibition into schools in regional Tasmania, with students able to get up-close and personal with the creatures that live in and around our rivers as well as learn more about how our rivers help provide energy.

Sixteen presentations were delivered at 11 schools, with 350 primary and secondary students patting platypus specimens, mimicking the alarm call of Tasmanian native hens, admiring the smell of Huon pine, investigating how hydroelectric schemes have harnessed nature’s power and how Tasmanian Aboriginal culture connected to and has utilised waterways for thousands of years.

“I've thoroughly enjoyed talking to Tasmanian school kids about Tasmanian waterways and working with Hydro Tasmania Education Coordinator Gina Harvey,” John reports.

“Hydro’s support has enabled us to give a great hands on museum experience to students in regional Tasmania in their classrooms.

“Some of the teachers have been inspired to bring their students to TMAG and see The Derwent exhibition in person, and we look forward to hosting them at TMAG.”

The Derwent is on show in Argyle Galleries 1-3 until 5 November 2017. For more information, visit the website.

Image details: John Retallick visiting students at Bothwell District High School as part of the Hydro Tasmania The Derwent School Outreach Program