Our walking course was from Cylinder Beach to Adder Rock and return, stopping off for a cultural talk from Matthew Burns on our way. He told us of the many uses of some of the plants growing around Minjerribah. We learned that if you hit a tea tree in the right spot you can get water from it and that's it's flowers contain honey. You can combine these to make a sweet drink. A cousin of the cotton tree has leaves we can use to wrap food to put in the fire to cook. If the stem is the same colour from the top to the bottom, and the plant is mature, you can use it to make a spear. The sap will seal cuts and stop infection from getting in as it forms a waterprooof barrier. He also mentioned that not every plant is edible, some can be quite harmful and even deadly as they can cause your throat to swell, compressing your airway, restricting your ability to breathe. The children and staff came away with new knowledge of the bush tucker that grows on our island home.
After returning to Cylinder Beach everyone had a drink and some fruit followed by a sausage sizzle. Next, it was time for a swim in the lagoon that had formed on the inside area of the beach. Some even made sandcastles as well.
Many thanks to the P & C as well as volunteer helpers and our wonderful staff who made the day so special for the children. It truly was a fantastic day!