Accompanied by Ms Judd and I, twelve VCE Geography students recently participated in a fieldwork trip to Rippon Lea estate in Elsternwick to fulfil course requirements for Geography Unit 2: Tourism.
Year 11 Geography students had been focusing on the characteristics and impact of tourism on a variety of scales and in different locations. The students had already made comparisons between domestic and international tourist destinations and studied various types of tourism. The Rippon Lea trip was devised to complement our studies of Heritage Tourism. The fact that so few properties of this era are still in existence makes Rippon Lea a rare gem for study purposes. The National Trust (which owns and maintains the property), states that Rippon Lea property is the best surviving example of a Victorian pleasure garden in the world and that the fernery there is the largest example of this type of structure in the Southern Hemisphere.
However, our geographic focus was largely on sustainability of heritage tourist sites. Unfortunately, the unavoidable irony of tourism is that quite often, tourism activities have significant negative impacts on the very thing tourists come to see. Consequently, our investigation explored the tourist management strategies employed at Rippon Lea and assessed their effectiveness in terms of sustainability, in addition to looking for additional measures or improvements that might be considered to heighten sustainable practice at this heritage site.
Students were given a private tour of the mansion by a wonderful National Trust volunteer. They also had the opportunity of speaking with Matt Chester, the Manager of Rippon Lea who helpfully answered all the students’ questions regarding management of the property. The girls recorded primary data by making observational notes, taking photographs and drawing annotated field sketches. This information will be collated and used to complete the Unit 2 field work report, a 1500-2000 piece that will form a part of their assessment.
Student Reflections:
My experience at Rippon Lea Estate was stunning. As we walked around the beautiful garden and took a tour of the mansion, it felt as if it was 1868 when Frederick Sargood built and lived in the mansion. Learning about the history of Rippon Lea was inspiring and it was good to know that Rippon Lea is heritage protected.
Kelly Liu SWD
I found the day extremely interesting and I learned so much about the property. I especially enjoyed the individual time we were given to explore the property and the gardens while taking notes and photographs that would help us in our field work. The information gave me an awareness and knowledge about the maintenance the property needs as well as the ways the property is kept sustainable for the public. The day proved to be very interesting and eventful as well as giving us a great deal of knowledge for our upcoming field work report.
Emma Lee SKD
I really enjoyed the trip to Rippon Lea as gathering interesting and reliable information about the site’s history, property and how it is managed was so helpful for our report.
Charlotte Taylor SWA
Special thanks to Ms Judd who accompanied us on the field trip.
We are pleased to announce the winners of the Siena Parents' Association Annual Raffle, drawn today by Tracey Grobbelaar, Director Development and Community Relations.
Gaynor Robson-Garth
PrincipalWe are thrilled to congratulate our Year 12 students on their outstanding results in the 2019 Victorian Certificate of Education.
Gaynor Robson-Garth
PrincipalThe VCAA exams have concluded and the school year is fast drawing to a close. We enjoyed a final celebration with the Class of 2019 at the Graduation Ball on Thursday evening at Leonda b...
Jennifer Levett
Deputy Principal Mission and IdentityAwaiting Advent
Bernadette Donnelly
Deputy Principal Learning and TeachingYears 9 to 11 Examinations, 2020 Headstart, 2020 Booklists, End of Year Dates
Antonella Rosati
Deputy Principal WellbeingWhat is Eco Anxiety?
Please return all raffle tickets, sold or unsold, to the College by Friday, 22 November 2019.
Congratulations to our Principal, Gaynor Robson-Garth who received an Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL) Vic Fellowship Award last week.
2020 Bell Times
Kerryn McGillen
Director of MusicSummer Concert Reminder
Bronwyn Ilott
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Paul Failla
Teacher - MathematicsVCE Examinations, Australian Mathematics Competition
Bronwyn Ilott
Head of Justice EducationLast week the Siena community and their friends were invited to gather together for our first Christmas Market. After a week of precarious weather, we were blessed with a beautiful eveni...
Bronwyn Ilott
Head of Justice EducationEach community can take from the bounty of the earth whatever it needs for subsistence, but it also has the duty to protect the earth and to ensure its fruitfulness for coming generations...
Melanie McKenzie
Learning EnhancementYear 9 Siena College students recently competed against gifted and talented students from various schools
Minna Denholm
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Minna Denholm
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Clare Timmins
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Ansalie Hanrahan
Learning EnhancementThank you to all students who have attended the Home learning Club this year.
Gaynor Robson-Garth
PrincipalHeld annually on 5 October since 1994, World Teachers’ Day commemorates the anniversary of the adoption of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation Concerning the Status of Teachers. This Recom...
Jennifer Levett
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Antonella Rosati
Deputy Principal WellbeingBuilding resilience
Ansalie Hanrahan
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Celebrate the festive season at Siena’s twilight Christmas market!
Georgie Plasto
Head of Student Wellbeing CassiaCongratulations are extended to the Siena College students who took part in this year’s production of ‘Romeo and Juliet’. This collaboration with St Kevin’s College allowed our students t...
Asthma is a long term lung condition which can be controlled but cannot currently be cured. People with asthma have sensitive airways which are more likely to react to triggers. The lini...
Claire Al-Noah
Head of Arts and TechnologyOur recent Visual Arts and Technology Exhibition showcased some outstanding student work from Years 7 to 12.
James Houghton
Head of Cocurricular SportAs we reach the midway point of Term 4, we have been really impressed with some excellent results in Basketball, Cricket and Junior Water Polo. With two more rounds to go until finals, w...
Clare Timmins
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Our Year 8 History study design encourages students to investigate and examine how people lived in other times. This year, we have focused on life in the Middle Ages. Recently, four class...
Claire Moody
Head of Student FormationStudent Reflections
Accompanied by Ms Judd and I, twelve VCE Geography students recently participated in a fieldwork trip to Rippon Lea estate in Elsternwick to fulfil course requirements for Geography Unit 2: Tourism.
Year 11 Geography students had been focusing on the characteristics and impact of tourism on a variety of scales and in different locations. The students had already made comparisons between domestic and international tourist destinations and studied various types of tourism. The Rippon Lea trip was devised to complement our studies of Heritage Tourism. The fact that so few properties of this era are still in existence makes Rippon Lea a rare gem for study purposes. The National Trust (which owns and maintains the property), states that Rippon Lea property is the best surviving example of a Victorian pleasure garden in the world and that the fernery there is the largest example of this type of structure in the Southern Hemisphere.
However, our geographic focus was largely on sustainability of heritage tourist sites. Unfortunately, the unavoidable irony of tourism is that quite often, tourism activities have significant negative impacts on the very thing tourists come to see. Consequently, our investigation explored the tourist management strategies employed at Rippon Lea and assessed their effectiveness in terms of sustainability, in addition to looking for additional measures or improvements that might be considered to heighten sustainable practice at this heritage site.
Students were given a private tour of the mansion by a wonderful National Trust volunteer. They also had the opportunity of speaking with Matt Chester, the Manager of Rippon Lea who helpfully answered all the students’ questions regarding management of the property. The girls recorded primary data by making observational notes, taking photographs and drawing annotated field sketches. This information will be collated and used to complete the Unit 2 field work report, a 1500-2000 piece that will form a part of their assessment.
Student Reflections:
My experience at Rippon Lea Estate was stunning. As we walked around the beautiful garden and took a tour of the mansion, it felt as if it was 1868 when Frederick Sargood built and lived in the mansion. Learning about the history of Rippon Lea was inspiring and it was good to know that Rippon Lea is heritage protected.
Kelly Liu SWD
I found the day extremely interesting and I learned so much about the property. I especially enjoyed the individual time we were given to explore the property and the gardens while taking notes and photographs that would help us in our field work. The information gave me an awareness and knowledge about the maintenance the property needs as well as the ways the property is kept sustainable for the public. The day proved to be very interesting and eventful as well as giving us a great deal of knowledge for our upcoming field work report.
Emma Lee SKD
I really enjoyed the trip to Rippon Lea as gathering interesting and reliable information about the site’s history, property and how it is managed was so helpful for our report.
Charlotte Taylor SWA
Special thanks to Ms Judd who accompanied us on the field trip.