All Year 7 students were involved with two Technology excursions held on Thursday 14th August and Friday 15th August as part of Asquith Boys High School‘s Big Week Out. Excursions where to the Powerhouse Museum and to the Australian National Maritime Museum and were organised by the TAS staff. We also welcomed the assistance of Ms Farr, Miss Mashman, Mr Cunningham, Mrs Anthonisz, Mrs Daniels and Mrs McGowan. The excursions were greatly enjoyed by the students and helped our students gain a broader appreciation for materials, processes and technology used in our society.

7DV1 and 7DV2 plus some 7DV5 began the Big Week Out by travelling on City Rail to Central station and then walking across to the Powerhouse Museum in Harris Street, Ultimo. During the several hours they were at the museum students toured and answered focus questions relating to 4 exhibitions. These exhibitions were designed to enhance their general knowledge of Technology but were specifically on Space Exploration, The Steam Revolution,

Innovation and Success as well as Transport. The focus questions highlighted the technological development associated with each area of study and students should now be aware of the importance of design, material technology and process engineering.

Highlights of the Powerhouse included a detailed look at Locomotive No. 1 and the associated carriages, the Boulton & Watt steam engine (1 of only two original working models in the world), the models of the space shuttle and the interactive display in the Transport exhibition.

7DV3 and 7DV4 plus some 7DV5 students travelled to Town Hall station and walked to the Australian National Maritime Museum via Darling Harbour. At the Maritime museum the DV classes were divided in smaller groups so they could visit HMAS Onslow, the Oberon class submarine. This class of submarine saw active service from 1969 through until 1990 and was regarded as one of the most sophisticated conventional submarines available. Museum guides gave our students some first hand information about life in the confined environment of a submarine and also mentioned many of the operational capabilities of the craft. Most students agreed that sub-mariners were a special group of people.

Students then toured HMAS Vampire, commonly known as ―The Bat. This Daring class destroyer was one of the last true gun ships built. She was constructed in the 1950‘s and decommissioned in 1986. She was powered by two steam turbines which developed 38000 kW of power and enabled the ship to have a possible top speed of 31 knots. Students were surprised at the open nature of the living quarters for the able seamen and the heavy reliance on human power for such operations as loading the turrets from the ships magazine. Students also spent time looking at the special permanent exhibitions in the main area of the museum.

Focus questions draw their attention to the World Water Speed Craft, Safety at Sea, Trade, Commerce and Shipping, Immigration, Sport and Leisure associated with the water, Voyages of Discovery and the Royal Australian Navy. On Friday 15th August, the class groups swapped venues so by the end of the day all students had had the opportunity to view the various aspects of the exhibitions at both museums. On both days we were blessed with fine weather and all students, I believe, enjoyed the excursions and will benefit from a broader understanding of the development of technological used in our society.

 Mr T Ward, Head Teacher TAS