12 Nov 2024
Year 9 History got a taste of life in the trenches during the First World War this week with the WW1 Living History show.
First World War fanatic and artefact collector Shane Blackman walked the students through all his amazing collection of antiques and recreations and told the stories behind each piece. He managed to bring the horrors of the western front to life in vivid detail.
Shane’s talking points covered lice, trench rot, bayonets, poisonous gases, rats, barbed wire, artillery, rifles, tinned corned beef and the endless other horrors soldiers had to endure. At the end of the two-hour presentation, a lucky student got to wear the uniform and some of the accoutrements of an Australian ANZAC which was, by all accounts, pretty heavy.
“I see my role as trying to bring history alive for students,” explains Shane from WW1 Living History, “Trying to make something a long time ago in the past a bit more tangible. With artefacts and entries from men’s diaries, hopefully the students get a better understanding of what it was to be a soldier during World War 1.”
“I think the lessons the students can learn from the trenches are mateship, endurance, loyalty,” Mr Blackman continues, “All things that teenagers today can use to get through life.”
In the afternoon, Wade opened the exhibition up to the public. There were guests from the local branch of the RSL and there were even some photography students on hand to photograph some of the amazing artefacts.
Thanks for coming to the school and sharing your expertise, Shane!
