History comes alive from beyond the grave

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Kadeyn Duggan, 12, as Scottish gold miner John Dunlop. Photo by Owen Sinclair

There’s nothing like the chance to impress your schoolmates with fine work, and that’s precisely what Year 5/6 students at Cobram Anglican Grammar School have done.

On Thursday, September 11, students donned their best historical garb and proudly displayed various dioramas, created as part of a class assignment, to schoolmates, teachers and parents.

Hannah Cameron, 11, as Captain Arthur Philip. Photo by Owen Sinclair

For Year 6 student Kadeyn Duggan and the rest of his classmates, the project came with lots to learn about Australia’s colonial history and one particular character: namely, for Kadeyn, the 19th-century Ballarat gold miner John Dunlop.

“He discovered Ballarat. Well, Aboriginals discovered it, but he made it sort of famous and discovered gold there,” Kadeyn said.

Liam Murphy, 11, as gold miner John Deason. Photo by Owen Sinclair

Unfortunately for Mr Dunlop, as his 21st-century likeness explained, fame and wealth can be but fleeting delights.

“He tried to keep it a secret, and he did for a week, until someone followed him,” Kadeyn said.

“Then everyone started going there and made it a town.”

Nate Rodda, 12, as artist John Black Anderson. Photo by Owen Sinclair
Oliver Adkins, 11, as gold prospector Hammon Hargraves. Photo by Owen Sinclair
Jack Watkins, 11, as Australia's first prime minister Sir Edmund Barton. Photo by Owen Sinclair