While doing place and time I studied the golden era. Learning about the golden era was helpful since it is relevant to my Clunes project; I have gotten pretty much all the things I need to know, such as: Mining instruments like how the pump worked and how effective it was. How medicine developed over that time period and the methods that have been out dated. The kind of entertainment men had in those days. The discrimination against Chinese miners and Aborigines. The criminals and how the law was at par with crime, and how the entire gold rush shaped Australia. The most enjoyable part of this program was exploring the cave Captain Moonlight used to avoid police men. Because of this course I know I can’t complain about things because life was way harder back during the rush.

This term a group of students on campus spent their Fridays in circus class. We have been increasing our skills in a certain apparatus so that on presentation day we may put together a great show and entertain everyone. But to have a great show we need a bit of variation. This is where our acrobatics comes in. We have a full routine with dives, flips, rolls, twirls, lifts and jumps to get the audience right into the action. It’s amazing to watch and even more fun to be part of. It’s a great way for people to show off some of their hidden talents and grow as performers. Some of the stunts are quite frightening and really take people out of their comfort zone while others test the strength and balance of the performers involved. We’ve all really enjoyed this part of the program as we have learnt a lot about performing as well as progressed in our skill level with each of the stunts. It’s a very challenging thing to put on a flowing and interesting show and in doing so it’s helped us focus greatly, even with a lot going on around us. It has been a great part of the program, making us physically stronger and fitter as well as challenging us to focus under pressure and really take responsibility for our own performance.

Presentation Day is nearly here. Only a few days left before we present what we learnt at Clunes. Everyone here has had a fun time at Clunes and now it's time for the presentation. There are many things to present on presentation day such as our Clunes project, circus performances and music performances. I am really looking forward to the circus performance because I think I’ve practiced a lot and got the hang of juggling. Also I think that the acrobatics in circus is fun and enjoyable. The Clunes project was fun to do also. The essay wasn’t great but the practical was really fun to do. I think that I’ve spent enough time on my practical to make it look good. I have also spent a long time on my speech and perfected it. Most people would be looking forward to the Clunes presentation day. Not only will they be excited presenting they would also be very happy seeing their parents. The thing that I am looking forward to the most is seeing my parents and also getting up on stage. I’m not really a great presenter or public speaker but I’m still looking forward to it. I think that presentation day will turn out really great and everyone will have fun presenting.

Throughout the student’s time up at Clunes, they all cared and nurtured a plant which they would later go and plant. Many students took great care of their plant and found it fun to care for something that would later grow up and be really special. Last week, in the second last week of Clunes, the time came for the students to go and plant their trees. The chosen location was along the banks of Creswick Creek. As the students were out there they found out that one of the staff members had taken the responsibility of looking after part of the bank of the creek. It was exiting to hear that we would all be helping restore the creek to its natural state, as many of the introduced species of animals and plants had slowly started to destroy the creek. The students were all spilt up in 3 groups and all headed off along the creek to plant their trees. The students all had a great deal of fun whilst planting their tree and helped out others to plant their tree, once they were finished. The students also took part in surveying the area to see how healthy and natural the area was. The day was also spent in the sun and everyone may have gotten a little muddy, but everyone felt great afterwards, knowing that they had contributed back to the community and to the future of the Creswick Creek.

Last Sunday the 30th of May we had the Harvest Feast. The Harvest Feast is a day where the whole campus works together to prepare a large feast and we all sit together and eat. Before the Harvest Feast we all talked about the importance of eating local food and the impact that imported food and packaging has on the environment. Most of the food that we used in the harvest came from local farms and markets and some of the pumpkins and vegetables were grown on campus. Each house was given the ingredients and the recipes that we needed to make our meal. The meals were roast vegetables, apple crumble, pizzas, homemade baked beans, pumpkin soup and scones. All of the meals were vegetarian. This was because meat uses a lot of energy and water to be produced. The cooking went smoothly without any major problems and we all managed to have the meals ready on time. The meal was fantastic; it was course after course of delicious homemade food. It was great to have the whole campus sitting together sharing a wonderful meal, having a laugh and being entertained by the music and circus performances. Overall it was a great day that was both fun and delicious and it taught us all that we can all make a lovely four course meal that is healthy and good for the environment as well.

On Saturday 29th May, the Wesley at Clunes students went to various areas of the district to go doorknocking to help raise money for the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal. Students were distributed around Clunes, particularly the football oval and parts of Ballarat. With this being a first time for many of the students, some found it very nerve racking having to ask for money off people who they had never seen before! However, this did not stop the positive atmosphere and everyone had a good time out there despite being faced with: rejection, interesting houses and even the odd crazy dog. One particular group had had very little luck and had been down a whole street. With most donations being only loose change this group had began to expect it and with the weather slowly turning against them, hopes were beginning to drop until the group were given a fantastic $20! It doesn’t stop there, with some groups receiving note after note in endless succession. All in all, it was a superb day and the students got a lot out of it, and some were even keen to do it again!

Fitness uses different techniques to help us keep fit through out the Clunes journey. This term, fitness was hard at the start but as the term progressed and we got closer to the Clunes 100 it got easier and easier. It includes intervals sessions which work on all parts of the body. The first couple of weeks we did 5 rounds with 15 seconds rest every time we changed. Then we started to get to 30 seconds rest after one round. In the Clunes 100 there are 12 rounds with 15 push ups, 15 crunches, plank, side holds, v sit, 15 ski jumps and 15 lunges. We get 45 seconds to complete them with no breaks in between. Working up to the Clunes 100 we did 5 rounds each session with a 30 second break in between. The aim is to complete all 12 rounds, if you do not complete you’re out of the Clunes 100 and you finish on the number. After you complete the Clunes 100 your name goes on the board which has the names of people who have competed it or tried.

Four Wesley students were able to join with footy club and play a few games this term. We managed to win most of those games and the Clunes footy club have been really nice to all of us students. One of my highlights was receiving an award a couple of weeks ago and getting my name in the paper. Last Thursday they cooked sausages on the barbeque to thank us for playing, all the boys appreciated this kind gesture. Last Saturday we all chipped in to buy all of the people at the Football Club chocolates to say thank you for allowing us to play. We were really happy that day because the team came home with a big win.