By PEACE IJIYERA
HISTORY Council of Victoria brought its VCE Roadshow to Traralgon College’s senior campus recently.
This day-long event was held to provide VCE history students with a deeper understanding of their learning in preparation for upcoming VCE exams.
From the American Revolution to Modern History, the French Revolution to Australian History, students attended sessions delivered by lecturers from The University of Melbourne, Monash University, La Trobe University and Australian Catholic University.
More than 100 students enrolled in the sessions from Kurnai College, Lavalla Catholic College, Traralgon College, St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School, Catholic College Sale, Yarram Secondary College, Warragul Regional College, Pakenham Secondary College and Yarra Valley Grammar.
Traralgon College VCE history teacher, Stephen Jeffs, said students enjoyed the sessions.
“Sessions like this are amazing in terms of bringing history alive for students and offering them a chance to hear another perspective other than their teachers or textbooks on some really important content,” he said.
“It’s an amazing opportunity for our students, and I’m really glad that we could offer it to them.”
At Traralgon College, Modern History and the British Empire is offered in Year 11, and Australian History is offered in Year 12.
“So the idea is that we finish the British Empire with the … American Revolution, and we pick up with the need for Britain to find somewhere new to send convicts and such.
“And that introduces our story. And it’s wonderful because it gives students connection to a bunch of learning that they’ve done throughout the junior year levels.
“And in particular, we’re very proud that we offer Power and Resistance as one of the subjects. So there’s a lot of content in there about our history with Indigenous people and making sure that that is taught in front and centre of what we do.”
The History Council of Victoria VCE Roadshow has been running in different forms since the 1970s. With extra funding this year, the program was able to expand from one regional area to three. Over three weeks, the program was hosted in Warrnambool, where 70 students enrolled, and in Shepparton, where 80 students enrolled.
Dr Patrick McGrath, from the University of Melbourne, who delivered a lecture on the American Revolution, said that with the funding, the program gets to reach more students.
“I think this is an extraordinary program of just developing future generations of historians … students have access to lots of things through screens, but I think having the chance for us to actually interact in person and kind of engage with each other in person, I think is a totally much more impactful experience,” he said.
“I think it’s great for us, as well, it’s great for them, and I’m very pleased to hear that we can continue this.”
State Library of Victoria representatives were also in attendance, and had tables showcasing rare items from its collection. Some items included original letters from George Washington, Napoleon Bonaparte, Louis XVI, and George III.
Dr Sarah Walsh, from the University of Melbourne, delivered a lecture on Modern History and the origins of the Cold War. She said the sessions were important for “shaping the minds and hearts of the youth”.
Professor Oleg Beyda from the University of Melbourne lectured students on the Russian Revolution.
“We’re nurturing the next generation of historians, because I’m a strong believer that among those hundreds of people (students) … there must be a great academic or maybe a few among them,” he said.
“And this is how it starts; you need to support the interest in history because I think that history is as much about the past as it is about the future.”
With not long to go until the exam period, the lecturers wish all history students luck as preparation begins.
