APY (Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara) Lands, SA Museum's 'Out of the Glass Case' Roadshow: Keith visits this amazing area in the Outback region of South Australia
The South Australian Museum's latest 'Out of the Glass Case' Roadshow travelled to the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara - or APY Lands in the far north of South Australia.
The APY Lands cover 103,000 square kilometres in the far north-west corner of South Australia. It's about as far away from Adelaide as you can get without crossing the border! Under a giant blue and white sky the land is almost as huge and the outback monotony is broken by the ancient Musgrave Ranges, stretching more than 200 kilometres along the South Australia, Northern Territory border. We dropped in on the tiny settlement of Umuwa where the South Australian Museum has mounted its legendary 'Out of the Glass Case' Roadshow. They take the museum to the people - literally.
The local Administration centre has been transformed into the roadshow 'hub' where kids from outlying communities are bussed in for a once in a lifetime hoot - exploring, learning and experiencing science in all its glory. The buzz word here is 'hands on' - there's not a text book in sight - instead, the kids are encouraged get involved and explore the displays for themselves.
Prof. Suzanne Miller, Director SA Museum: "This is very different for us. Normally we would go to an area and our guys would move around different schools. This time we're in one place and the schools are coming to us and that's been a huge logistical challenge for us and the schools. The furthest school has to travel seven and a half hours to get here and back."
For Museum Director, Suzanne Miller, the 'Out of the Glass Case' Roadshow is the best way for the museum to connect with the community. Since the program began in 2003 they've been on the road 26 times, covering almost 40,000 kilometres and involving more than 17,000.
Prof. Suzanne Miller, Director SA Museum: "The whole idea is to engage the children with science, with the environment, with issues about conservation. It's just been fantastic and I think getting out of the classroom, talking about these things … really makes these things stick in their mind. They'll remember the experiences - which is what it's all about."
Not surprisingly, the landscape has a big influence on proceedings. The 'Footsteps in Time' theme means stories OF the land and FROM the land being shared between the locals and Museum staff. We are privileged to wander around the dry bed of nearby Officer Creek with some local Elders. We sit down in their open air class room and watch as they draw animal tracks in the sand.
Prof. Suzanne Miller, Director SA Museum: "For us, for the staff at the museum, for our 'experts' actually being able to talk about particularly aboriginal thoughts about the land, about conservation, about biodiversity - that's something you can't get sitting in your office or lab in Adelaide. That's been a really fantastic opportunity for the staff to engage with the aboriginal communities up here who really live with the land."
The SA Museum's next 'Out of the Glass Case' Roadshow takes the gang to Murray Bridge from the 29th to 31st of July, 2010. All the fun will be at the Murray Bridge Town Hall. Of course the Museum on North Terrace is open daily and it's free. If you have any further questions please email info@postcards-sa.com.au
'Out of the Glass Case' Roadshow
Murray Bridge Town Hall.
Thurs 29 - Sat 31 JulySA Museum
Ph 8207 7500Published 20th June 2010
