INVERLOCH Primary School’s Grade 3 and 4 students have struck a lasting relationship with the Amazon Shipwreck Committee.

To celebrate the students’ discovery of local history, the school’s student action team coordinated a ‘dress like a pirate day’ on Friday, September 13.

The funds raised will go towards the museum the committee hope to obtain to store its artefacts.

“In term two, the students were learning about information reports. We through we’d engage with the Amazon Shipwreck Committee and learn all about it,” teacher Loree-Lee Jamieson said.

“We had Karyn (Bugeja) – who is the secretary of the shipwreck committee – come to the school to show us some artefacts.

“From there, the students went away and wrote the most amazingly detailed information reports about the history of the Amazon shipwreck. We’ve made a book to present to Karyn (on Friday) and we’ve decided to help raise money to go towards the museum.

“We hope this can become an annual event, where the school can connect with the community and raise money for something that’s really significant within the community.” 

Students dressed up in their best pirate gear and donated a gold coin on the day.

The students enjoyed learning about the story of the Amazon, including the fact it was carrying salts and meat to Mauritius, encountered a storm that blew it further east to Inverloch where the ship was damaged at Flat Rocks, and the crew survived the ordeal.

The Grade 3 and 4 students walked to the beach to see the newly revealed remains of the shipwreck recently, which proved to be an exciting excursion.

“We reflected on how lucky we are to have such an amazing part of our history right here on our beach,” Ms Jamieson said.

“We hope to keep the connection with the Amazon Shipwreck Committee moving forward.”