Holy Spirit College

 History Study Tours

Mr Fryday's passion for educational travel began in 2010 after a Study Tour to the Gallipoli Peninsula with the University of Wollongong. This experience confirmed his desire to enter the classroom. Since his commitment to provide students with exceptional educational experiences, he has taken student groups to Cambodia, Turkey and Western Europe primarily for historical tours. Words cannot quite capture the satisfaction of watching a group of students undertake both a physical and academic journey that sees them grow as learners to understand the historical and cultural significance of the ground on which they stand. 

Pictured above is a presentation of a soldier by the name of Edward McLean to my Gallipoli Study Tour group from Holy Spirit College in 2015. Mr Fryday first met Edward in 2010 on his second visit to Gallipoli. He felt a genuine connection with Edward that he still values to this day. Edward died five weeks into the Gallipoli campaign at the age of 21. Mr Fryday's son, born nearly 100 years after his death, shares part of Edward's name. Mr Fryday want to share this unique connection with students and teachers who share his passion for Australian military history. 
A student reflects on her soldier's life and sacrifice in the moments following her presentation at the Nek, Gallipoli 2015.
An unused SMLE Mk3 Magazine found at Ari Burnu, Gallipoli 2015. 
HSC Students participating in the Last Post Ceremony at the  Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium. The two students on the left laid a wreath on behalf of the school, and the student on the right laid one for his Great Uncle, who remains missing in Polygon Wood. Western Front, 2017.

Pre-Departure Program

Each tour comes with a program of pre-departure seminars that focus on academically and emotionally preparing students to travel. All of the tours include a dense and varied history, and to hear it all for the first time while on the ground is simply too overwhelming. Most of the narrative history is presented to the students so they can begin to digest and unpack the content before they see historical sites, so they may begin to piece together complex ideas in the moment, rather than solely having to reflect retrospectively.

The pre-departure program includes a variety of content, including the following:

Check out the below clips to hear from Mr Fryday's former lecturers from the University of Wollongong and their insights on educational travel:

Dr Jen Roberts and Professor John McQuilton share their insights on student experience on study tours. 

Both have run a number of study tours to both Gallipoli, and the Western Front through UOW.