On Friday, YPCC joined some other Victorian schools in a video conference that was set to remember the 150th anniversary of when three young children were lost in the bush in Victoria, in 1864. We were able to speak with Aunty Nancy, a direct descendant from King Richard, one of the Aboriginal trackers who found the children and two of the actors that appeared in the film that was made about the lost Duff children.
In 1864, three Children were lost in the bush. Their names were Isaac. Jane and Frank Duff. in 1864 there were no phones, roads, no transport as we know it today and not much food and water. The first rail way was built in 1858.
The Duff children went out to the bush and there were collecting broom (sticks from the bush to make brooms to sweep their houses) and got lost for 9 days. It was very cold – minus 1 degree!
They walked 90 km by criss crossing their paths. Aboriginal trackers found the children – King Richard was one of the trackers. The other trackers were called Red Cap and Tony. The trackers used line searching, which is a common method of searching still used today.
The children were able to get water by licking gum leaves and luckily for them it rained during the time they were lost.
The video conference was pretty good but at times it was hard to keep track of the conversation.