Australian novelist James Bradley visits Fort Street and MOUA exhibit in the library

On the 28th of March, Fort Street High School welcomed Australian novelist and critic, James Bradley, to discuss his literary works and personal journey with our Year 10 class. Among his variety of writings stands “Clade,” a speculative novel that was chosen for our in-depth study of speculative fiction. Bradley masterfully uses this novel to urge readers to confront environmental degradation’s implications and broaden our understanding of its far-reaching consequences. Our Year 10 cohort gained much knowledge and insight into this novel with Bradley’s visit allowing questions as he explored the themes encapsulated within his novel and the factors that caused the views he shared in his writing. James Bradley’s most recently published book titled, “Deep Water: The World in the Ocean”, further explores the importance of sustainability and the preservation of natural environments. As suggested by the title, it explores the wonders of the marine environments. Inspired by the key themes of understanding environmental degradation and the beauty of marine ecosystems, our teacher, Ms Maddox, organised an exhibit from the Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA) to be displayed in our library. This exhibition, a 3D printed version of the full-scale exhibit titled “Ocean Sentinel” was created by Jason Decaiers Taylor and served as a testament to the tireless efforts of key figures in the conservation movement for safeguarding marine life and ecosystems. For example, Professor John “Charlie” Veron, a renowned marine scientist who discovered 20% of all known coral species, is featured in this exhibition. Bradley’s visit and the supporting exhibition bestowed both intellectual and emotional engagement on the pressing issues of our time. Our study of this prescribed text, aided by the insight provided by Bradley, inspired further conscientiousness towards the future of our planet’s health.

Siena Jeffree and Roger Luo