25 Jul 2024
Birrigai Outdoor School has a new outdoor learning space.
The Aunty Agnes Shea Amphitheatre can be found front-and-centre at the school, allowing students to engage in outdoor activities during rain, hail or shine.
This sheltered amphitheatre features stunning views of the surrounding bush, allowing Birrigai’s natural environment to shine through whether it’s day or night. If you’re lucky, you might even be able to spot some of the local kangaroos or emus right from your seat.
The new amphitheatre is named in honour of late Aunty Agnes Shea, a highly respected Ngunnawal elder who had a strong connection to Birrigai, serving as a member of the school board following the 2003 bushfires.
Aunty Agnes’ involvement with the school continued well beyond her time served on the school board, working with Birrigai’s teachers to inspire them to feel more confident in embracing the teaching of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander content to the students of Canberra. Her family connection with Birrigai continues to this day through Joel Bulger, a close relative of Aunty Agnes and one of Birrigai’s Aboriginal Rangers.
The Aunty Agnes Shea Amphitheatre is the most recent project to be completed from a large range of upgrades to Birrigai Outdoor School.
During the 2023-2024 financial year, Birrigai Outdoor School received an investment of just over $755,000 to build the incredible amphitheatre and to create the pathway to access the outdoor space. Birrigai also received upgrades to its paths, doors and bathrooms and had ramps installed to help make the school more accessible.
To read more about Birrigai and its connection to country, visit the school’s website here.
