Transcript khs_edwinaring_yr8_2005

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF ALL OF THE SHOPS
SHUT DOWN AND YOU HAD TO SURVIVE OFF
NATURE???
My Survival Plan
My Survival Plan is based along the
coast of NSW. It displays the
essentials every human needs to
survive and where to find them. It
includes useful information like:
shelter, fire, fresh water, food, what
seasons to find food and medicine.
Fresh Water
Every human needs fresh water to live. Finding water is
essential to survive anywhere. However, being in the hot
Australian bush without water is very serious. You need
to find water as soon as you can, so it is the first thing on
the survival plan checklist. There are some procedures
that can be used if water is limited.
For example, there are some plants that provide water in
their roots and trunks, if you see certain plants you know
you are close to water and there are even methods of
making freshwater from saltwater.
The “She-Oak”
The She-Oak is also called the Casuarina equisetifolia. It is found mostly in coastal
sand-dune country across northern Queensland and the Northern Territory, and other
related species are distributed throughout Australia.
The Aboriginals used to chew the leaves of this tree and in some cases the young
green oak apples as a thirst-quencher. The fruits have an extremely acidic taste and
contain an acid similar to citric acid. This activates the salivary glands, thereby
relieving the feeling of thirst. In some species of this tree, the roots have been known
to yield visible amounts of water.
The Casuarina equisetfolia can also be used as a bush medicine. The Aboriginals
would create a mouthwash from it to relieve sore throats and toothaches.
The Native Rock Fig
The Native Rock Fig is found along the Northern coast of Australia, also in parts of
inland Australia and the Coast of NSW.
It a type of bush tucker food. The special thing about this tree is that the trailing root
system can sometimes indicate the presence of water pockets in rock crevices,
especially in arid areas. As the roots often penetrate deep crevices, the water can be
a long way down.
Fire
Fire is important as it provides warmth,
light and is used for cooking. It is the next
step for surviving in the bush after
securing fresh water and food.
It is difficult to light a fire without matches
or a cigarette lighter, but if some steps are
taken before lighting the fire, the process
is much easier.
Making a Fire
A good start would be to dig a hole to put the fire in. This will keep the fire out of
the wind. Now it is time to collect some firewood. It is important to look for the
driest wood that can be found, because it makes lighting the fire so much easier.
Using the resin and dead trunks from Grass Trees is a good idea, as the resin is
flammable and the dead trunks burn with an intense heat, even in wet
conditions. Next is building the fire. Put the materials that will catch alight
easiest on the top like dead leaves, with the steady burning materials like logs
on the bottom. Lighting the fire is the next step.
Lighting the fire is the hardest step. The Aboriginals would rub two dry sticks
together until they began to get hot. Then, with a lot of effort, hopefully the
sticks would smoke and spark onto the dead leaves and light a small flame.
The Aboriginals would then try to keep the flame alight, while still rubbing the
sticks together and sparking more dead leaves alight. So, by following the
Aboriginals’ method to light fire you can keep the flame alight until it grows to be
a steady fire.
Bushtucker
Bushtucker is a very important part of
survival in Australia. It was how the
Aboriginals stayed alive. It is very
important to know the seasons that certain
foods grow, so you always know what to
look for. If you are not sure whether or not
a plant is poisonous, DO NOT take the
risk. Stick with the plants that you know
are edible.
Summer
You are looking for:
Oysters
Pipis
Mullet
Blackfish
Bunya Nut
Macadania nuts
Tea Tree Leaves
Autumn
You are looking:
Oysters
Pipis
Jew Fish
Blackfish
Candle Nuts
Wild rasberries
Mat Rush Seeds
Tea Tree Leaves
Davidson’s Plum
Plum Pire Fruit
Macadania Nuts
Winter
You are looking for:
Lilly Pilly
Candle Nuts
Bream
Wattle Seeds
Tea Tree Leaves
Native lemon & lime
Citrus
Spring
You are looking for:
Oyster
Pipis
Mullet
Wattle Seeds
Tea Tree Leaves
Eggs
Citrus fruit
Shelter
Shelter is your next step to surviving. You need
shelter to keep you dry and safe. Barks are
ideal for shelter, as building shelter with sticks
and logs can be quite difficult. Select strong
bark, that is large, and support it by possibly
leaning it against a tree. Make sure that you
have enough room to sleep in it. It is also a
good idea to make shelter for your fire, but if you
do, make sure it is higher than the flames can
reach so it doesn’t catch alight.
Medicine
There are many different types of bush medicine that do
different things. The Australian Bugle’s leaves are
bruised and soaked in hot water to make an infusion to
bathe sores and boils. The sap of the Cunjevoi, if applied
to the skin, is said to relieve the pain of the Giant Stinging
Tree and can often be found growing close to it. The sap
can also be used to relieve snake bite, stings from
stingrays and insects. The Casuarina equisetfolia can
also be used as a bush medicine. The Aboriginals would
create a mouthwash from it to relieve sore throats and
toothaches. These are just some of the bush medicines
found around the mid north coast of NSW.
AND THAT
CONCLUDES MY
SURVIVAL PLAN!