Organised by the Wingham Public School one of the major features of the day were the performances of three actors who travelled all the way from Sydney for the day.

One played a sergeant, the other a convict and the third a 'wench'.

Katie Goward is in year six at Wingham Public School and her favourite actor was the convict.

"The convict taught us what it was like – I didn't realise it was so bad for them.

"They only got one set of clothes and on the boat trip to Australia there was nowhere to go to the toilet and many got sick," she said.

As Katie's story shoes, the day was an important learning experience as well as a lot of fun.

Jasmine Pike, also from year six, was captivated by the ‘wench' who showed the children how tough life was for our early settlers.

"She told us about how hard it was to do the washing. You had to get water from the river and scrub each thing one at a time."

The children also enjoyed taking part in various old-time games and dances such as the heel-toe polka while the opportunity to buy fairy floss was an added bonus!

The Manning Valley Historical Society had also organised an old-time skills display on the day and the students as well as members of the public were able to see blacksmiths, weavers, timber workers and many other craftspeople at work first hand.

There was even a stilt walker and unicycle-riding juggler.

The excitement escalated in the afternoon when various students were recruited to take part in a re-enactment of a trial which saw the ‘accused' sentenced and transported to Australia.

Then came the flogging of the convict and children sat enthralled as the actors re-created the brutal punishment. Judging from students' reactions and their eloquent reports following the day this was one of the most memorable events of colonial day.