Mary Bryant
Australia's most daring convict escape?
The incredible story of
MARY BRYANT

TASK 1: Who was Mary Bryant?
Learning Intention: To understand how some convicts were willing to face danger to escape the horrors of living as a convict.
Mary Bryant was a convict sent to New South Wales on the First Fleet. With a group of convicts, she stole a small boat from Sydney Cove and escaped the colony. They spent several weeks at sea in treacherous conditions and were extremely lucky to survive their dangerous journey. At the end of this task you will complete a quiz to test your knowledge about Mary Bryant.
Step 1: Read this short information article about Mary Bryant.
Step 2: This
website contains a detailed article about Mary Bryant and her extraordinary
journey to escape the penal colony. When you go this website, scroll down to
see the article called Mary Bryant's open boat voyage.
Next, scroll down past the map and find a title that says "Their secrets discovered".
Read the six paragraphs in this part of the story to learn how Mary Bryant was
caught.
Make notes on a piece of paper about how she was caught so that you have enough information to the answer the quiz at the end of this task.
Step 3: Watch the following two videos to learn a bit about Mary Bryant and her escape from the colony.
Step 4: Now answer the following questions in the Colony Solutions sheet in your Google Library Classroom.
Why do you think Mary Bryant wanted to escape the colony of New South Wales?
What dangers did Mary Bryant and the other convicts face on their boat journey to Timor?
Mary Bryant never kept a diary of her incredible journey. Pretend that you are Mary, traveling in rough and dangerous seas, running out of food, and struggling to stay alive on board the boat. Write a diary note of 20-30 words explaining how you are feeling. Are you afraid? Why? Are you hungry? Do you wish you hadn't tried to escape? Do you think you will survive? Why? Why not?
Write your answers and the diary entry in the Colony Solutions sheet in your
Google Library Classroom.
Step 5: Go to your Google Library Classroom and complete the Mary Bryant quiz to test your knowledge of this topic.
