1971 School Magazine

Cu*t*o{ *4*utro{iu Jrtp

On Sunday we reached Ayer's Rock-Great Excitement! Had a good night's beauty sleep to be in top condition for our big climb the next day. And what a climb! That seventy-nine year old man put us puffing teenagers to shame. As superficial tourists, we still needed certificates to authenticate our climb. Many of us realized here that all those photographs we had taken couldn't capture the majestic grandeur of Ayer's Rock nor the mood and atmosphere in the beautiful but eerie chasms (you had to be there to feel it!). The afternoon was spent exploring the fascinating caves of Ayer's Rock and the Olgas. Our deep sleep that night was broken at two-thirty by the fear of an approaching storm. We packed in record time in darkness and were soon trying to sleep as the bus bumped along with gear falling from above our heads. At ten-thirty we were served with an appetising breakfast of cold spaghetti and margarine on bread, enjoyed on the bus owing to bitterly cold and windy weather outside. The two quarts of water permitted in Coober Pedy that night did not altogether remove the layers ofred dust collected during the day. & S N*; ; ll;I [,,

On Sunday, Bth August, thirty-five girls under the wings of Mrs. Hoog Antink and Miss Blake, and at the mercy of Ray and Rod, departed from B.G.G.S. on our trip to the Centre. After a day of eating, singing and sleeping we arrived at Mitchell. Attempts at pitching tents in semi-darkness, showed ingenuity-some resembled rope. jungles from the outside while those with the biggest sag proved to be the cosiest. Our first outdoor meal did not fully develop the talent later cooks showed-we eventually specialized in two kinds of steak-the kind with the crisp, delicious two inch layer of charcoal as coating or the other which had just enough red juice to moisten the palate. Next day, after a pleasant detour of 150 miles through Charleville, we arrived at Longreach in pitch dark. A heavy sleep refreshed us for a day's travelling in searing heat through dry but picturesque country. Lunch was in the sweet town (one hotel) of Kynuna, which won the hearts of many girls. We were disappointed we only heard.about but didn't actually see their "Surf Life Saving Club". Cloncurry was reached at dusk but it was still light enough to appreciate the pretty, undulating country around it. After a beautiful view of Mary Kathleen (so dark we hadn't realized we had passed through it) we reached Mt. Isa with its long-awaited hot showers and gas cookers. Next morning we were actually able to hit the road by eight to invade the mine-some most becoming safety equipment was supplied. The afternoon was spent visiting an Opal Hostel and then enjoying a beautiful sunset at magnificent Lake Moondarra. Thursday l2th and not Friday saw our bad luck. The day we had 420 miles to go we had a flat tyre 10 miles out of Mt. Isa. While half the group returned, the rest stayed in the Never-Never for an hour. At one stage coming back there appeared to be very loyal Australians practising aboriginal customs by the side of the road but on closer inspection it was only the "German Brigade" (what did you expect with two German teachers). Lunch was at Camooweal by the Georgina River, pleasantly scented by a dead cow on the opposite bank. Exhausted, we finally reached Tennant Creek that night. Friday was spent travelling through breath-taking country and a stop was made at the Devil's Marbles. Then we reached "Alice", the jewel of the Centre. We found a lovely caravan park (Great Recreation Room!). Our excursion to the city that evening will be remembered by the town for a long time. It's not every night girls walk their streets protected with spears and boomerangs. After another invasion of the town in the morning, we continued on to fantastic Standley's Chasm and Simpson's Gap.

Last daY: Lunch, Warwick.

After a grand tour of the town in the morning, seeing the underground church, the dug-outs and the beach, we continued to Woomera. Here, because of security reasons (we were armed with. spears, boomerangs and knives) we were refused entry. So our high-spirited bus continued to Port Augusta, arriving very late, but surprise, surprise, after travelling several thousand miles and passing twenty other buses, who should welcome us but our next door neighbours, Boys' Grammar, with the generous offer of a prepared fire. Out of the dust and back to green lands on Thursday. Adelaide was reached after lunch. Every- one dispersed for a free day on Friday, most returning for a trip to the Lofty Ranges and the city by night.

Page Twenty-Seven