1980 School Magazine

CENTRAL AUSTRALIA TRIP 1980 We all look forward to our August holiday break with longing; and why not? For msot of us it is a three week stretch of unnnitigated laziness and comfort. But not so for a group of lithe, young Amazons from B.G.G.S. who braved the Central Australia Trip organised by Boys' Grammar. For three glorious weeks we enjoyed magnifi- cent scenery, camping fun(?) and the highly intellectual company of our male counterparts. The f irst few days consrsted of driving, driving, and more driving, as we made our way to the desert centre. We ex- plored most of the Northern Territory and found it to be indeed 'full of contrasts'. From the arid plains surroun- ding Ayers Rock we travelled to the lush tropical oasis of Mataranka Hot Springs, also visiting Alice Springs, the Devil's Marbles, The Olgas, Standley Chasm, Lake Argyle, Rabbit Flat (Australia's most remote roadhouse) and Mt. lsa. Highlighting our trip was a meeting with David Gulpilil, the famous aboriginal actor who even treated us to some corroboree dancing! Although I would like to forget our makeshift latrines, having to do tenting duty, and having to rinse in sub-zero temperatures for early starts. I am sure we are all agreed that climbing Ayers Rock was an experience we will never forget.

We then settled in for a good nights'sleep and were all most disappointed when Mrs. Sharma didn't arrive to tuck us in and read us a bedtime story. I spent a strange night feeling like a caterpillar in a cocoon (note the biological reference) due to the fact that my sleeping bag was rather confining and I was afraid of rolling off my bunk, out the door and down the hill never to be seen again. Next morning we were woken by the muffled voice of Miss McAdam at six o'clock yelling some unintelligible, obscene words such as "Get up" and "Bird calling". I finally realised where I was and breath- ed a sigh of relief when I remembered that only those who felt the insane need to get up and f reeze to death in an effort to hear bird calls were required. The remainder of our stay was spent packing up and finishing off our biology reports. We than awaited the arrival of the second group of untnitiated students and, when they arrived, filled them in on all the interesting spots as well as the treacherous hazards, the main ones being leeches and mud. When we arrived back in Brisbane, after yet another hair-raising trip down winding roads barely wide enough to accommodate two fat ants, let alone a busload of beefy biology beauties, it was rain- ing and not at all the weather we had been hoping for after a rather soggy two days. I eventually made it back to my cosy house to be greeted with warmth and affection until I handed Mother the washing consisting mainly of mud and water. A short while later I discovered that I had brought a souvenir back with me in the form of a tick. I received little sym- pathy and was merely instructed to rid myself of all f lora and fauna that had hitch-hiked back with me. All factors considered I can honestly say that everyone in the first group thoroughly enjoyed allthe activities and appreciated the excellent meals provided by the camp. The teachers were extremely tolerant of our often ridiculous questions and endured them with a very good humour. The whole stand of the camp was something to be admired and the organization was efficient yet not restricting. Overall an enjoyable and educational exper- ience. Michelle Patey, 12 Gibson

Fiona Sinnamon.

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