1983 School Magazine

YEAR 9 CAMP R.EFORT 19E3 Giggles walked over to the teachers' tent from the Yahoo paddock. Yes, Year 9,s were on camp again. Amidst overturned canoes, hamburgers and sandy sleeping bags, Elanda Point was under seige by the areaaeO St. Trinian's from B.G.G.S., for 6 whole weeks (Maybe that accounted for the sudden lack of other campers). The camp group, the dreaded year 9, arrived at Elanda Point and piled out of the bus and trooped off to our allotted tents. We had an hour to unpack, find out who was in what tent and recreate. After exploring the campsite, Miss McAdam told us we were going to learn to canoe. Half the class canoed up to Mill Point while the others walked (and returne.d by the alternative means of transport. Our first attempt at canoeing, to put it plainly, was a complete and utter disaster. One group whilst heading for Miss M. (as they were told to do) forgot how to stop, and luckily for hei, she had very strong arms. Two kilometres never seemed so far. We arrived back at the campsite, had a shower, ate dinner, and hit the sleeping bag. Tuesday morning arrived and at 6.15 a.m. we were dragged out of our nice warm sleeping bags to gaze mournfully at our PE teacher who looked and sounded how we all felt. After this horrible torture, we had yet another torture - breakfast. Even the orange juice tasted like raw eggs. After covering ourselves in clay while trying to create an artistic masterpiece, we sloshed about 500 metres_ (we never exaggerate) out to the boat on our way over the lake. Our cheerful and optimistic boat captain told us about the stingrays, sharks and other little nisties on the other side of the lake. We trudged another 1,000 km (we never exaggerate) up and down hills and dales till we reached Mt. Seawak, then down to the beach for lunch. Back at Elanda Point we visited the shop & showers, then packed our packs for the journey tomorrow to Harry Spring's FIut.

On Wednesday,/Thursday we split into two groups and either hiked or canoe-ed to the hut - sheer murder! Everyone in a 10 km radius would have heard the complaints uttered by the hikers as they trudged through T_uny u cowpat (Despite the maximum of 3 whinges allowed per person for the WI{OLE camptime). When we got to Harry's Hut, a spade and a roll of toilet pa.per were strategically placed next to a tree. Going to the toilet here was the most traumatic experience of the whole camp. (You were always on the lookout for someone with a camera!) We made our own dinner of macaroni which was fantastic, until you looked at it with a torch. Afterwards we had a campfire, where Miss M. read a story written by Miss Paterson (for which we thank her very much) and then Mrs. Fairlie read us some of Snugglepot li Cuddlepie. That night everyone literally crashed, whether it was because of the .,delicious" food cooked by we expert chefs or the torturous expedition suffered by ill. On the hike back to camp, at one stage we had to cross "a crystal clear warm experience" - in other words a muddy cold river. The majority of idiots swam. We didn't. As we were going across the padciock, one girl fell into a big wet, muddy puddle. On Thursday night we had another campfire and .-o.n99tt. Other nights were otherwise spenf laterally thinking, stargazing, or singing around the cimpfire . . . or on an outing to the Yahoo paddock to freez,e the vocal cords for l0 minutes. Friday at last came, and time was spent packing up, and playinggames, e.g. swinging nitro glycerine (and us) across a river full of piranha and sharks, falling backwards off a log into the arms of the rest of the class. But all good camps must come to an end _ as did ours. The end certainly came quickly - as time flies when you,re having fun. We left feeling tired, sad but satisfied, bicause we made a lot of new freinds and we really got to know our teachers too, To be totally honest, the camps were a great success, and in spite of the gloomy weather some campers experienced, everyone had lots of fun - even the teachers. - Thanks must go to N4iss M., Mrs. O'Shea, Mr. Hughes, Mrs. Orme, Mr. Lane, Mrs. Fairlie, Miss Turner, Mr. Walsh, Mrs. King, Mr. Grandin, Miss Faterson, and the tolerant seniors . . . and of course us kids. Cathy Peel, Eva Shrapnel, Sue Frube, Kimberley Kitching

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