1988 School Magazine

YEAR TffiN CAE4P After the rumours we had heard from the other Crade Tens we were uncertain of what was in store for us as we boarded the bus for camp. We had heard stories of hills bigger than Mt Everest that had to be climbed and attacks from killer leeches, snakes, spiders and other creepy crawlies at every turn. Rumours of near starvation and dehydration ranrg in our ears as did those of canoeing until you could canoe no more and walking until you wore holes through the soles of your gym boots. Well, we didn't know what to think. Now, we know that it's all trueM A typical day on our four day hike: 5.30 - l(ookaburras laughing woke us. 6.30 - Cows - mooing - time to get up. 6.35 - Shoes fly through air "accidentally" hit cows (only joking !). 7.A0 - Stumble out of tent rugged up in two brlankets and at least four layers of clothing. Breakfast consisting of whatever we had left in our backpacks, usually squashed muesli and tinned fruit. 7.30 - "Tidy up". Rush to dug-out toilet where snakes and jumping ants hang about. 8.00 - Tents down, hike begins! Encounter with five cm long red ants, mozzies, bugs and cow paddies begins. Backs begin to ache due to weight of backpack. Break, rest for a quick drink.

-M

Climb a hill. Still climbing hill. Only a little bit f urther say the optimists. The optimists are liars. The pessimists dispose of the optimists. Reach top of hill. Backpacks are now off and we and the entire ant population are sharing a soggy muesli bar. Begin descent down the hill. Still going down the hill. Lunch in a cow paddock. Some people choose to lie down and unfortunately have to walk half a kilometre to wash out the cow messages they had lain down in.

8.30 - 9.00 - 9.30 - 10.00 - 10.02 - 10.30 - 10.31 - 10.45 - 11.00 - 12.00 -

8.04 - 8.05 -

1.00-4.00 - Walk up a hill, then down it again. 4.30 - Cet to campsite. Wrestle with jumping ants to see who gets the tent spot. The ants win. 4.31 - Choose another tent spot. Set up. 5.00 - Prepare dinner. 7.00 - Clean up after dinner. 7.30 - Campsite. Relive the day's experiences. 10.30 - Bed, some bugs are already in our sleeping bags, but who cares. Thanks must go to Mr and Mrs Lanham and Miss Crif f iths who helped make the camp what it was (they also made things a'little more bearable). Cood luck to next year's Crade Tens. May "Rid" be with you always! Cathy Fitzsimmons fiffany Smith Kylie Vann