Objects of Substance – The Beris Korotcoff Outdoor Education

‘contributors to the experience; they demonstrated initiative and willingness to get things done; help others … often, they were good at conversing with a wide range of people and, by doing this, included, involved, and encouraged others. They also showed adventurous spirit by happily being involved with outdoor activities (rain, hail, or sunshine and when the going was tough or dirty). By doing this they lead by example and influenced others’. (Email, 24/10/22) Many students who were awarded the Beris Korotkoff trophy did not know of this award before their prize was announced. This was so for Ruth Schulz, the winner in 1997. Ruth was a student who loved her time outdoors and especially at Marrapatta. She remembers: ‘feeling particularly useful to my group being able to navigate to our campsites, enjoying being out in the bush, and watching for shooting stars at night. However, I also remember being frustrated that the maps were not as detailed as I was used to with orienteering, being terrible at cooking dinners, and getting lost when I let others help out with navigation. Still, I made sure I went there as often as possible during my time at School, including all of my own School camps, helping out as a camp senior, and also going there for a Duke of Edinburgh Award hike’. (Email, 24/10/22)

Ruth Schulz (1997) with the perpetual trophy and her goblet

Ruth’s email also detailed that she was an orienteerer. She explains how she continued with this sport after School, ‘including competing in the Australian team at the Junior World Orienteering Championships in 2000. These days, my parents and my brother’s family still orienteer, but I have not been to any events since moving to California three years ago’, where she lives with her family