The Year 10 Winton Tour returned Friday last week, with near on 120 weary teenagers and 12 staff returning with a stack of stories, laughs and many hours of sleep to catch up on!
The journey began with an overnight bus ride – arriving at 8.00am the next day. Setting up, breakfast, walking and stretching around town before some much-needed downtime and rest.
We picked the afternoon up with an amazing race around town, connecting the dots as to why various A.B. buildings and spaces are named on campus, and understanding some of the historical landmarks in the middle of Queensland!
A night at the Royal ‘Open Air’ Theatre, watching Gold Stone (Set in Winton) which the students are studying in the English classes through this term.
Day 3 was spent at the Opal Festival in town, followed by the much-anticipated Semi-Formal event. The backdrop for the evening could not have been any more stunning! The students had an afternoon helping each other get ready and a night of great food, dancing and campfire stories was one to remember!
Day 4 was jam packed with the Dinosaur Museum, Waltzing Matilda Centre and Gondwana Stars Observatory.
Day 5 was a much-needed rest in the morning. Students led the day activities with some sport round robins, mini games, cleaning and re-organising base camp.
We were off to the Combo waterhole on day 6. A significant place where it’s understood Banjo first penned Waltzing Matilda. A rendition from the students (that needs a little work) and brief history lesson, students returned to camp to write a letter to their future self, one that will be opened on their Year 12 camp in 18 months’ time!
Day 7 and 8 were in Longreach – Camden Park station (whip cracking/shearing stories/homestead gardens/orienteering and a student made camp oven dinner), Qantas Luminescent Light Show, Thompson River cruise, Indigenous heritage sights and Stockman’s Hall of Fame! The students also enjoyed the State of Origin, with Dan Walker (the station owner) producing a massive screen and function room for the event!
Day 9, and we were on the home straight! The Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame, understanding the balancing between opportunities and preservation in the vast Australian landscape!
We finished the evening in Barcaldine. The students visited the Tree of Knowledge, had a town history tour, learned about the importance of community and the role that charitable organisations can play in small towns, before making boomerangs and dancing up a storm with ‘Aunty Cheryl’.
The bus ride home was difficult, but the memories are keepers!
The objectives of our Year 10 Camp are to build capacity in our students and signal a rite of passage into their senior years. The camp was an overwhelming success and that was a credit to our students and staff.
I would like to thank the following staff who gave up time with their families, children, pets and friends and went above and beyond to give our young people the opportunity to experience such an amazing camp!
Liam Burke | Deputy Head of Senior School
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