Last term we took 9 Upper and, a couple of weeks later, 9 Lower to Wollangarra for their ‘Long Trip’. It was the first time we have taken MRSS students to Wollangarra and what an incredible couple of camps we had!

After a short walk in through the front paddock we first glimpsed the red tin roof of the Wollangarra homestead. There, tucked away in the lush, green folds of the Macallister Valley stood the place where we would spend the next 12 days. No reception, no power and with access only by flying-fox, our excitement upon arrival was visceral.
The students quickly settled into a rhythm, finding purpose in simple yet satisfying work. Conversations ebbed and flowed over hours spent baking cakes and bread, pulling masses of blackberries from the riverbanks, and maintaining erosion control by planting the cleared banks with native grasses and buried logs. Huge stones were hauled from a closeby creekbed and carted to the newly cleared garden for beautification.

The trench for the new greywater system became a fever point, so much so that the students were so determined to get it done on our final day that they continued working into the dark! It was lovely to observe the students putting energy into the land and beginning to build their own connection to the place.

In our downtime we whittled spoons, played cards and read books, relishing the moments of rest amongst the busyness.
On both trips we were joined by a fella named Hookey who so generously shared with the students his knowledge and passion for timber and axe work. We collected massive logs from the surrounding forest before turning them into posts that would later be used for fences and buildings around the property. It was such a joy to watch the students pick up new skills and share them with each other, each teaching and guiding one another in the particular carving and splitting techniques Hookey had taught them.

Towards the end of each camp, we spent some time exploring the stunning hills and valleys of the surrounding bushland. Being able to walk out of the back gate and straight up into the mountains was a constant reminder of how stunning and special this place is and it came as a nice break from the rhythm of daily work on the flat land below.
We want to thank the Wollangarra staff for their endless support and care on these camps. Their genuine desire to connect with our students and their unfaltering energy and enthusiasm each day was incredible. The appreciation for the ‘Woll’ staff was echoed by the students, many of them expressing profusely their heartfelt gratitude.
We were so pleased with how our first ‘Long Trip’ to Wollangarra went. We feel hopeful that this could be the beginning of a long and meaningful relationship between our two communities.

Jarrah Sofarnos, Outdoor Ed. Dept.