A journey through the great outdoors

While most of the school was enjoying a continuation of the holidays, many of my peers and I spent the first Monday of term bushbashing through Marramarra National Park as part of our participation in the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award. In addition to our hours dedicated to a skill, physical activity and voluntary service of choice, we were required to show our competence in the outdoors by completing a short overnight camping expedition (it sure didn’t feel that short). For some, it was our qualifying journey and for others, it was a practice. Regardless of this, it was definitely a memorable experience to say the least!

Before delving too deeply into how much I realised that I am absolutely not destined for anything in the “great” outdoors, it is important to know why so many of us partake in this out of school commitment. Personally, I hadn’t ever heard of this award until my friends mentioned it! The award gives students like me opportunities to properly experience the world first-hand. It encourages us to make a difference in our lives and communities beyond the classroom. A defining factor, that stood out to me the most, was the opportunity to continue doing things I love in everyday life and being able to further explore my passions. Since beginning the award, I have discovered my love for playing the guitar, improved my tennis skills, far more than I would have expected, and helped the elderly with technology concerns (Mario, I hope you are finding WhatsApp okay!). Before beginning this program, I didn’t do nearly as much. The program has inspired me and has given me a sense of fulfillment and purpose in my everyday life.

“This journey has challenged my limits, helping me build resilience, strength and is fostering my sense of collaboration and enthusiasm.”
Zoe Mokas, Year 9

Back in Marramarra, our journey saw us navigating the trails of the national park with our compasses and maps. We ate whatever “nutritious” snacks we had managed to fit in our packs and realised that even in winter, you really can’t escape the Australian heat. All this only to return back to camp and realise we were going to have to repeat it all again the next day. As much as my friends and I love to joke about how we “barely” made it through, the trip had its fair share of highlights that far outweighed the lowlights. For me, the most memorable experience of the trip was cooking dinner together in our little circle, gathered around our stoves under a sky so packed with stars it barely looked real (it was unlike anything I’d ever seen before!). We learnt so much about natural topography and (somehow) learnt to find the beautiful things in the midst of our endless bushwalking.

This is only the beginning of our long award journey and it has already given us new outlooks on life as we try to live it to the fullest. Duke of Ed has without a doubt made an impact on my life and I would genuinely encourage others to give it a go!

Ella Rentzepis
Year 9