What a blessing!

We began the trip with Mr MacCallum encouraging us to be a blessing to each other on this trip, but this is the day we get to focus on being a blessing to the community at Poatina. Each year this eventuates in different forms. So this year we all got to be part of a ‘Becoming Australian’ workshop run by Steve and Hannah Cooper from Poatina. We got to be the inaugural (trial) participants, creating and learning about Aboriginal custodianship of the Australian landscape. We interactively became ‘tall, old trees’, ‘saplings’ and ‘fire sticks’ as we played out the process of bush regeneration. After morning tea in the bush, groups were established to creatively represent aspects of the environment through words, music and movement.

Hannah and Steve Cooper….'RockSalt Arts'

Don't you see it?…..A crowded bushland!

Cam ….the 'Tall old tree'

Thomas…. the 'I'm not sure what'

Must be contemplating 'movement'…..??

Mr Gilmour added his ‘take’ on the program by enticing some gullible souls to join him in some ‘bush tucker’ aboriginal style ….aka witchetty grubs….interesting!

Searching for grub…..witchetty that is!

Not sure that Nic will fall for that one again!

Can you feel the 'Movement'…..?

aahh….there it is!

And the words will flow…...

Returning to the village for lunch of ‘hot dogggs’…..complete with mustard [for Mr Leon, or was that Mr Gilmour?]….. gave us a chance to check out the community shops and play in the park, before heading back down the bush track. This time it was to put our bodies on the line and ‘interact’ with the pine saplings growing where they were not wanted. So satisfying to see the growing pile of pine branches…..

Go team!

Success!

It was a satisfied group that welcomed the arrival of more ‘bush tucker’, this time ‘white man’ style ...aka scones with jam and cream. So satisfying to see this pile dimish….

Which one first?

We got back into the morning’s workshop after our gardening efforts, to showcase our creative efforts, and create video footage to be made into a DVD as part of the ‘Becoming Australian’ workshop. Then back to 'The Chalet' to prepare for tomorrow's worship service or just enjoy playing cards in front of the open fire.

The evening devotions are based on the book of Hosea, looking at 'Shame' and how this impacts us, our relationships with each other and with God. The time spent 'teasing apart' this story is impacting our guys significantly, drawing them into deep discussion and sharing. This is the 'stuff' of memorable camp experiences that will last a lifetime, and hopefully significantly strengthen peer relationships. 

But of course, you can't go to bed on the 'back' of all that emotion….. you will have trouble getting to sleep! So, what better way to finish off the day than a 'Food Challenge' ….according to Mr Leon. Boy's turn tonight….girls tomorrow!

Wait for the rules…..wait for the rules…..wait for the rules…….

What a surprise!

What a surprise! I thought ‘for sure’…. we would have a number of ‘visitors’ to our cabin requesting help, travel calm supplies or just plain sympathy…. We were definitely ‘rocked to sleep’, but the troops soldiered on and weathered the conditions (10 points everyone!) with Miss Roser being the only one to succumb! She was primed ready for a Maccas breakfast upon arrival at Devonport this morning. While we are in the process of dishing out points, Eric-the-bus-driver dished out his own to the group for the condition they left the bus in at the end of Day 1….the cleanest group he’s had apparently…. Wohoo!!

Yeah…we made it!

'Chillin' in Tassie….

The second surprise for the day was the weather…..glorious sunshine, no wind and once the frost disappeared, mild conditions. Tell me again….why did we start the layers with thermals? In fact, on the bus the ‘toilet’ got a lot of use throughout the day, but not for it’s purpose built function, but as a ‘changing room’ to discard the ‘inner’ layers. Of course, if the day had gone according to plan, then that may not have happened.

Smiles all round….

Which brings me to the third surprise for the day (and we haven’t even got to ‘recess’!) There has been so much snow that Cradle Mountain National Park is closed, and so even though we are being tempted with magnificent views of snow covered ranges at every turn, we couldn’t get close enough to it to have the much anticipated snow ball fight! But thanks to our ever present source of knowledge, wit and….. mode of transport (Eric-the-bus-driver) surprise number four eventuated. A scenic tour along the north coast of Tassie brought us to The Nut at Stanley. We now bear the prestigious title of being the first ever WWCC group in 15 years to have climbed a volcano! A steep (someone suggested 45 degrees?) walk along a zig-zag track was rewarded with magnificent views in all directions. And…just in case you are still concerned about your child’s health and safety…. of course the volcano is no longer active!

Group time

Enjoying the view

Is that a nut???

"Steep….yes, short….. well that depends

                                                   Reminiscent of Titanic 

 Now that's the way to go…..

Rest time….

Taking a closer look….

Waiting for lunch

While the rest of us were enjoying the 'stretch' and view, Eric-the-bus-driver, being the champion he is, capably cooked us a BBQ lunch which we got to enjoy while overlooking Bass Strait. After being re-stocked once again, we headed back along the coast, through Penguin (where are they??) to Sheffield, the town of murals. While we may not have actually got to Waldheim's cottage at Cradle Mountain, some of us managed to 'experience' it by 'getting into the picture'. 

Working hard….

                                                                

Blink….and you miss them!

 

Hi ho…hi ho… it's off to Sheffield we go!

Waldheim's Cottage

So, pulling into Poatina after dark to be met with a yummy dinner of baked potatoes, sitting around an open fire, drinking chai latte's, life-changing discussions on 'Shame'….. it's all quiet on the bedroom front. No 'rocking' needed tonight!