DAY 1
After months of preparation we all set off on our adventure, picked up at 5 am we were on our way to Melbourne Airport.
Our plane ended up leaving at about 10 am in the morning. After a 2 hour plane trip we arrived at Alice springs and straight away it seemed drastically different from out home of Lorne.
We left the very small Alice Springs Airport and got a cab to our accommodation.
After settling in at the hostel we were staying at, we all headed towards the local footy oval to watch a very special AFL game.
The Melbourne Demons vs The Adelaide Crows. This special event only happens once a year.
Although it was a very lopsided game it was still really cool to see the community come together in one place.
After the game we headed back to the hostel for the night.
Our plane ended up leaving at about 10 am in the morning. After a 2 hour plane trip we arrived at Alice springs and straight away it seemed drastically different from out home of Lorne.
We left the very small Alice Springs Airport and got a cab to our accommodation.
After settling in at the hostel we were staying at, we all headed towards the local footy oval to watch a very special AFL game.
The Melbourne Demons vs The Adelaide Crows. This special event only happens once a year.
Although it was a very lopsided game it was still really cool to see the community come together in one place.
After the game we headed back to the hostel for the night.
DAY 2
The next morning we all set off on the bush bus towards Santa Teresa. It took about an hour through the ragged desert until we arrived at the small community. After settling in at our accommodation we headed over to the local school to meet some of the students and teachers. The kids that we met were extremely friendly and welcoming. We played footy and basketball with them, they taught us how to say some words in there native Arrernte language and they made portraits of us.
Later in the day after school, some of the kids wanted to show us what it was like "up the hill".
It was a quick 10 minute walk up the hill and the scenery was absolutely stunning, we got to know the kids a lot better, they showed us cool rock formations and we ate some bush tucker. We stayed up there until sunset and then walked back down to our accommodation and settled in for the night.
Later in the day after school, some of the kids wanted to show us what it was like "up the hill".
It was a quick 10 minute walk up the hill and the scenery was absolutely stunning, we got to know the kids a lot better, they showed us cool rock formations and we ate some bush tucker. We stayed up there until sunset and then walked back down to our accommodation and settled in for the night.
DAY 3
We woke up at the visitor centre, had breakfast and got ready to head out to the Horse Program for the day. Two 'troopies' took us to the horse enclosure where the horse program is located. It was a very bumpy ride out there and the enclosure was quite large.
We met a number of the people who run the program including the stockmen Gibbo, Ethan, Raymond and both Shanes, as well as the program facilitators Katie and Georgia. Everyone was very friendly and willing to teach.
We split into 2 groups. One group travelled to a nearby campsite to make damper. It was delicious! We also went for a walk to the nearby dry creek bed that runs with water in the wet season. The locals also showed us a plant that had a black powder that can be used as face paint. The other group stayed at the horse enclosure and were taught how to put saddles on horses and rode them around the enclosure. The groups then swapped over.
For lunch we all had burgers back at the campsite. After lunch we played rodeo games back at the horse enclosure such as swag rolling and relays. One of the highlights of the day was when the stockmen herded in a huge group of about 50 wild horses into the enclosure. They then used the enclosure sections and gates to separate male, female and young horses. It was amazing to see stockmen work!
In the afternoon we returned to town and explored some more.
We met a number of the people who run the program including the stockmen Gibbo, Ethan, Raymond and both Shanes, as well as the program facilitators Katie and Georgia. Everyone was very friendly and willing to teach.
We split into 2 groups. One group travelled to a nearby campsite to make damper. It was delicious! We also went for a walk to the nearby dry creek bed that runs with water in the wet season. The locals also showed us a plant that had a black powder that can be used as face paint. The other group stayed at the horse enclosure and were taught how to put saddles on horses and rode them around the enclosure. The groups then swapped over.
For lunch we all had burgers back at the campsite. After lunch we played rodeo games back at the horse enclosure such as swag rolling and relays. One of the highlights of the day was when the stockmen herded in a huge group of about 50 wild horses into the enclosure. They then used the enclosure sections and gates to separate male, female and young horses. It was amazing to see stockmen work!
In the afternoon we returned to town and explored some more.
DAY 4
On day 4 we started the day by helping out in the classroom at the school. Late morning we were taken to the local church right in the centre of town. The church contains some amazing wall murals painted by a group of local artists. We were lucky enough to have a couple of the artists to explain the meaning and significance of each painting. They told us the the story of how God created the land, animals, trees and mountains.
After school finished , we were taken in troopies to a nearby campsite to sleep out for the night. We met some more local people such as Donovan who played great music on his guitar and was nice enough to take us to a nearby hill that looks over the whole area. From the top of the hill we could see wild horses and several other mountain ranges, and witnessed an amazing sunset. Back at the campsite, we sat around fires talking and having fun with our new friends from Santa Teresa. These friends continued to teach us about the land and the flora and fauna. For dinner we tried Kangaroo tail which was really yum! We all camped out under the stars in swags around the fires. It was a great experience!
After school finished , we were taken in troopies to a nearby campsite to sleep out for the night. We met some more local people such as Donovan who played great music on his guitar and was nice enough to take us to a nearby hill that looks over the whole area. From the top of the hill we could see wild horses and several other mountain ranges, and witnessed an amazing sunset. Back at the campsite, we sat around fires talking and having fun with our new friends from Santa Teresa. These friends continued to teach us about the land and the flora and fauna. For dinner we tried Kangaroo tail which was really yum! We all camped out under the stars in swags around the fires. It was a great experience!
DAY 5
Day 5 begun with us waking up in our swags after our outback experience. We woke to the sky ablaze with the richest colours as the sun began to rise. Slowly everyone got out of their swags, a little stiff, a little tired and smelling of the night fires that we surrounded ourselves around to keep warm.
The sleep out was really cool and having some of the Indigenous boys from the school with us, just made the experience even better.
First job was to stoke the coals and get the fire ready for our morning feast of eggs and crispy bacon.
We were still heading into Santa Teresa School, our plan was to get in by 10am. So after filling our belly’s, it was pack up time, load up our swags in the trailer and back to the AAAC for a very quick freshen up and off to school.
We were divided into 2 groups once back at school. Half of the boys went off to an Art Class of weapon making and the other half off to the AAAC to a nutrition class with 3 students Rekita, Jennifer and Charlise. The local Policeman’s wife, Melissa runs a Nutritional Program for the girls. Her program emphasises the importance of healthy eating. One thing we really noticed on our trip was the lack of fresh foods available in the community and how expensive it was; a lettuce cost $6 at the General Store. We learnt to cook a broth with dumplings, meat balls and greens. Melissa had strict rules when working in the kitchen, particularly around hygiene.
After our cooking session, it was lunch time and we all headed to the footy oval to have some kicks with the students. You could see how much they loved having new faces and kids to hang out with.
Our afternoon session at the school was spent in the classroom with the students. The Santa Teresa teacher made up a questionnaire and the Indigenous students interviewed the Lorne students. It was a fun activity but was sad because we all new our trip was coming to an end.
Our visit was only brief but it was evident by day 5 that we were building strong relationships with the students. We finished our school day by saying lots of thank yous and lots of good byes.
Knowing that it’s not going to be good bye forever made it all so much better. Planning for the arrival of the students from Santa Teresa is going to be our first priority when we arrive back in Lorne.
The sleep out was really cool and having some of the Indigenous boys from the school with us, just made the experience even better.
First job was to stoke the coals and get the fire ready for our morning feast of eggs and crispy bacon.
We were still heading into Santa Teresa School, our plan was to get in by 10am. So after filling our belly’s, it was pack up time, load up our swags in the trailer and back to the AAAC for a very quick freshen up and off to school.
We were divided into 2 groups once back at school. Half of the boys went off to an Art Class of weapon making and the other half off to the AAAC to a nutrition class with 3 students Rekita, Jennifer and Charlise. The local Policeman’s wife, Melissa runs a Nutritional Program for the girls. Her program emphasises the importance of healthy eating. One thing we really noticed on our trip was the lack of fresh foods available in the community and how expensive it was; a lettuce cost $6 at the General Store. We learnt to cook a broth with dumplings, meat balls and greens. Melissa had strict rules when working in the kitchen, particularly around hygiene.
After our cooking session, it was lunch time and we all headed to the footy oval to have some kicks with the students. You could see how much they loved having new faces and kids to hang out with.
Our afternoon session at the school was spent in the classroom with the students. The Santa Teresa teacher made up a questionnaire and the Indigenous students interviewed the Lorne students. It was a fun activity but was sad because we all new our trip was coming to an end.
Our visit was only brief but it was evident by day 5 that we were building strong relationships with the students. We finished our school day by saying lots of thank yous and lots of good byes.
Knowing that it’s not going to be good bye forever made it all so much better. Planning for the arrival of the students from Santa Teresa is going to be our first priority when we arrive back in Lorne.