The high ropes course is located just a brief 5 minute walk from the main camp at Moray. Once the boys had been equipped with a helmet and harness I set off with the group to wait for the instructors. The high ropes course had 6 main sections and was about 15m off the ground.
All the boys seemed enthusiastic about the high ropes course. Only one boy didn’t attempt it at all, instead staying o the side lines, and another having difficulty whilst on the course. It was encouraging to see that during this boy’s turn the other boys enthusiastically supported and encouraged him around the course.
Thinking that it was about time I gave up on the fear of high ropes after seeing so many boys do it in the last couple of week, I also gave the course a go. Climbing the pole to get up to the high ropes was the worst bit, but once there it was actually quite fun! I didn’t last long though and fell off at the third stage in the course.
At the end of the high ropes course the boys were challenged to climb another 15m pole in order to complete the ‘leap of faith’. This involved them standing on top of the pole and jumping into the air in hope of catching a swinging bar a few meters in front of them. Having given the course a go I wasn’t brave enough to try the ‘leap of faith’ but nearly all of the boys did, including the boy who hadn’t taken part in the high ropes course.
Once everyone who wanted to try the ‘leap of faith’ had had a shot we all headed back down to the camp for lunch and a rest in the sunshine – today was again in the mid 20s and I was enjoying feeling nice and warm after a very cold night. Here in Dwellingup the temperature ranges from mid 20s during the day to around 0deg at night – this temperature change is one part of WA I am still be get used to. During lunch I met Graham for the first time and enjoyed talking to him about Celtic history which he had spent some time researching.
After lunch I took the boys up to a campfire in the bush where Graham was sitting playing a harmonica. The boys crowded around Graham and the fire in a circle ready to hear his stories about Aboriginal culture and medicine – I was very excited that I was having the opportunity to take part in this experience with the boys.
Graham started by introducing himself to the boys he hadn’t met before, whilst asking for assistance from the three boys he had taught at Moray over the last few years. His first lesson was an explanation on how gum trees can be used to heal wounds – their sap is an astringent and natural antiseptic – and comfort stomach and gut illnesses. Instead of just talking about this, Graham demonstrated to the boys how to remove and prepare the sap as well as getting everyone (myself included) to taste the sap as proof of its astringent qualities. This was fascinating to watch and a great teaching method for children. Graham later told me that Experiential Learning plays a huge part in what he does and we had a long and interesting talk with regards to the relevance of this in my own work.
Graham then moved on to talk to the boys about Aboriginals and the coming of white man. He related this to the boys’ own lives through three key areas of conversation – focus, openness and imagination. His discussions went deep into spirituality, and our bond with nature, or our mother land as Graham referred to it. The afternoon discussions centred on the connection all mankind has, regardless of background or culture, through the soil that we grow our crops and raise our cattle on. There was no room for prejudice towards other cultures in these discussions. I found this to be my most wonderful experience in Australia so far and felt proud and privileged to have been a welcome part of it.
Once Graham had said his farewells the boys were to stay around the campfire as tonight they would not be returning to camp for dinner. Instead the boys would be cooking Kangaroo Stew on the open flames of the fire and then having a solo night in the bush. Most boys appeared excited about the prospect of dinner on a camp fire and having a solo night, whilst only a few seemed reserved about a solo night in the dark.
The Kangaroo Stew was cooked entirely by the boys in large black pots set in the coals. Pumpkin, sweet potato, and an array of other vegetables were added to the mix along with some stock and spices – It was delicious! After dinner we discussed Scottish culture in addition to the topics Graham had raised while cooking Dampa – floor, water and sugar – on sticks over the fire.
Having been given the option to stay around the fire or go to bed, the boys went to their swags at around 8pm for time to sit and reflect, instead of just sleeping, on their solo night. The night was clear and beautiful with many stars lighting the sky. The boys would be collected by Krista in the morning at around 6am for breakfast before a day on the river paddling (kayaking). Whilst all the boys stayed out for the duration of the solo night, a few could be heard moving closer together within the first few minutes for fear of the dark.
