Tuesday, 22 November
Today the boys arrived back from solo while the girls left for solo. The boys all enjoyed their time at solo but are now full swing back into activities. We split up into 4 groups and started the day’s activities at 9:00am.
Our first activity was horse riding where we went on our trail ride which was exciting for all of us as we got to use our skills we had learnt throughout our 3 previous lessons to guide our horses throughout the 30 minute ride. Then we headed off to archery where we honed our skills and came away with a couple of bulls eyes. After that was the high ropes where we participated in the ‘high all aboard’ which was thoroughly enjoyed by all. In the activity we were required to get 4 people on a small platform up a 7m pole. This challenged all of us as we had to show team work and complete personal challenges. We all completed our goals and had fun.
Currently the boys are all on jobs while the girls are still at solo, we are all looking forward to our Rogaine day tomorrow.
Kynan, Zach and Alastair
Friday, 18 November
Today was project day and we were all super keen as we only do it once at Mt Binga. We all had a normal start with waking up at 6:15am and going for a morning run. As the boys only just got back from hike yesterday they were all a bit sore and tired. We all started the project day by being split into 3 groups and building something different. We all built a shade shelter that will be near the high ropes and we also built a wall with tyres and dirt that will be used as a sitting area in the near future. We all worked really hard today as a group to finish these structures. Project day was fun and exciting and we are excited for us and others to use these structures in the future.
Ebony, Will and Angus
Thursday, 17 November
The girls returned from hike yesterday. All the girls ran into camp happy to have a break after the 34.9km hike that had been completed over the last 3 days. After a quick hose down we had a well welcomed shower.
This morning the girls woke up to a quiet start with the boys still yet to complete their journey back to camp. Some girls, though still sore after the long day yesterday, were ready to take on the challenges that the day would present. The girls completed the giant’s ladder and had another great session of horse riding. The first group of boys arrived just before lunch, exhausted from the journey. They had accomplished the hike with great perseverance and determination. After lunch the girls went to attempt the lily pads with all girls encouraging each other and completing personal goals. The second group of boys arrived soon after. We had a fabulous day filled with lots and lots of fun!
Hayley, Chloe W and Maddie
Wednesday, 16 November
The past 3 days have been more than just a challenge after just arriving back from our 40km, 3 days hike. The first day we set out at 10:00am for a 6km hike to our first campsite, we were all so relieved when we got there. Once we had pitched out tent circle, we began with dinner and our first campfire. Our dinner of burritos was accompanied by the beautiful view of the super moon. We all woke up early the next day, packed up our tents and began the difficult journey to campsite 2. After losing our path once or twice, stopping for a swim at Platypus Creek and meeting some cows we finally arrived at Bum Bum Creek Road, and yes, we did all stop and take photos of the sign.
We soon began pitching our tents and preparing for the much needed swim in the creek located a short distance from our campsite. It was AMAZING! We made another fire, had spaghetti for dinner, and presented season 1 episode 3 of keeping up with Richter. It was an early night for all after mentally and physically preparing ourselves for days and the much anticipated long hike back home. It was a difficult day filled with a mixture of cross country and dirt roads, oh yeah and who could forget the painful hills. We all struggled up the extremely steep hills that were towards the end of the trip, we all screamed when Macca told us that we had hiked up the last hill. The last track note that we had to follow was to find a cocky gate, when we found it everyone was filled with excitement and screamed so loud. All the girls then started sprinting the last 200m eager to get home. Good thing we don’t have close neighbours because we were so loud. In the end everyone was hot, bothered and out of breath so Macca agreed to hose us down, that was the best.
Lakayla and Chloe D
Monday, 14 November
Today marks our 15th day of Binga invigorating everyone to do their best with only 2 weeks and 1 day left. Today the girls left for their long anticipated three day hike, which the boys will be starting tomorrow, after a delicious breakfast and cabin inspections. The boys then split up into their three groups and did our third lesson of horse riding, the ‘Giant’s Ladder’ and the ‘Lily Pads’ which are both high ropes activities. Competition was in the air in horse riding as we had our first competition, seeing who could control their horse best by seeing who could do the quickest 180˚ turn in and out of an area with many people getting down to an amazing 3 seconds. We also practised our skills for the upcoming Trail Ride that the boys will be doing next Tuesday and the girls will be doing next Monday. The ‘Lily Pads’ are discs hung in the air that required multiple people to pull on ropes underneath to level and bring them, with the participant on, to the next in the row of 5 and eventually to the end platform. From the ground it looks easy, as if you could jump from one to the other but when participants got up they quickly discovered this would be one of the hardest things they had done at Binga. It was a huge challenge for everyone especially those who dared to go back after getting to the end of it. Everyone was pushed, even the fittest of the group, requiring immense amounts of strength and balance, or so I’m told. The ‘Giant’s Ladder’ required a lot of teamwork as the two participants helped push and pull each other up the slowly increasing gaps between the rungs of the ‘Giant’s Ladder’. We also had a visit from Mrs Osland and Mr Longmire whom many of us talked to, sharing our Binga stories and challenges. After these exhausting and exciting activities we did afternoon jobs, had dinner, dessert, devotion and finished the day anticipating the extremely challenging three day hike we would start tomorrow.
Alastair
Saturday, 12 November
After the long week of survival camps and many high rope activities, a nice relaxing weekend, felt much needed. After a quick breakfast of bacon and eggs, everyone quickly got stuck into washing clothes or sitting around with friends, talking about what challenges they might face in the future and what experiences they will have forever. The upcoming events, which we are all looking forward to are the 3 day hike, horse riding, family day and high rope activities. Many are looking forward to these activities, to challenge and push themselves past the limits that have been set.
Nathan and Lachlan K
Wednesday, 9 November
Today is Wednesday, 9 November. The girls came back from their two nights of survival with a strong feeling and sense of relief, after coming back to a proper home. Even seeing our beds and the mailbox made us smile from ear to ear. All the girls had a whole heap of fun with building structures such as the kitchen, tent, and volleyball net, yet at some stages struggle street lay around every corner. Whether it be with preparing the tarp for the rain that never showed its face, to getting along with others in the face of adversity, and oh of course, who could forget, the flies! Those persistent, however extremely annoying insects, soon became our best friends, or should we rather say, our enemies. We are not going to lie, not having everyone there to talk to, did get rather boring, and the heat sure did get on our nerves. Even though it was fun, the girls all came back to Binga calling it home and having a new found appreciation for what we have. Some rather hilarious accidents did occur along the way, but the overall experience is one that will be forever engraved in our memories, even the laughter and the hardship. Then came the long awaited relief of packing up camp and going back to our new home, where we waved goodbye to the boys (who headed off on survival today), and started today’s activities of archery, unpacking, and baking.
Chloe, Maddison and Ayla
Monday, 7 November
Today marks the 8th day of our experience at Binga. The girls left for their first day of survival at 9pm after cabin inspections. The boys were left to do our second lesson of horse riding, the sugar glider which was an exhilarating yet fun experience for all of us, and we also got ready for our upcoming 3 day hike with navigation lessons which were helpful. Then the boys had a hard afternoon with jobs. The horse riding involved practising hectic doeys or 360s. We also practised weaving our horses through cones. The sugar glider consisted of being catapulted into the air by your mates. For the first part of the sugar glider we ran around in a circle on the ground then got slowly lifted whilst doing circles in the air. The next part of the sugar glider we had to try and run and high five Adrian before our mates lifted us into the air. The final part of the sugar glider was one of our mates had to try and punch us but we would mysteriously fly backwards matrix style to dodge it.
Colin and Will
Sunday, 6 November
Today was the seventh day of Binga. Sunday was very relaxed and included washing, baking and games. In the morning we started playing a game called ‘Henry’. It was a very engaging game although only one group could win.
After lunch the girls did a survival prep to prepare for the three day survival learning skills to set structures up and survive. We then had free time until morning tea where we had fruit. At lunch we had sandwiches and for afternoon tea we had jam drops. Tonight we will have a communal dinner after jobs are done by Greasley.
Lachlan B and Lachlan B
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