IT WAS disappointing, yet not unexpected, news that the long awaited expedition to Tasmania to do the Overland Track had been postponed until next year due to uncertain Covid restrictions on interstate travel.
But Boonah State High School Duke of Edinburgh students have not let the setback affect their enthusiasm for exploring wild and wonderful places.
Instead they have embarked on new adventures in our own backyard of the picturesque Scenic Rim.
The first adventurous journey involved canoeing the length of Maroon Dam and camping overnight at a private campsite with access provided by Maroon Outdoor Education Centre (MOEC) and enjoying the thrill of a high rope activity named the Giant Swing under the direction of the expertise of MOEC staff.
Most recently, they completed an abridged version of the Scenic Rim Walker’s Trail – a three day hike through the Main Range National Park.
They followed the tracks of old logging trails along the edge of the escarpment and navigated single file through the pristine rainforest via the breathtaking Mt Castle and Sylvester’s Lookouts crossing babbling Dalrymple Creek and finishing at Goomburra on the western side of the Park.
Along the way, students honed their navigation skills, learned to identify the unique flora and fauna of the area and gained a new appreciation of carrying everything they needed in the pack on their back.
It was all good training for the Tasmania trip when it eventuates in 2022.
With a sea-kayaking trip planned in October to South Stradbroke Island, students are making the most of every opportunity provided to them and are truly following the Duke of Edinburgh Award ethos of “empowering all young Australians to explore their full potential and find their purpose, passion and place in the world, regardless of their location or circumstance.”
