Reflections on the trip of a lifetime...

Each year at Wyong Christian Community School our Year 9 students travel through the heart of Australia on an incredible journey, experiencing God's creation, and the amazing history of our country.

When one begins a journey, no matter how much planning is done, the unexpected will still find a way of showing up. This year’s Red Centre Road Trip was no exception. With more than 4000 kilometres covered in 13 days, there were many occasions where both the girls' and the boys' groups learned to break out of their comfort zones. For most, it was the longest time they had spent away from, not just their parents, but also their electronic devices. For several it was their first time interstate, on a plane, sleeping under the stars or even in a tent.

So what were some of those special experiences? Glad you asked!

Across the long sections of travel, the students saw an abundance of wildlife and ever-changing landscapes. Kangaroos, wallabies, emus and other birds galore as well as goats (read: millions) and the occasional camel. Many roads were mind-bogglingly straight and the road trains were simply immense as they passed by. The vastness is impossible to capture in words and the students experienced that firsthand. They came face-to-face with some animals as well. Lizards, snakes, crocodiles and beautiful freshwater fish. Our courageous students were even able to handle some of these animals with an expert handler whilst in Alice Springs.

Then there were the landmarks that kept filling the students with awe. From tales underground in Silverton and Coober Pedy looking at precious metals and opals to the wonders of massive salt lakes in South Australia, the mighty Uluru and Kata Tjuta in the Northern Territory and the fascinating Karlu Karlu further up the highway. Nitmiluk was breathtaking as they boated their way up two gorges and Mataranka Hot Springs was the first of many refreshing waterholes. The students swam at Edith Falls, Buley Falls and Florence Falls as well as the warm waters of Berry Springs. Each location was unique and offered a different experience of our Creator. The man-made wave pool in Darwin wasn’t too bad either.

Each night the boys and the girls had a time of reflection together with their respective groups. They sang songs of praise, heard from God’s word and listened to some words of encouragement from one of the accompanying adults. There was, as the journey unfolded, a deepening sense of bonding with each other and God’s presence for many too. At Yulara and Darwin, these evening times became even more precious as the whole year group were together. Simply beautiful.

As it all came to an end the students caught the red-eye back from Darwin to home with one last short bus trip to school. During their adventure they had been served more than 1300 dinners, eaten in excess of 2000 wraps and who knows how many litres of soft drink from inland servos. Conversations with old friends were had, new friendships were forged and time outside the ordinary provided the means for both. The students left with much to learn, and their growth was evident. They returned to the coast wiser, more mature and for many with a stronger sense of God’s presence in their lives. And possibly 700-plus photos on their old-school digital cameras.

Rev Matt Shorten | WCCS School Chaplain