Remembering the Zombie Apocalypse

Stopping at McDonald's Grafton under a sky that looked as though it had taken a king hit one day reminded me of another in which we'd wandered under this rail bridge and into the popular car trip rest stop.

That day the sky had been hitting us with serious cancerous rays. It resembled being in a desert as some days in Grafton do. We been taken, in a rusted old van and blindfolded, to a distant edge of the Jacaranda City. There were six of us and most I vaguely knew. Keeping our eyes peeled for zombies we shuffled, laden with hiking packs, through the suburbs. Sweat clustered in my hair under my hat while I straightened the matching headband.

We scrutinised the gravestones of the local cemetery and unafraid of zombies (who we knew were completing their HSC) we dumped out packs in shopping trolleys to enter the busy intersections looking undead ourselves. I was glad at the information centre, breathing in the air conditioning as we found out how long their video ran for. At the near deserted train station we clapped our companions on the back, astonished at their survival in the boiling toffee of the air of the air.

The bridge was a real horror movie set. A hundred years old it hung in rusted folds over the swollen river. The train tracks rattled to our left even without a train and above the cars inched along like us. We dragged ourselves to a cute vintage red phone box and rang it only to find we'd forgotten the Baptist church. Apparently their opening times were important and we emerged on the hardest journey of all.

Water had evaporated right out of our bottles and we hadn't eaten since breakfast: it was already 2. With our trolleys abandoned only determination dragged us back along the main drag and to the river front.

Finally we were supplied with food and water and had two sick and heat exhausted venturers to coddle. But we prevailed, building a raft from two canoes and two poles. Once more we crossed the expansive river to arrive at Susan Island.

Apparently zombies had crossed this fast flowing water and arrived ahead of us on the island. Because zombies cross water all the time (they hate water). Regardless we had to build a tree fort to hide from them when they would inevitably swarm us tonight. I was glad we didn't actually have to sleep there. We were saved so that we could trek through a darkening forest probably inhabited by Slender man. I'm sure our spooky stories just egged him on.

On the way back down the 4km k island we didn't need torches however because we were far too enthralled by dancing fireflies. Oblivious of our tiredness they were joyful. They were bright sparks in the welcome cool of night.  By this time (probably 7:30) we looked forward to dinner.

And we got it:
1 cup tiny dry pasta
1 tablespoon "surprize" dried peas
1 cup-a-soup packet
1 can of tuna (and twiggy sticks for everyone else)

That's right, Venturer scouts can cook their own meals, especially when camping on an island (apparently swarming with zombies).  The hike-style main meal was made up for when our group (red) was presented with dessert.  Tinned fruit and custard, mmhhmm.  

We all went to bed in our sleeping bags happy, still ignorant of any actual zombie attacks. 

Day 1 of the Inititave Course had passed for 32 Venturer Scouts on Susan Island.   Missing, Assumed Dead. 

Rainy Volleyball

Beach Volleyball   

So you'd be thinking of a sunny summer day, skies painted bright. Perhaps you'd even picture bikinis in every rainbow colour against the sand. Well you can forget about bikinis first of all because this is CHS(Country High Schools) beach volleyball. In our case we had collared (what?) singlets with vertical stripes of gold(yellow), white and green(bottle).

Waking before 5 thirty in the morning, when any respectful teen should be asleep, we headed north for Byron Bay. After a dramatic thunderstorm stomped through yesterday there were still drizzles and clouds hanging about during our three hour drive. The ranting within the car kept me faintly amused.

Of course entering Byron its pouring, though all the tiny shops still looked cheerful and closed. At first optimism serves the four of us from Orara and we all huddle under umbrellas and picnic shelters. Maybe its on, maybe its off, maybe we'll go and play indoor. We're not real happy either way.

Our teacher comes to tell us the day is going ahead, "You're on."

So of course one of my team mates replies, "And you're off." in exasperation. It truly is appalling weather for sunny beach volleyball.

Running out onto the beach in bare feet, singlets and shorts we shivered. The wind gusted off the sea, brutal and laced with icy drops. The sea melded with the sky at the horizon, bleak and unwelcoming. We immediately ran back up to the park to shelter under the trees. Eventually I gave up hiding from the very sky and started hitting the balls around. I thought, that's it weather- I don't even care.

Then they called it off, we were heading to Evan's Head to play indoors. Wait that is anyone who actually had to travel; Alstonville and Ballina (with the shortest drives), decided to just head home. Well kitted out for BEACH volleyball, Emma and Ruby, needed some shoes so we cruised around Byron looking for some. In woolies we find out that (of course) people from Byron Bay don't wear shoes so we head for the next closest- Ballina.  

By the time we got to the indoor courts (12 o'clock) it was as sunny as the sunshine sugar logo. We played two and a half muck around games against Wauchope then Evans Head and then the Wauchope junior boys. Ruby and I got in a few awesome blocks against the boys who looked sheepish whenever we won a point. All of us exploded into uncontrollable laughter for half a set and twice I got lucky, chucking my arms in the air at impossible shots and won the point. Crazy Fun.

Leaving at 2 I called the trip not an entire bust but what I would like to know is this: Out of the entire North Coast Region (about Wauchope to Queensland) why was this tournament held at Byron Bay? Almost the northern-most point. It meant that Wauchope had to travel six hours in a bus for a rain drenched fail. I know its lucky that we live in the middle of the region, but out in the regional areas why make students and teachers travel even more ridiculous distances than they already have to?

More opportunities, less travel.

Dragonskin: City Rail to Campbelltown

Besides only just catching the 8:03 train we were excited. Between Central and Campbelltown there was about an hour to kill.

On the third carriage and just before Strathfield I submit to being tagged with sharpies in bemusement. VIRGIN in capital letters is written by the girl with a shaved head and SLUT on her arm. My companions also get SLUT and it seems that a tagging frenzy has begun. I become a member of Hayden's army in open rebellion against Flynn's forces. Several others see our uniforms and leave their marks on our arms.

The city rail is clogged with us all in matching shirts, clots of hiking packs lounging across double seats. Anticipation hums beneath the surface and mingles with the efficient static of the train like a badly kept secret .

We see scarves of many colours on our journey down the train. They all bear the purple script saying "Maddie xx" down their arms and we're searching for this mystery girl who could complete our team. Pushing through the narrow doors my sleeping roll gets stuck again and again then finally releases me into the shifty ledges between cars. At stations we play leapfrog, rushing from one carriage to the next in a search that seems fruitless once we reach the first carriage. Is this some elaborate hoax?

Finally back on the third carriage we find her- not exactly what I was expecting. The script and her movement down the train had put in my mind the image of a small, lithe girl terribly excited, enthusiastic, entirely sociable. Instead we introduce ourselves to a farm-girl, heavy set with similar thick-necked companions. But here we have it-the completion of our half-abandoned team. Sure enough we're in, its done and my two friends lose their interest.

They slouch so much like gear, no doubt worn out from a sleepless night upon our other train; oh well, they're sluts and have been this way before. But me-m I can't stop looking at that first word on my arm and am filled with buzz; I can't sit still. Out of my pack I pull a precious, terrible prize. Fire-engine red its an amazing opportunity- to meet new people as a scrawl my name across their skin.

Dragonskin: 4 days, a 1 000 teenagers, one forest. Can't wait for next year- a birthday, easter and Dragonskin all at once :D  

the Challenges: great and small

My name is Sarah HP and I’m a Venturer Scout which means I have special abilities.

They’re supposed to be secret but, I think I can trust you.

I can leap off cliffs and survive. Just Imagine it for a second… You are teetering on the edge of a precipice. So high that below you the people are like ants. Your heart pounds, your knees shake, your hands clench and you lean back…

Over the edge you’re just… floating. You can see the rope that holds you as you safely abseil down the rock face.

That’s my real secret: I’ve learnt how to abseil.

Thanks to scouts and school excursions I’ve have the opportunity to do things that are a little wacky, but also fantastically fun!

Thus last holidays I led a four day hike over more than 70km along the Great North Walk. We started along the picturesque Hawkesbury River and pretty soon figured out it was harder than we’d thought.

It was the five of us against nature. Joe, Eli, Lachlan, Stephany and I all teenage venturer scouts ready to face this adventure. So hard that within the first ten minutes there were already whining children at my heels:

“Sarah, why’d you have to pick a hike with so many hills?” Oh yeah, oops.

On the plus side the brush was bursting with brilliant blooms, it was like somebody had emptied a flower kaleidoscope upon the hills. The views were spectacular after we’d dragged ourselves up 100’s of metres to the ridge-tops. They were a sweet reward for our efforts.

But there were still greater challenges for us upon this hike.

On the second day Stephany sprained ankle an ankle and the next day we lost her for a number of hours, but that all paled next to our final day:

The last day of our journey and we were so close to our victorious descent into Yarramalong, our endpoint. When…

Joe broke out in hideous fiery rashes. They spread across his skin, burning, itching and unstoppable. We had no antihistamines. No phone service. Panic set in for all of us: What if you were helplessly watching as dangerous rashes spread over your friend? Would you know what to do?

Eli and Lachlan heroically sprinted the 2kms to Yarramalong and called up for antihistamines. Steph and I were left to look on as the rashes got angrier. Can you imagine the feeling when you’re itching, almost as much as Joe was, to do something (anything) yet you can only wait.

After what felt like hours Eli and Lachlan came back to us. Help was on the way. Joe was just tough enough that he could walk so we stumbled onto the main road and fell with relief upon our emergency anti-histamine carriers. We hopped in the cars not even a k from our end point, not quite finishing as victoriously as we’d imagined. But everyone was safe, finally.

And with that happy ending here’s the moral.

 My four day journey was also a metaphoric journey of discovery. A challenge conquered. Everyone should be challenged because it is by challenges that we learn and improve.

So to better yourselves I challenge you, all of you, to take every day as an adventure for yourself. Make the most from life, grab every opportunity and be the best that you can be.

Thank you.

** Tonight Orara High School had five entrants (of six) into the Coffs Harbour Club Lions Youth of the Year competition of which I was one.  The speeches were tremendous and above is mine, given to a room of teachers, parents and most importantly Lions members.  Thank you to Lions for the opportunity to speak to you all.  It was a fantastic night :)