Year 11 Camp
Year 11 Great Vic Rail Trail
The Year 11s set off on their Great Vic Rail Trail Cycling Camp from 22 to 24 April. Here are two student reflections on the experience!
Toby Smith, Year 11
Day 1
We left Kilvington for our Year 11 Camp at 7.30am — bright-eyed and bushy-tailed … not. Thankfully, we had the next two and a half hours on the bus to catch up on some much-needed sleep before arriving in Yea. There, we unloaded our bags and said goodbye to half the year level, who would be starting from the other end of the trail.
Our ride for the day was a 'casual' 16.5km to our first campsite in Molesworth. We arrived with plenty of time to spare, having kept up a cracking pace. After setting up our tents, we spent the next couple of hours playing soccer, cricket, rugby, and even some badminton.
Dinner was a simple affair for most people — pasta — though some struggled with the art of boiling water. One group even had cheeseburgers. After dinner, we had some relaxation time before retiring to our tents to spend the next 30mins talking and eating our snack supply.
Day 2
We all knew today was the day — either you made it to the next campsite with relative energy or you barely made it at all, depending on how well you'd slept the night before.
To help build initiative, the 45km ride was divided between groups, giving everyone a chance to lead for a stretch. Then, just before lunch, we encountered every cyclist's worst fear — a long gradual uphill! It tested both our legs and our willpower, but somehow, we all managed to push through without stopping or walking.
We felt a huge sense of pride in what we'd accomplished when we finally reached the top of the hill! Following this, we were happy that the next 2km was downhill, so we could just cruise along and enjoy the scenery of Northern Victoria. At the bottom of the hill, we stopped for lunch and a much-needed break before tackling the final gruelling 16km on aching legs. Although our pace slowed, we pushed on.
The best moment of the day was finally arriving at camp and hopping off our bikes! Surprisingly, even after riding 45km, we still had enough energy to take walks down to the lake and marvel at the clarity of the night sky on our last night at Eildon.
Day 3
Our final day—the last 21km into Mansfield—had arrived. Once again, students took the lead, ensuring we kept a good pace and took regular breaks. The ride felt like it dragged on forever, but in reality, it only took us about an hour and a half.
We arrived at 10.15am, well ahead of schedule, with the bus not due until 12.00pm. We had smashed it! While we were all exhausted, that didn’t stop us from sharing stories and funny memories with the other groups on the bus ride back.
This camp was about more than just riding. It taught us about adventure, empathy and initiative — learning how to step up, support each other and make the experience memorable for everyone.
Alex Verginis, Year 11
In an eventful and exciting bike ride from Yea to Mansfield, spanning three days, our cohort became more familiar with the beautiful outback areas we were riding through and the rich history behind the Great Victorian Rail Trail.
A highlight for me was riding through the Cheviot Tunnel, located midway between Yea and Molesworth. The 201m-long ride through the tunnel was very dark but absolutely fascinating!
Overall, the camp gave us a fantastic opportunity to stay active, with our ‘Tour de France’ speed setting the tone right from the start. Beyond the physical challenge, we were able to demonstrate independence, leadership and resilience by working together with minimal guidance from the teachers.
It was up to us to navigate the trail, manage the walkie-talkies and decide on rest breaks that would benefit the whole group.
This experience brought us closer together, allowing us to connect with peers we might not normally interact with. Even for those of us who were already close, there was still the chance to learn more about our friends through the many conversations and moments we shared on camp.
A special moment for me that really captured this was late on the first day. After riding approximately 16km to reach the caravan park in Molesworth and setting up our tents for the night, we spent a couple of free hours before dinner playing a range of sports—soccer, cricket and rugby, to name a few. With constant laughter, friendly banter and a healthy dose of competitiveness, it was an evening I’m sure none of us will forget.
Overall, Year 11 Camp was a very enjoyable and worthwhile experience for our cohort!