CLC

Our flagship Year 9 C.L.C (Community Leadership Challenge) program has welcomed our Semester Two cohort, with two big trips kicking off the much-loved Excursion Season.

WEEK ONE - Albury

Last Wednesday 17th July took them for the 1st time ever to the Flying Fruit Fly Circus in Albury, where the expert Circus instructors pushed our kids well outside their Comfort Zones, taking them through lessons in Trapeze Swinging, Aerials, High Ropes, Trampolining, Foam Pit Tricks, Juggling and much more. Rosie Bulmer was the standout, showing off some of the incredible moves she has picked up during her time attending the facility through her childhood, at one stage hanging upside down from 3-4m off the ground. Isaac Whittingham also impressed on the giant trampolines, as did Cheyenne Stow on the trapeze bars.

After a ​C.LC Family Lunch at the Albury Botanical Gardens, provided and served by C.L.C staff as always (with Newmo welcomed back to the team!), they then hiked up to the War Memorial at the top of Monument Hill, an 80m climb over a distance of 550m which sizzled the quadriceps of even the fittest in the group, with everyone asked to push through the pain barrier and show Resilience. At the top, students spent time admiring the view over Albury, and importantly, when perusing the memorial plaques honouring the many Fallen Soldiers, were prompted to consider the concepts of Gratitude and Empathy.

WEEK TWO - Lake William Hovell

Yesterday (Wednesday 24th July) it was a day of getting among nature at Lake William Hovell. An hour-long group hike to Slaters Creek had the kids walking side-by-side and sharing deep and meaningful conversations, while admiring the forest and lake views, soaking in the tranquility of the quiet, and appreciating life without Wi-Fi connection. The traditional Longest Leaf competition was again hotly contested, and ended in the 1st drawn result in C.L.C history - Lillian Hooper and Olivia Wallace sharing the chocolates, with Bode Crawford 3rd and Cheyenne Stow also winning a prize for the "largest collection". 

Another C.L.C Family Lunch was served up, and two fires were lit over which everyone cooked their own Damper before glazing them with syrup and gobbling it up for dessert. The Slack Line Challenge brought plenty of Balance Struggles and laughter, with two victors eventually announced - Archer Wilson and Cheyenne Stow, with Dylan McCombe, Cas Turk and Isaac Whittingham shining through with their Persistence. The ​Oreo Challenge was also hilarious, and both trips were capped off with ​Kindness Box nominations being drawn from the box, with Milly O'Kane one that secured multiples prizes for her help with loading gear onto buses for staff.

Thank you to the cohort for your efforts and participation so far. You've made a tremendous start to your C.L.C journey. 

Next week we head to Bounce Trampolining in Wodonga, which will further prepare the group for their Volunteering Projects in Term 4 focusing on Empathy, Kindness, Connection and “giving back” to their community.

Jud Mullins

CLC Coordinator