Duke of Ed Journey

On Monday 5 and Tuesday 6 May, a small number of our Duke of Edinburgh award participant students embarked on a treacherous 30km hike through Bunyip. With our 6-10kg bags on our backs and many steep and rocky inclines, it was quite difficult to make it through, but we persevered through to the end. 

We walked 15km on the first day of our hike. It was quite steep and difficult to get used to at the start, but the views were beautiful. After a very taxing hike up the steep mountains, we ate lunch overlooking the spectacular views in the beautiful weather. After a few hours, we made it to the campsite.

We made our own dinners and had a very enjoyable experience around the campfire where we roasted marshmallows in the calming presence of the sunset. It was nice to feel rested, while enjoying the connection to nature and bonding over the experience. The night was filled with fun and laughter, and it was my most memorable part of the trip. 

On the second morning, all I remember is that it hurt to pack up our tents. We were blessed enough to not have much dew in comparison to the previous year. We all began our journey around 8am, only to discover that the first quarter of our trip was almost entirely uphill.

The second day felt easier than the first. We moved a lot faster than expected and, in the process, got to see some great views. We also saw chickens and huge lizards on our walk. The sun was shining very nicely, yet it was still cold enough to hike comfortably. I really liked walking this half of the track as the views were beautiful and I got to take a lot of photos. 

The last stretch of our walk was quite long and tedious, and my friends and I were quite over the walk by then. However, we all were back in the bus at about 1pm, earlier than expected, relieved to go back home, take our bags off and be able to take a shower!! We arrived back at school at 2pm and were happy to see all of our friends.

Overall, my Duke of Ed journey was one to remember for the rest of my life and I would recommend doing Duke of Ed to anyone interested in continuing developing skills of discipline and determination. It was a very enjoyable experience that I got to partake in with my friends by my side.

By Janay Chiu