Year 9 Challenge Camp

On Monday 29 August, Year 9 students set off for the week to the beautiful Strathbogie Ranges, Charnwood Outdoor Centre, between Mansfield and Benalla for the annual Challenge Camp. What a challenge it turned out to be! We observed that with every challenge there can be victory, of which, there were many!

We are very proud of our students’ achievements and teamwork and full of gratitude to the staff who assisted them. AUSCAMP, our camp providers, were very positive in their feedback of our students. Some saying, 

‘I’ll come on an Oxley camp again,’ 

‘it’s always a great camp when we have you guys,’ and 

‘your teachers are right into this!’

Highlights included canoeing in Lake Nillahcootie, a huge hike over Lightning Ridge, carrying their week’s belongings and supplies on their back, camp cooking, tent life, mountain biking and abseiling. Beanies, gloves and thermals were a must during the chilly nights. Tribe banners were colourful and allowed our groups to stake their territory and chants performed were entertaining to say the least!

The last night saw our year level celebration dinner with a beautiful roast dinner made by AUSCAMP amazing chefs. Then the options were watching the Tigers v Lions AFL final, hanging by the forever fire (which stayed alight all week), games on the oval or music with our two resident year level DJ’s Ava White (9.19) and Christina Kheng Lawt (9.20). 

A huge thanks to Aijun Zhong for her organisational assistance, Home Group teachers Emily Jetten, Mark Goode and Aijun Zhong for their work before, during and after camp and Melanie Haley, Jennifer Humphreys, David Cutler, Greg Barker, Trevor Whittle, Clare Jones, Gabrielle Bail for their attendance.

Gavin Fox

Year 9 Coordinator