Our first stop was Suttons Forest McDonald’s to fuel up for the exciting week ahead, followed by a stretch break in Cooma, and then we arrived at our base camp, ALI Bungarra in Jindabyne.

Tuesday greeted us with a chilly start, reminding us we were in the snowy mountains. The boys quickly engaged in the activities, which included a raft challenge on Lake Jindabyne, abseiling near the Jindabyne Dam, a hike up Mt Twynam – Australia’s third highest mountain at 2,195 meters – and mountain biking. From Tuesday to Thursday evenings, four groups camped overnight in tents in Kosciuszko National Park, either at Island Bend or Thredbo Diggings. Fortunately, the weather was milder on Wednesday and Thursday, perfect for shorts and t-shirts.

Each day, the boys faced physical challenges and rose to the occasion, though a few moans and groans – which goes with teenage territory – could be heard. The food was plentiful, and the boys expressed their gratitude. We witnessed some remarkable individual achievements as students overcame their fears, and many demonstrated incredible perseverance and resilience. As a whole, I couldn’t be prouder of the entire cohort. Watching the boys shine outside the classroom and engage with one another in a supportive manner was truly rewarding.

A big thank you to Mrs Kellie Atkinson for her exceptional administrative support and to the wonderful staff who cared for the boys throughout the week: Mrs Henderson, Mr Foster, Mr Isbester, Mr Kane, Mr Le Page, Mr Lynch, Mr Mills, Mr Gentle, Mr Papi, Mr Karakatsanis, Mr Buxton and Mr E Rozario.