The journey kicked off in Phnom Penh, where the group got a powerful introduction to Cambodia’s history with visits to the killing fields and the S21 Prison Museum. It was a moving start that grounded the group in the country’s past and gave context to everything that followed.

From there, it was off to Camp Beng Pae, where the teachers got their first taste of camp life—mosquito nets, stilted houses, and a warm welcome from the local community. A water blessing from monks and a walk through the village gave everyone a sense of the deep cultural roots and the impact of the projects Camps International supports.  In the evening our local camp staff shared deeply moving stories from their experiences during the Khmer Rouge regime — from being forced into life as child soldiers to living with the lasting impact of landmines. It was a powerful and sobering reminder that these atrocities occurred not so long ago, and their echoes are still felt today.

The adventure continued with a boat ride through Kampong Phluk floating village and the vast Tonle Sap Lake, followed by a visit to the Angkor Elephant Sanctuary. Feeding elephants and walking alongside them was a definite highlight—equal parts awe and joy.

Siem Reap brought ancient wonders and bustling markets. The group got a tour of Angkor Wat from Camps International tour guide Mr Chang who brought the place to life, explored the ruins of Angkor Thom and Ta Prohm, and capped the day with the high-energy Phare Circus Show. It was a full-on cultural immersion, with plenty of time to wander through the markets

Then came the jungle. Kulen National Park delivered with a hike to the Thousand Linga River, a splash under the powerful Kulen Waterfall, and visits to sacred pagodas tucked into the forest. The group stayed in traditional longhouses at our permanent Camp Beng Mealea, where they connected with local villagers and experienced firsthand how Camps International’s projects are making a difference to families in the community. They were guided by the legendary camp manager, Han, who shared inspiring stories about the impact of the work being done.

The final stretch brought them back to Phnom Penh, and a bit of shopping at the Russian Market before heading home—tired, inspired, and full of stories.

We’re so grateful to our incredible in-country team for the care, warmth, and organisation they poured into every part of our journey. From the moment we arrived, everything ran seamlessly — but more than that, it was the people who made it truly special. Their stories, their pride in their communities, and their passion for creating change gave every experience deeper meaning. We left with full hearts and immense appreciation for everything they do to make these journeys so impactful.

This wasn’t just a trip—it was a journey of connection. The teachers didn’t just see Cambodia; they experienced it. They met people, shared moments, and got a real sense of what it means to travel with purpose. And through it all, they saw how Camps International operates: with heart, humility, and a whole lot of sustainable impact.

The next morning, we travelled to Camp Tinangol, one of our permanent rural camps. We loved learning about their farm-to-table teachings and seeing the almost-complete community centre, which will soon host tribal courts and gatherings — no longer just in the village chief’s lounge room. It was a tangible reminder of how community-led projects can make lasting change.

At Camp Bongkud, affectionately known as our “mothership,” we were welcomed by Camp Manager Eve, whose pride in her village was infectious. She showed us how Camps International has helped build everything from volleyball courts to classroom furniture — even supporting English lessons that attract up to 40 students each afternoon. Her “day in the life” experiences give visiting students an authentic glimpse into rural Bornean life.

Next, we explored Kopel, a local co-op leading incredible reforestation efforts. We learned how they carefully select and nurture native trees before planting them deep in the jungle — lessons in patience, purpose, and environmental stewardship. That night, we slept in hammocks under the jungle canopy, joined a river safari, and even spotted a civet on a night walk.

After days in the wild, our night at Sepilok BnB felt like a treat — with monkeys leaping through the trees outside our windows. At the Rainforest Discovery Centre, we took a treetop walk and were lucky enough to see an orangutan and her baby lounging in the trees. Our final day took us to the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary, where we watched feedings and had a curious juvenile follow us along the boardwalk. Across the road at the Sun Bear Sanctuary, we met a rescued bear named Bongkud — fittingly, from the very village where our camp is based.

Throughout the trip, our in-country team shared their knowledge, humour, and deep love for their communities. We left Borneo feeling inspired and grateful — proud to see firsthand the difference these projects make and honoured to work alongside such dedicated people driving positive change every day.

Day 2: Exploring Cambodia’s Dark History

After a long restful sleep, we dragged ourselves out of bed and went to the 13th floor for our first breakfast in Cambodia. It was a beautiful buffet with a mixture of pastries, bread, fruit, and some meat/noodles. After this, we packed up our day bags ready to learn about the dark and surprisingly recent history of the Cambodian genocide.

Our expedition guide Sarun gave us an overview of the horrors that unfolded during the genocide and spoke about how his family had been personally affected. We then walked to S-21 where we all learned about the horrific torture, abuse, and brutality of the Khmer Rouge. S-21 was a four-year-long prison facility that was converted from a high school by the Khmer Rouge to hold captive people they suspected to be anti the Khmer regime.

We stayed there for two hours walking between the three main buildings before meeting one of the seven survivors of S-21. There were 20,000 people who were killed there. We got back onto the bus and drove fifteen minutes to a ginormous buffet. We were all intrigued by the different food laid out for us as we tried a variety of new sweet and savoury delights.

After stuffing our faces, we were full and ready to go back and immerse ourselves back into the deathliest part of the Khmer Rouge. This was called the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center, also known as the Killing Fields. This was where many prisoners of the Khmer Rouge and S-21 were killed. It was incredibly horrendous to see the mass graves that were dug up.

The most confronting part for most was the killing tree and the memorial Stupa, which contained the skulls and bones that were found and categorized by sex, method of killing, and age. This memorial was 17 layers, which was extremely heart breaking when looking up to the magnitude of layers containing the remains of many innocent people.

The killing tree was also a very heart breaking sight. Many people paid their respects by hanging up bracelets and angel wings onto the tree and around the mass grave of women and children. Back in the hotel, we were able to relax and unwind from the intriguing and confronting historical sights and, after eating dinner in the hotel, we were ready to crash into bed.

Day 3: Journey to Camp Beng Mealea

We checked out of the hotel and started our journey to our first camp. Along the way, we stopped a few times.  We then drove to our lunch destination where we sat in a stilt house overlooking the fields with cows and chickens. Our food was served in pineapples and lily pads.

We continued our journey until we reached our campsite Beng Mealea, where we were greeted by our welcoming leader Han. We got a tour of our campsite and then settled into our mosquito-netted dorms. We were then taken to the local temple to be given a water blessing by a local monk and were able to ask several questions about the life of a monk.

We were blessed with red bracelets and then led back to camp where we ate dinner, which consisted of curry veggie soup, bread, and the best-fried rice ever. Han gave us a briefing for tomorrow and then we all got ready for bed. Overall, we all really enjoyed our day and can’t wait for what the rest of this trip brings us. We can’t wait to meet the rest of the locals and get an insight into their day-to-day life. BRING ON THE PROJECTS!!

Day 4: Project Work

We had a 6 am start for breakfast, which was delicious and then split off into our two groups. We walked down to the English classrooms on the camp, which had been built by previous schools. Outside of them is a courtyard of hexagonal tiles that help the drainage and prevent flooding. Our job was to extend this courtyard out to create a level platform for a playground that the kids can go on during their breaks.

We began by shovelling piles of sand onto the intended space and then hammered the tiles into it using mallets. It was around this time that the temperature started to pick up. After a couple of hours of hot work and a lot of drink breaks, we completed our allocated area and filed back to camp for showers and lunch.

By now, it had reached about 38 degrees and, according to the weather app, the humidity made it feel closer to 48, so most of us slumped into the hammocks and rested. When lunch was ready, we all hurried to grab the spring rolls and enjoyed a super good meal.

After that, we had a language lesson from one of our camp guides who taught us some Khmer phrases we could use. Once that was done, we went back to our project jobs and started making more concrete tiles. That involved greasing moulds, shovelling sand and gravel, and mixing the cement.

Finally, we came back, showered, ate a yummy dinner, and now are all back in the hammocks journaling and reading before bed. Can’t wait for tomorrow!!

Day 5: Making Water Pots and School Visit

We got woken up at 6am for breakfast which is right outside our rooms. It has been a big change for most of us, having quite heavy meals such as chicken and rice for breakfast. We got into our working gear and headed straight to making big water pots for the people in the community who need them most. This was the messiest yet most therapeutic project we have done yet. Safe to say walking around in cold clay while listening to music is fun. Then we made cement to start forming our pot. Which we definitely wouldn’t have been able to do without our amazing camp workers.

After some intense rounds of monopoly deal we hopped on the bus to the local school. We were all exhausted and sweating but the little kids at the school changed that in a second. They were so cute and we loved playing all of their local games such as monkey which was an intense running and grabbing game, that really helped us all bond. The language barrier was hard at first but with some help from their principal our competitive sides came out quickly. The main reason we visited was to give the students drink bottles. We can’t explain the smiles on their faces and the feeling we had when we saw their reactions. It was school holidays for these kids but they all put on their uniforms just to play games with us. When we got back to camp there was a yummy dinner waiting for us that was so delicious. Now as the last activity of the day, we began to head over to a beautiful big campfire. It felt like we were on survivor and about to vote someone out. We all sat down and reflected on our trip so far. Then got handed the mike and the karaoke began! We all took turns of singing, dancing and performing. We all had the best time and were left sweating so much. After a good ‘last Friday night’ sing along that got everyone up dancing including the teachers, we were all very ready for a good night’s sleep!!

Day 6: Temple Adventures and Goodbye to Beng Mealea

We woke up around 6 and packed our bags ready for our last yummy breakfast and to say goodbye to our first camp site. We were ready for our transfer to Siem Reap. Along the way we visited the Kulen Elephant Centre where we had the amazing opportunity to feed the elephants with many memorable pictures being taken.

We were greeted by the hotel with cool towels for our face and refreshing drinks. After that, we made our way up to our rooms to shower and relax before heading out to the markets to practice our bargaining skills followed by dinner. After dinner we headed to an amazing local circus. We were all given fans on our way in to deal with the heat. The circus was amazing and the artists performed many amazing tricks and jumps. The performers had come from a school set up to support disadvantaged youth. They were amazing acrobats who had even performed overseas in Paris! Their performance was about the lifestyles of those living in Cambodian villages who were attempting to move beyond the Khmer Rouge period. We learned a lot and it was very enjoyable. After the circus we headed back to the hotel for a well earnt shower and then straight to sleep.

Day 7: Angkor Wat and Floating Villages

We woke up early, excited for the day ahead. After a hearty breakfast at the hotel, we headed out to explore the world-famous Angkor Wat. The grandeur and beauty of the temple complex took our breath away. Our guide explained the history and significance of the temples, and we marvelled at the intricate carvings and impressive architecture.

After spending a few hours exploring Angkor Wat, we headed to the nearby Ta Prohm temple, known for its massive trees growing out of the ruins. It was a surreal experience, and we felt like we were in a scene from a movie. We took lots of photos and enjoyed exploring the temple grounds.

In the afternoon, we visited the floating villages on Tonle Sap Lake. It was fascinating to see how the local communities live on the water, with houses, schools and even shops all floating on the lake. We took a boat tour around the village, learning about the unique way of life of the residents. It was a humbling and eye-opening experience.

We returned to the hotel for dinner, where we enjoyed another delicious meal. After dinner, we had some free time to relax and reflect on our day. Some of us went for a cool off in the hotel pool, while others wrote in their journals or chatted with friends. We went to bed tired but happy, looking forward to the next day’s adventures.

Day 8: Journey to Camp Beng Pae

This morning we enjoyed a buffet breakfast, ready for the 4-hour bus ride. With around 30 minutes left on the bus we stopped at a 7-11 and absolutely loaded our bags with lollies for the last 5 days at camp. When we got there, we had lunch straight away after choosing which long house we were staying in and the lunch was super delicious with rice, beef and amazing spring rolls. Afterwards, we went to the project sites that we will be working on over the next few days which included working on building the English school and digging wells and toilets for the local people. We then walked to the school and spoke more about the community and the school projects. After that we walked to the temple and had a water blessing by the monks in the local temple. We met lots of local kids and walked back to the campsite with them. Then we all showered and had some chill time before we had dinner. For dinner we had rice, chicken and soup. At the end of the day we just chilled in the hammocks and then went to bed.

Day 9: Scaffolding and Well Building

We had a new item on the breakfast list, rice pudding and it was delicious. After breakfast we got ready and split into our two teams to head to the sites. Our team was building the scaffolding of the new English school for the local kids, which included straightening steel rods and slowly putting together the scaffolding. The other part of the group were working on the 5m water well, by using tools to dig down into the sand.

Before finishing up we all worked on the well and had so much fun dancing and singing to wakka wakka (and many more songs). After a full day of work we all showered, had dinner and chilled.

Day 10: Cultural Interactions and Soccer

This morning, we woke up ready for a tough start to the day with project work, but we were all excited as we had an afternoon at the local school as a reward. After breakfast we headed straight to work to create concrete rings to build wells and toilets for the local community. It was hard work out in the sun creating cement and moulds but we had music pumping us all the way through to lunch!

Just after lunch, we had a cultural learning session with one of our tour guides, where we learnt about the traditional customs for marriage in Cambodia. This was very interesting and a good insight into a different way of life. After the cultural session we headed off to the local primary school to play and help teach the kids some English. Some things that we taught them were, the alphabet, everyday objects, vowels, simple sayings and more. After this we played fun games with them all that included duck duck goose, dancing, soccer and some traditional Cambodian games. By the end, despite the language barrier we had all created strong bonds with the local kids.

When we came back to the camp, we chilled in the hammocks and played lots of card games with everyone. Whilst this was happening some of the local kids came to the camp and we hung out and played a massive soccer game and it was really fun. It was overall a great and rewarding day and we can’t wait for the days ahead!

Day 11: Project Progress

After another one of our early 6am starts we slowly got out of bed and headed straight to breakfast, consisting of: eggs, bread and a noodle dish, which was much needed. Then we moved on to our first session of work for the day which was awesome today as we got to work all together as a big group for the first time which was a lot of fun. Previously we had been split into two working groups to cover more sites, but today we were all contributing to building an English school and a well!

It was amazing to see the progress that we’ve all made over the past few days and It’s been especially great to work with the Camps International team. They have been so helpful and kind. We are sad it’s our last working day tomorrow.

It’s great to see some of the local kids around the worksite playing around and interacting with us. The well we’ve been working on is around 6 meters deep now and seeing all the working staff being lowered down into the well by a rope really gave us a perspective on how much progress we as a group have been making.

Before lunch we had an Anzac Day reflection followed by a minute’s silence.

We had a really good lunch, which helped us move on to our second work session of the day. There was certainly a lot of concreting. Although we were quite tired, we kept reminding ourselves of the difference we were making.

As we got back from our work the local kids arrived and we played lots of games with them and overall had a really fun time. Then we moved onto dinner which was one of the best ones yet. We were served spaghetti bolognaise and it was a major hit. Although, we love our Cambodian dishes this western meal was a real treat for us. Some of us even went up for thirds. We ended the day with a beautiful sunset and a great game of Cambodia trivia. The winners got an ice-cold coke!

It’s all a little bittersweet as we are approaching the end of the trip. We are missing home and have been talking about our first meals next Monday when we are back in Sydney, but we’re going to be sad to leave.

Day 12: Last day of project work

We had an early morning wake up again for our last day of project work. We kicked off the morning with a delicious breakfast, the milo was a big hit and so was the French toast (Cambodian style!). We headed to the project site, playing music to give us energy and set the vibes for the day. We reached water at the bottom of the well and began the job of placing the concrete rings inside. The depth was approximately 8m.

Seeing Han get in the well and straighten the rings was truly amazing. He is the most incredible person who has dedicated his life to helping Cambodian people through Camps International. He’s been the best guide (see photo below).

After a bittersweet ending to our final day on the job, we headed to lunch which was delicious (especially the refreshing fruit) and had a long well-deserved COLD shower. We spent the next few hours of downtime sharpening our card game skills and painting our group sign to hang at the camp to leave our mark. Later on, we went to the school and played lots of games with the local kids. We played soccer, duck duck goose and a local game called cow and tiger. We then walked back to camp and had dinner before going outside to have a campfire party with the local kids and their families. We also learnt Cambodian dances and were even able to teach the locals the nutbush.

Last Day: Bye Bye Cambodia

Yesterday we woke up early had our final breakfast and said our goodbyes to the local community and the camp staff. It was a teary goodbye as they had taken such good care of us. We have built such great connections here, so it was hard to say goodbye. we took a group photo outside of the camp and headed off back to Phnom Penh.

Once we arrived, we spent most of the time at the markets which were massive practising our bargaining skills and purchasing gifts for the fam to show our appreciation and love. We came home for our last night together feeling sad but excited for our trip home.

Bring on those açai bowls.

In December 2023, we assembled a small team of teachers from various parts of Australia, all eager to learn more about how Camps operates. We selected Cambodia as our destination and coordinated the arrival of most teachers in Phnom Penh around the same time. Following long overnight flights, the first day provided an opportunity to unwind, adjust to the city’s heat and noise and get to know each other.

The journey truly began the next day as we embarked on a four-hour drive north from Phnom Penh to our camp in the heart of the country, Camp Beng Pae. Upon arrival, as is customary for all teams visiting our camps, we conducted a comprehensive welcome briefing and tour of the camp and its facilities. One of the key aspects that was covered included familiarising everyone with our six bowl system of handwashing before and after meals.

Following this, we embarked on a walking tour of the local community, providing an opportunity to showcase completed as well as ongoing projects, like the new English teaching classroom. Visiting the local school allowed the teachers to experience the lively atmosphere of the village, with excited young children running around and eagerly engaging with us as we explored.

Leaving Camp Beng Pae after a restful night’s sleep, we continued our journey north towards Siem Reap, passing through the heart of the country. Just before lunchtime and on the outskirts of Siem Reap, we took a short drive off the main highway to reach the edge of Tonle Sap lake.

This area is home to communities that adapt to the lake’s seasonal changes. For six months of the year, they reside in “floating” villages, relying solely on boats for transportation and the other six months see them using wheeled transport. Our boat journey allowed us to navigate through various small communities, providing us with a first hand look at their way of life before emerging onto the expansive Tonle Sap lake.

In the evening, we enjoyed a visit to the highly popular Phare Circus, where we were treated to an incredible performance by the talented acrobats and performers.

The next morning, the team woke before dawn to witness the sunrise above the Angkor Wat temple complex. This area of Cambodia is rich with numerous temples, ranging from heavily visited ones to temples that are lesser-known. Our team explored three of the larger temples before returning to Siem Reap by mid-afternoon.

Siem Reap, a bustling tourist destination, was thoroughly enjoyed by all. We strolled through its charming alleyways, explored its diverse shops and savoured the vibrant atmosphere of its numerous night markets, all while navigating through the many tuk-tuk drivers.

A new addition to our future itineraries is to hopefully visit the Kulen Elephant Forest; we decided to introduce this experience to the teachers during our trip. Located a short drive from Siem Reap, we had the opportunity to interact with retired tourist elephants from the temples of Siem Reap.

Upon arrival, we prepared a morning snack for the elephants and then ventured into the forest to meet them. We had the privilege of feeding the elephants and walking alongside them as they explored the forest. It was an up close and personal experience with these magnificent creatures.

I was pleased to observe that the elephants were treated with care and respect; they were not exploited or chained up. Instead, this sanctuary operates sustainably, relying on tourism to support the care of these retired elephants. It was evident that the team greatly appreciated this meaningful experience.

In the afternoon, we drove into the heart of the Kulen Mountains, where we explored the Kulen Waterfalls and the sacred temple sites cherished by the Khmer people, who continue to visit and pay homage to them even today.

On our final full day before heading back to Phnom Penh, we paid a visit to our other main camp in Cambodia, Camp Beng Mealea. Our day began with the customary tour of the camp, a briefing on toilet facilities, and a delightful lunch. Afterwards, we took a leisurely stroll to observe some of the projects we had previously done, mainly within the school premises.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by an intense football match in progress, featuring kids of all sizes, some sporting full football gear while others played barefoot. Naturally, our more athletic members seized the opportunity to join in, but they quickly discovered that the heat posed a challenge, resulting in the locals running rings around them.

The journey back south to Phnom Penh is a lengthy one, approximately 6 hours, yet it offers ample opportunities to observe the bustling scenes outside. Upon reaching Phnom Penh, our first stop was the S21 Security Prison museum, where we gained an in depth understanding of the harrowing events of the Khmer Rouge’s seizure of the country and the subsequent genocide in the early 1970s.

This visit is consistently a deeply affecting experience, leaving an indelible impact even on the most resilient individuals. To lighten the mood after such heavy reflections, we indulged in a bit of retail therapy, heading to the Russian Market with its narrow passages and multiple stalls.

Our final evening together saw us eating on the riverfront, prior to gelato and exploring yet more markets!

The trip was not only a joy to organise, thanks to an amazing group of teachers, but I also believe it served as a fantastic opportunity to highlight the wonders of Cambodia and the enriching experience of a Camps expedition. A huge shout out to the team for wholeheartedly immersing themselves in all that Cambodia has to offer and embracing every moment of the journey.

Despite the uncertainty, the expedition got early interest from North Geelong Secondary College in Victoria.  All credit must go to the two teachers at the school who encouraged their students to sign up, sustained enthusiasm despite Covid concerns. After navigating the many documents and permissions required in order to run the trip, to the final tests before departure – we were on our way  (thank you Darcy & Amy).

It is not about the time, it is about the journey

One of the challenges of this trip is the distances involved in getting there.  The community sits one hour’s drive west of Ceduna, which equates to about an 11 hour drive from Adelaide airport.  Teams can fly to reduce the driving distance, but the drive, whilst long, has plenty to see along the way and opportunities to stop and stretch the legs.

Drive highlights included:

• Loch Ness monster replicas in a salt lake at Lochiel
• the dark history of Snowtown ( Go we dare you to Google it!)
• the Big Galah
• awesome silo painting at Kimba
• the endless straight roads AND
• huge, huge skies.

The first evening saw us taking in the vastness of the night sky and the incredible darkness which most city dwellers simply never see.  We talked about our expectations for the trip and specifically about our perceptions of indigenous people, and the lack of limited opportunities to meet aboriginal people.

Everyone was given the chance to talk about own their backgrounds, their culture and their connectedness to it.  It proved most of us were unconnected, not speaking our ancestral language or really understanding the key elements of our culture.  It also proved we were a mixed mob with ancestors from all corners of the globe.

The aims of the trip were:

• To introduce young people to First Nation’s people and their culture, whilst also gaining an understanding of the painful history and challenges that are faced on a day to day basis.
• To gain an insight into climate change and see first-hand some of its effect on these marginal areas.
• And of course, have some fun, get away from devices, open up some minds and broaden horizons.

Every evening was a time for reflection, after our dinner, we would sit around the fire, reflect on our experiences of the day, as well as just yarn with each other under the stars.  Silly games of Mafia were played, and much fun was had the evening we made our own damper and then cooked it in the coals.

The expedition had so many wonderful activities to allow the students to fully immerse in the lifestyle of Australia’s traditional landowners.  This included:

Learning about Wombats “Wadu” –  in particular the Southern Hairy Nosed Wombat which is widespread across South Australia and why these nocturnal marsupials have square pooh.

Traditional Art Sessions -A key part of the trip was participating in some traditional art sessions which continued throughout the trip.  Students were introduced to the history of dot painting, its various symbols and importance to aboriginal peoples.  They took home personal and a school canvas (now proudly on display) depicting their own journey during the trip.

Carving boomerangs – The boys were also given the opportunity to carve and whittle their own boomerang to take home with them.  There was an impromptu throwing session just to check their aerodynamics were good – it proved they weren’t that good!

Saltbush planting – The community lands have been used for sheep farming for many decades now and when combined with many years of drought and climate stress, they are barren.  One plant that does grow relatively well in these conditions is saltbush which can be used to feed sheep on when grass is limited.

The community are now trying to establish a smaller scale project, nurturing seeds in a nursery before putting them out in the paddocks as young saplings.  The school team gained an insight into this and then went into the nursery to work, mainly taking cuttings from existing plants and planting them in small pots – well over a thousand of them

Scarcity of water – It felt important while we were at Scotdesco, that we spent some time thinking about water, given its scarcity in the area and of course across huge swathes of Australia. Each of the places we visit taught us how precious water is, along with some survival techniques.

Appreciating cultural values

 A very special afternoon was spent by the girls from the team who went to do “women’s business” out in the bush.  Aboriginal culture maintains traditional gender activities which are very important to them and it is considered taboo for these lines to become blurred.  Despite some initial concern that this was cementing stereotypes, the girls soon realised they were being treated to a very special and unique experience.  They went off into the bush with a number of the women, including Wanda, a community elder, to collect bush medicine.  But it was so much more than this.

Whilst they walked amongst the various bushes, identifying the different leaves and trees, they gained an insight into Wanda’s past.  They looked on aghast when they were shown the type of shelter Wanda would have slept in as her family moved across their “Country” and they listened to her yarns about life in the mission after she was taken from her family.

They spent a few hours with what they had collected, cooking it up, mixing it and making their bush medicine.  Everyone was given a jar, that smelt eucalyptic, to take home – a great remedy for cold symptoms, best rubbed over feet with socks over the top.

The Nullabour Plain and rugged coastline

Driving to the eastern edge of the Nullabour Plain, visiting ancient caves and then dropping into the Head of the Bight Whale Watching Centre was spectacular.  The team enjoyed clambering down into the last of three caves where they were initially fooled by a fake ancient handprint before being shown the very feint authentic one.  The Head of the Bight is an absolutely stunning place to visit, and the sheer scale of the Nullabour and its complete lack of trees makes for an awe-inspiring sight as we explored around.

We also had the opportunity to trek along the rugged exposed coastline which sits about 20kms south of the camp and backs onto the community land.  We saw various animal tracks as we walked as well as incredible views back along the coastline to some large ancient fauna footprints that had become exposed in the rocks.  The final 15 mins of the walk was along the beach at Clare Bay to the community’s shelter. Here there was a handful of community members already relaxing and we were all treated to another awesome BBQ lunch.

Wanda was there,  overseeing the preparation of a nearby fire to cook 5 or 6 kangaroo tails.  The team watched on in awe as Wanda handled the tails straight from the fire with no gloves.  The tail was opened, and everyone (well nearly everyone) had a taste, with some of the team really getting stuck in.  We headed down to the beach, to play beach games and spend some time with the younger community members who happily joined in with the games.

Expedition reflections

The final evening saw us sitting around the fire and reflecting on what we had learnt and experienced.  It was obvious from everyone’s comments that it had been a deeply moving and powerful experience on many different levels.  I have no doubt that everyone present will take away something very special from their time at Scotdesco.

The last day was the long drive back to Adelaide, but everyone was in a great space in their mind, relaxed and calmer than when they had arrived only a few days ago.