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This
is no island of pleasure
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Above:
Sergeant Richard Garforth finds himself in a tight spot.
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Above:
Corporal Matthew Steele encounters a rocky path.
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Corporal
Paul Blackford descends Seal Rocks under the watchful eye
of Sergeant Danny Smythe, as the sea foams below.
Photo by FLGOFF Vivienne McDonald
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It’s
0730hrs on a bleak morning. Nervous anticipation permeates the room
as the pilots deliver the brief.
“It’s going to be a bit touch and go. The forecast is
for strong gusty winds and heavy rain squalls. It will be a bit
bumpy, and if we don’t make it we’ve got just enough fuel
to divert, but we’re going to give it a good Aussie go.”
Later, strapped into our positions we descend through the cloud,
our stomachs bouncing as we hit the turbulence. We are reduced to
hand signals but gradually even that ceases as silent faces contemplate
the task at hand.
The target appears out of the murk as the pilots struggle to align
the aircraft against the strong gusts of wind.
Sound like the start of a good warry? Well not really, just a detachment
of No. 32 Squadron personnel on an Adventure Training Exercise to
King Island in Bass Strait in a “Draggie”.
Ten members of the Squadron and two PTIs left East Sale for the
two-and-a-half days of training.
The challenges were: Day One – get there and complete the 30km
cycle from the airport at Currie to the township of Grassy on the
island’s south coast. Day Two – explore some remote coastal
caves then abseil the cliff face. Day Three – cycle back to
the airport and swap with the second group of “victims”.
The first task was more challenging than it appeared on paper. While
sipping our coffee in the warm confines of the airport, awaiting
the arrival of our bicycles and luggage on a second aircraft, we
contemplated which would be worse – the driving rain, the gusting
winds or the hills.
The first part of the journey was fine – bitumen road, no rain
and the local cows chasing us as we rode. After a short break we
set off on a dirt road. We were lulled into a false sense of security
as the surface was quite smooth and the wind had dropped, but later
it became slippery, undulating and windy.
After a lunch break we set off for “Heartbreak Hill”,
otherwise known as Mt Stanley. We arrived at our destination, the
King Island Holiday Village, as a squall hit and everyone was soaked.
On the second day the weather was still a bit squally.
With the waves crashing in from the Southern Ocean we descended
the cliff face of the spectacular Seal Rocks into the remote caves.
At the bottom we watched as the PTIs set up the abseil in the challenging
conditions.
We explored the caves with two local guides. We climbed back up
the cliff face then strapped into our harnesses for the abseil.
One by one we went over the top, everyone experiencing feelings
from excitement to slight doubt to “this is just not natural”.
The backdrop with the crashing waves was magnificent – but
it was best not to look down. We all made it down safely.
Next stop was the Calcified Forest where, after a short trek, we
learned from our guide a little about the history of the island
and the natural phenomenon of the Calcified Forest. A trip out to
view the Little Penguins arriving home completed the day.
By the third day everyone knew what the old cowboys meant when they
said they were saddle sore. However, after the first couple of kilometres
of cycling again you just go numb.
The cycle back was much easier than the trip out – little or
no wind, no rain and more down hills than up hills.
After a slight diversion (for the more energetic members of the
group) to the wind farm and into Currie (and the local skate park
for some “speccies” on the bikes) we arrived at the airport,
tired but happy. In my whole life I had never been so glad to see
“The Queen of the Skies” – otherwise known as a HS748.
As we left, the second group of 20 32SQN personnel arrived to start
their odyssey. And for the PTIs, the whole adventure began all over
again.
We were particularly thankful for the attendance of the CSU-ESL
PTIs, Sergeant Danny Smythe and Corporal Leigh Mills, who through
their professionalism, dedication, leadership, cooking prowess and
unfailing sense of humour ensured that we did not starve and that
a good time was had by all.
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