New experiences

30 Jan 2014

Over the past few years, during a week in October, adventurous members of the Probus Club of Seaford have joined with other seniors from the Seaford/Frankston area for a week of fun and new experiences at Wilderness Lodge in Licola.

We share houses that have been relocated from various country areas, take our own bedding (some call this camping!), are well fed and well looked after. Following is a description of one member’s experience, Pam Megahey, of her first visit.

I did not want to go to Licola. I have never even been on a school camp, and have only stayed in a caravan one night in my entire life. People talked me into it and I dreaded it. When I saw the accommodation I said to Ross (our activities officer), it seemed a bit like a jail. How wrong I was!

I had some of the best fun and games of my life!

Many brave souls tackled the flying fox, the ‘leap of faith’ the giant swing, canoeing etc. and had a ball. I did not.

I squealed with delight playing mini golf, loved the ‘Olympics challenge’ which was made up of several silly games, among them ‘suck it up’ with Smarties and straws, and a construction competition with straws, string and sticky tape to see which team could build the tallest tower. Our tower won but only just because we ran out of string and it kept falling over! We had a team painting competition in which Ross was a total pest but we managed to do a reasonable job anyway. Sounds silly I know, but the fun of working together, cooperating and competing was a real buzz.

We had a great breakfast and lunch every day and morning and afternoon tea topped off with lovely dinners. Happy hour was at 5:00 with dips and nibbles. We watched the Marigold Hotel, played bingo and had a great concert on the last night where many members shone. The scenery surrounding our cabins was breathtaking and we could just go for a walk or sit and relax. This was rejuvenating.

The members of staff, mostly volunteers, were exceptional, especially young ‘Fish’ (outdoor education teacher) who seemed capable of almost anything. She helped with every activity from painting to canoeing to the flying fox and with the concert and meals. She was a great example of what a young Aussie can be.

Ross asked me to write about my highlights of this trip, and I couldn’t sign off without mentioning that after avoiding every (apparently) dangerous activity at Licola I am afraid I am the only one to come home black and blue. A horse bit me on the shoulder as I fed him an apple.