22
Wilderness Times | Summer – Autumn 2022
GOLD DUKE OF EDINBURGH AWARD
At the end of June 2021, eight Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award participants went on the trip of a lifetime to the Northern Territory. As part of the Adventurous Journey component, we completed the Jatbula Trail in Nitmiluk National Park, north of Katherine. The Trail has been walked for thousands of years by Jawoyn people as part of their songline - also called dreaming track. We experienced six days of hiking, great exploring around scenic campsites, countless incredible swimming opportunities, and valuable life lessons. To prepare, we spent some time in Katherine unwinding from the busy term. What a relief, with exams finishing the day before. We were lucky to spend time soaking in the Katherine Hot Springs, where we even met a friend of Ms Jane Danvers’ mum!
It was then time to prepare for the trek, packing our rucksacks and groceries to equip us with all that we needed. It started with a boat transfer across Katherine River, that took us to the beginning of the walk. As we familiarised ourselves with the landscape and trail in 30 degrees plus temperatures, we needed many drink breaks along the way. We practiced our navigation and leadership skills, as this journey was about being self-sufficient. Our days stared early to avoid the scorching sun. This meant we enjoyed picturesque sunrises on the track, or short but rejuvenating sunrise yoga sessions. Some days felt exceptionally long. On others, we took our time solo walking to practice mindfulness and take in all that was around us. The environments were varied, feeling like we were on a different trail multiple times a day - from sections charred
by controlled burns, marshes studded with Banksia, rocky outcrops on top of the escarpment with distant views of waterfalls, and open grassy woodlands - just to name a few. We navigated river crossings with minimal errors. One crossing had to be done multiple times – we’d left our floaty rings at the campsite on the other side - and Head of Outdoor Education, Ms Lauren Walker forgot her boots. On one of our well-deserved breaks, we enjoyed the peace and cool of the Amphitheatre - a pocket of monsoon rainforest located in a compact steep sided depression, containing artwork of the Jawoyn people that was thousands of years old. The incredibly preserved rock art on stunning orange and yellow sandstone walls, here and on other part of the trail, gave us a deeper understanding of the culture, traditions, and practices of the Jawoyn people.
