This morning we tore ourselves away from our loved ones, to embark on an adventure into what was unknown for many of us. The day had finally come, excitement brimming over for the moment a lot of us had been planning for months ahead.
After a shifty start from a bus mishap, we headed off to Sydney, trading to a more reliable coach, without the dampening of our spirit.
Our first conquest was a presentation and service in Sydney’s Hyde Park War Memorial, a great honour bestowed upon our school group as we were given the state flag to present to the Belgian Immaculata school in the city of Ieper. We attended a star ceremony, which involved students casting stars, printed with names of fallen soldiers, into the memorial. The solemnity and weight of the tragedy befell us, the significance of what we were representing and the people we were commemorating, resonating strongly. The sight of 120,000 golden stars (paid for by Australian residents during the depression to fund the building of the memorial) fixed to the dome ceiling really emphasised how the wars had affected Australian citizens, and the level of commitment to the cause of remembering.
After this influential occasion, we shot off to the airport, saying goodbye to the members of the Blakeney Millar Foundation to whom we owe so much, Principal Mrs Mullane, and school captains Jayde and Michael who had accepted the flag on behalf of our school.
The airport entrance seemed intimidating and huge (well, to me anyway as a first time flyer) and as we donned our heavy packs – taking a couple of hasty bathroom breaks – we progressed to check in. We abandoned our luggage in the care of the airport officials, and made our way to customs, where Sarah Nugent got frisked, Mrs Beale got the security wand, and some of the boys had full body scans.
After dinner (at some decidedly interesting airport food ‘establishments’) the time had come to get on the plane. We boarded anxiously and I sat in the wrong spot, much to the dislike of the flight attendant. Take-off was nerve wracking for me, and many others, but all went smoothly. We learnt there was Wi-fi access on the plane! So now I’m sitting here, typing out what sounds like a creative writing piece, and playing a million and one games on our own individual touch screens. Keen for the next leg of our adventure!
Sam H.
