Time for Syd’s final postcard – thanks for reading and hope you’ve enjoyed following our trip.
A huge thanks to our webmaster Dan for his daily tidy up of the site.
Now just under 3 years to Wild Dayz, the next Venture, which will be in Tasmania!!!
Syd’s Escape Diary 17.01.2009
January 17, 2009 by Leave a Comment
The final day in Oz started with investitures for Charlotte, James, Jasmine and Jess at the Roundhouse followed by shopping and lunch in Freo.
In the afternoon many of the unit did the Fremantle Prison tour – visiting cells and the gallows amongst other places of the prison that closed in 1991.
Then off to the airport for the flight home via Dubai where the unit will say goodbye to Alverton, who fly onto Manchester.
Syd’s Escape Diary 16.01.2009
January 17, 2009 by Leave a Comment
Around a third of the UK contingent took the ferry over to Rottnest Island and then explored the island either on bike or by tour bus.
The hottest day in Perth for a year – 42C
Most of the others went sailing with sea scouts from Perth met at Escape – great hall on the beach with stunning views of the city.
The Rottnest group then joined up with the others in the evening for a barbecue.
Syd’s Escape Diary 15.01.2009
January 17, 2009 by Leave a Comment
We’ve left Fairbridge for the final time with a few tearful farewells to new found friends.
Arrived back at Fremantle YHA at lunchtime and 3 choices for afternoon activities – the train into Perth, free time in Freo or simply catch up on some sleep at YHA.
Syd’s Escape Diary 14.01.2009
January 17, 2009 by Leave a Comment
The last full day at Fairbridge and more Venturers on site all day as many of the off site activities finished yesterday.
Another warm day and most just took things fairly easy during the day – the Tasmanians all took tents down as off at 3.15 am tomorrow while UK depart at 11.30.
In the evening the closing ceremony including 2 bands and a DJ until 1am – also the State v State results and a win for our Commonwealth team, international entertainment including an ‘English Haka’ that the Aussies liked but drew mixed response from the Kiwis and the final flag down.
Syd’s Escape Diary 13.01.2009
January 14, 2009 by Leave a Comment
The penultimate full day at Fairbridge and the majority of the Unit didn’t have any major offsite activities booked today.
Many of the Unit took the Escape from Escape shuttle bus into nearby Mandurah.
Syd spotted Joe & Kieron changing some more dollars at the shopping centre. Meanwhile James was down by the foreshore with some of his tall ships unit.
Syd also heard that Helen had been allowed offsite as her foot continues to improve and as she went off with Charlotte, Jasmine and Jess would guess that some retail theorapy was prescribed.
After almost a week onsite most of us feel as though there is a residual layer of sunblock, dust and sand left even after taking a shower.
However, Moose found the perfect remedy for this at the golf shop in Mandurah ;0)
In the evening the UK Leaders went offsite to the Clansmen restaurant for a Contingent meal of steak and chips – it is a Venture tradition that the leaders from each State Contingent do this on one evening of the 2nd phase of the Venture.
Meanwhile there was a State v State competition organised with various events such as a triathlon, earth football, frozen t-shirt and dodge ball which was so fiercely competitive that a halt was called before the finale tug of war.
We entered a Commonwealth team of us and New Zealand plus the 2 Canadian Venturers – our team did really well and we await the final results at the closing ceremony with great expectation but a little fear that New South Wales may ‘fix’ the results.
Syd’s Escape Diary 12.01.2009
January 12, 2009 by Leave a Comment
A much cooler night last night which made sleeping much easier.
Today was also a more reasonable temperature of around 26C and many of the unit have been offsite – Luke to the movies, Jess and Charlotte to Rottnest Island, James surfing, while Joe, Kieron and Ian went go karting.
Unfortunately Helen has been in First Aid for the past couple of days as a bite on her foot got infected but the swelling has gone down and she’s been hopping round the site on her crutches today and should be in tomorrow’s newspaper.
All still having a great time. This evening the contingent have been practising their English haka for the closing ceremony while Martin plus Zoe from Alverton were interviewed for the official DVD.
