NEWS
24 HOUR HIKE MAKES MEMORIES TO LAST A LIFETIME
A CHALLENGING BUT REWARDING
At 3.15pm on 9 March a group of 119 hiking students and two hiking staff , along with more than 20 support students and 10 staff on buses , headed to Yea for the 2023 24 Hour Hike . The goal : to walk as far as possible in 24 hours and raise money for the selected charity , Spur Afrika , a charity which aims to support children and young adults in Kenya by facilitating health , education and life skills .
MR JOHN EVANS – Head of Eggleston House – gave his account of the hike :
The boys began their walking journey at about 6pm and as they hiked into the night they encountered a variety of terrains and challenges . From steep hills and rocky paths to windy trails and beautiful eucalypt forests , the hike tested their physical endurance and mental toughness . The students walked in small groups , and despite the long hours and physical exertion , they remained upbeat and positive throughout the hike .
As the night wore on , the students hiked by the light of their headlamps , pushing themselves to keep going beyond what they thought was possible , even as significant fatigue set in .
Throughout the next day , one by one they walked their last kilometre and ‘ hung up their boots ’, and they were then often found in a variety of positions around base camp ; many fast asleep . The winning student , Joshua Qin ( Year 12 ), was applauded as he completed the final steps of his 111.5km hike-winning journey . Overall , the 24 Hour Hike was a challenging but rewarding experience for the boys . Importantly , they learned a lot about perseverance , teamwork and the need to support each other when the going got tough . However , they also had a lot of fun , making memories that will last a lifetime , and in the process about $ 51,000 was pledged for Spur Afrika .
It was Head of Gilray House , MS EMMA
GATES ’ eighth 24 Hour Hike . She wrote :
This event never fails to bring me so much joy . The insanely hard work and preparation by Mr Keith Oatley and all the Scotch staff paves the way for our students to put their muscles and minds to the test , and believe me , the challenge is gruelling .
Having spent a whole day at school , the boys arrived to greet our advance party , who set up the 18 controls and two outposts in the surrounds of Stanley Homestead base camp . After a briefing and – most importantly – refuelling , the boys took off in their initial loops to return , occasionally , sooner and often much later as the evening wore on .
Sleep deprivation can be utterly debilitating ; combine that with steep gradients and scree , and there is not a lot more you can do as a hiker except put one foot in front of the other , hopefully in the
26 Great Scot Issue 168 – May 2023