Blogangarra
aka, The Wollangarra Blog
- Oliver Smith
Why you (or your kids) should book into a Wollangarra Program
I can truly and honestly say that Wollangarra is a magical place that utterly changed my life in ways I cannot express. I was so incredibly fortunate to spend a large portion of my teenage and young adult years involved with Woll, and without a doubt it has made me into the man I am today. The people, the practices, the connections can simply not be written down and dully listed, but I tried anyway. If you’re tossing up whether your Young Person should go to Woll, or if your parents need convincing to send you to Woll then this list is for you…well, some of it anyway. – Oliver Smith, Stage 3 young person from a while back!
A Parental or Guardian’s Guide to Why You Should Send Your Young Person to Wollangarra
1. The kids will be off the couch and out of your hair for the holidays. Crack into the vino!
2. Not only are they out of your hair, they’re participating in physical activities where all the gear they need is provided. Wool jumpers, boots, packs, sleeping bags, tents, it’s all there. Save your money for the pair of footy boots they’ll have grown out of by the end of the season anyway.
3. Worried about them not fitting in? Don’t. Woll was started by, is currently run by, and has always been a magnet for an eclectic collection of absolute goofs with an emphasis on inclusion. Remember what Huey Lewis said? It’s Hip to be Square.
4. Wollangarra is situated on a beautiful river flat nestled in the Licola Valley. Access is via a rigorously safe and picturesque flying fox across the ambling Macalister River.
5. They’ll come home with an invigorated appreciation and cheeky perspective on the condiments in their very own pantry or fridge!
6. They’ll learn manners and life skills from role model young adult Leaders – an important development factor for many young people.
7. They’ll learn about environmentalism, off-grid living, self sustainability and environmental practices.
8. They’ll learn how to grow their own produce, and start helping out around the garden!
9. The kids will return to you with the songs of your youth in their hearts. Far easier for you to bond over Bohemian Rhapsody, than Taylor Swift.
10. All leaders at Woll are fit, capable and thoroughly trained in Remote First Aid, Advanced 4WD, Orienteering and Emergency Situation Procedures.
11. The letters-to-self initiative is a practice that has been going since the beginning of Woll, and is a truly brilliant form of self reflection that continues throughout the years to bring a true sense of perspective into your life.
12. Your young people will return having made important networking connections with influential people that will carry them through for the rest of their lives.
A Young Person’s Guide to Why You Should Bug Your Parents or Guardian to Send You to Wollangarra
1. You’ll be away from your parents and all their nagging and nonsense about finishing your homework for the holidays!
2. Not only are you away from silly questions like “what’s that smell coming from under your bed?”, you’ll see and appreciate the absolute glory of the bush in your own backyard. If you know, you know. Everything you need is provided, just bring your Goofy Self.
3. Speaking of Goofy Selves; Worried about fitting in? Don’t. You will. Woll has always been a magnet for the quirky oddballs. Daggy wool jumpers are in. Strange bulbous mugs with faces are in. Novelty beanies? Get around me. What’s that record your Dad likes to dance embarrassingly to? Your Waist is a Triangle? Whatever that means…
4. Tired of walking up some stairs and opening a door to access where you’re going? Woll is accessed by a sick as Flying Fox that (safely Mum, dw) barrels across the mighty Mcalister River below. What a way to kickstart your week-long adventure.
5. You’ll learn rude words for condiments in your own pantry and fridge.
6. Sometimes you get to throw porridge at each other – including the Leaders.
7. You’ll learn about environmentalism, off-grid living, self sustainability and environmental practices: something you’re going to need to know for your future.
8. You’ll learn how to grow your own produce, and have convincing arguments for your Dad as to why the lawn sucks, and how you’d actually help out if you had interesting trees and veggie gardens instead.
9. Remember what I said about daggyness? First impress, then annoy your folks with ear worms from their youth like Bohemian Rhapsody.
10. Sometimes the Leaders out on your hike will pretend to hurt themselves. This will usually result in chocolate.
11. The letters-to-self initiative is a practice that has been going since the beginning of Woll, and is a truly brilliant form of self reflection that continues throughout the years to bring a true sense of perspective into your life. Also you’ll inevitably write some real cringey things that are especially funny to re-read when you’re 30.
12. You’ll become mates with a bunch of absolute and utter goof balls, who in turn will become some of your absolute best mates 15+ years on (bloody hell, has it actually been that long?). As adults, you’ll continue to hike and appreciate the outdoors with these people. You’ll network and go to uni together. You’ll find jobs for each other. You’ll get together at Woll events like Wood Chop or Open day, work a little but mostly drink tea and look at all you Young People running around and wonder how you ever had that much energy, and it will warm your heart in ways you simply cannot fathom right now. You weren’t forced to be together and friendly, like in a class or house at school. You’ll love these people because you chose to reconnect every holiday where you could. You’ll make friends with people from the other side of the state, from totally different schools and backgrounds, people you never would have met or connected with otherwise. Somewhere in the middle of the school term near the holidays, you’ll get a random message from someone you haven’t seen or spoken to for months: “Hey! You going to Woll?” Then who knows? Maybe it’s 15 years later. Maybe you’ve got a job, and a career now. Maybe you’re doing all that boring adult stuff, and you wish you still had regulated holidays like a school term. But then maybe that same person, who again you haven’t seen in a few months, and nearing an event like Open Day will shoot you a message. “Hey! You going to Woll?”
