BSSC students fortunate enough to join the annual expedition to Kakadu usually find the experience inspiring—at the very least. For some it is life changing.
The first day of Step Up in Year 11, Reide saw the ad for the Kakadu trip on the college screens and promised himself he’d sign up.
Now in Year 12, he describes Kakadu as different to anywhere he’s ever been, and says it’s still hard to put into words the impact of the place, and the wonderful group vibe that developed among the students and staff who went.
“I feel this trip changed me and made me appreciate life in a different way. While I was there I realised how important it is to truly live in the moment—so I took my time and took it all in.”
Highlights included the magnificent waterfalls—like Gumlom, newly opened after being closed for about eight years—the sunset off Mindal Beach, and the welcome the group we were given onto Murumburr Clan Country.
Reide noticed how fire is understood so differently to how we think about it here in Victoria.
“Throughout Kakadu there were always fires burning around us, and I began to get an understanding of how fire can be good for the soil, plants, animals and birds.
“I even noticed things like the way the small animals would become the food for eagles as they fled the burning vegetation.”
All across Australia ‘firestick farming’ has been used for tens of thousands of years by Traditional Owners to maintain the health of the landscape, prevent megafires, protect food supplies and fulfil spiritual obligations to care for Country—not only to benefit humans but as a way of keeping a healthy balance in the whole environment.
BSSC has worked well for Reide, and he frequently recommends the college to others because of the incredibly helpful teaching staff, the great facilities, and the number of subjects on offer.
“I have never felt so welcomed by, or had such a great connection, with so many of my teachers,” he says. “I feel like they are trustworthy, that they trust me to take responsibility for my learning, and that I will come to them if I need help.
“I’ve started to really understand and appreciate how much our teachers do for us.”
Reide says he has a history of being somewhat stubborn about reaching out when he’s struggling, so stepping up to ask for help has been a life-lesson for him.
“It’s never too late to go and talk to someone,” Reide insists.
In the face of a growing Year 12 workload, he’s also focused on improving his organisational skills and decreasing his tendency to procrastinate.
When he sits down to do homework or prepare for SACs or exams, his habit is a study-then-take-a-break approach, and although he always listens to music, he’s aware it can be a distraction.
Reide de-stresses by engaging in the other interests in his life—riding his skateboard, heading out for a walk, spending time with mates or developing his skills in rock climbing. In the summer he water-skis, wakeboards, and tries to improve his surfing skills.
“Overall, just being outdoors is very good for me.”
Reide has two part time jobs he’s held for a couple of years—at Woolies in Epsom, and McCreddons Fishing and Outdoors, also in Epsom.
Long-term, his overall goal is to continue to learn and gain knowledge, and to do things that make him happy. In the future, he imagines himself outdoors doing lots of travelling and building a portfolio of his photography—a skill he’s actively working to develop.
“I know you can’t always be happy,” he admits, “but I don’t want to be locked into doing the same thing all the time.”
He’s very impressed by, and grateful for his parents, his brother and the wider family around him.
“My parents have worked so hard to support me and my brother. Parents are kind of like your ‘first sponsors’ setting you up for life. I really look up to my older brother too.”
Despite the many positives in Reide’s life, he also looks to the future with concern—even fear.
“I feel scared about there being so many complex problems in so many countries and even in Bendigo.
“We don’t seem to have worked out how to live lives that allow everyone to benefit, and we need to think about the future impact of what we’re doing right now.”
The paradox of life’s complexity is not lost on Reide as he adds that—so far—his life has actually become easier as he’s matured.
“If I was having a conversation with my younger self, I would be able to say that ‘things are going to get easier,’ and I’d tell myself; ‘Take your time and be patient because it’s hard as a kid and patience is a great tool for the rest of your life’.”
There is definitely a poet in Reide who chose the following analogy as a great way to think about the importance of life’s challenges in building maturity and resilience:
“A good sword is made by a blacksmith hammering it, heating it to huge temperatures, then plunging it into cold—all essential to make a useful sword.”
