Year 10 Winton Tour - Days 5-9

A Night Under the Stars at The Royal

Our last night in Winton meant a return to a favourite venue from the Year 6 trip, the Royal Theatre, for a movie under the stars. In Year 6 it was for Pelican Boy. In Year 10 we are watching The Dry, to tie in with the English text for term 3.

This beautiful landmark is run by volunteers in town and hosts the yearly Splendid Visions Film Festival. This year the Year 10 cohort of 2026 have been able to support The Royal by using some of our service fundraising to purchase a 'brickcoin' for $250. As a result, there will be another permanent reminder of our visit on the wall of the theatre. We look forward to seeing it in place when we return in 2027.

Day 6 - From Winton to Longreach

Monday started early for a lot of students, as those of us who love proper football got up at 5am for the World Cup Final. It really adds something to the game when watched on corrugated metal. After breakfast, students worked together to pack bags, load buses and clean and tidy Barty's Place in preparation for the visit of Year 6 in a couple of weeks. After a last walk around town, students were reminded that this had not just been a visit, we talked about the impact their service has had on people in Winton. From students at the state school excited to make new friends to the gardens we have planted and murals painted that will be in Winton for years to come, perhaps when some of these students are grey nomads in 50 years, they can come back to see their work still in Winton, or their plaque on the wall of the Royal Theatre.

We then travelled to Longreach and our accommodation on Camden Park Station with the Walker family. Dan and his family have been hosting A.B Paterson College trips for years, showing our students a bit of country living and tucker with great warmth and humour. This evening, we travel out to the property before returning for the slow cooked pot roast the students prepared themselves - under guidance - earlier in the afternoon.

First Evening in Longreach

This evening students enjoyed the slow roast that they had prepared this afternoon, having 'sampled' all of the students’ work, staff can confirm they all did a good job. Before dinner we were treated to a wonderful performance from a Dance Troupe from the island of Kiribati. The group happened to be in Longreach at the same time as us and Dan Walker asked them to come and perform for our students. It was a great way to end day six of our tour. Tomorrow we are up early for a river cruise and damper making before returning to two favourites from the Year 6 camp: the Stockman's Hall of Fame and the QANTAS museum.

First Evening in Longreach

This evening students enjoyed the slow roast that they had prepared this afternoon, having 'sampled' all of the students’ work, staff can confirm they all did a good job. Before dinner we were treated to a wonderful performance from a Dance Troupe from the island of Kiribati. The group happened to be in Longreach at the same time as us and Dan Walker asked them to come and perform for our students. It was a great way to end day six of our tour. 

Day 7 - A Busy Day in Longreach

This morning was a nice early start, breakfast at 6:30am and off on our first adventure for the day, a cruise on the river followed by making our own damper for morning tea. Students had another go at cracking the whip, with a little more success second time around. After a quick stop for lunch back at our accommodation, it was back on the buses to head to the Stockman Hall of Fame, which has certainly changed a lot since the visit in 2022. Students were then treated to a performance of country skills in a wonderful stockmen’s show. Some staff and students got the chance to see if they could herd sheep better than a border collie. They could not. Although it is worth acknowledging that the students did much better than the staff, who at one point appeared to be being herded by the sheep!

After dinner we were back on the buses once more to travel to the QANTAS museum to see the spectacular luminescent show taking viewers through the history of QANTAS, from its foundation in Winton and Longreach just after WWI. As a special treat, from yet another staff member at an attraction who spoke about how much they look forward to the visit from A.B. Paterson College students, we were allowed to recreate the experience of getting group photos in the engine of the 747. It was a particularly special moment for Flynn Gibb, as his father has flown the 747 that is housed at the museum.

Back at the station our students showed their gratitude to the caterers and drivers who have been part of the family for the past week, they go so far beyond their expected duties to engage with our students and create a wonderful atmosphere throughout the camp. Our lead driver Russell has been coming on Winton trips since Ms Jacobs was in Year 6 (which I have been instructed to say isn't that long really) and makes a particular point of being available for our trips and will remember a lot of the students who were on his bus 4 years ago. 

Tomorrow, we begin our journey home, but not before we spend another busy day in Barcaldine.