Operation Flinders – Behind the Scenes.
Last month, John Caruana from the RC of Traralgon, visited the Operations Flinders camp as an observer. After a 3 hour trip from Adelaide, by light aircraft and bus, the observers reached the camp property at Yankaninna Station which is located in the far northern Flinders Ranges of South Australia approximately 585km north of Adelaide.
Here are some of his observations:
*Accommodation is in renovated shearer’s sheds – Spartan but comfortable.
*During the weekend there are 8 teams of between 8-10 students, a leader, an assistant leader and 2 councillors.
*Teams walk about 100km in 8 days. They never come across each other, 4x4 tracks or the base during this time.
*When the team arrives at Yankaninna they are met by their leader and handed a backpack with a sleeping bag, eating utensils, ground sheet, a one person shelter, wet weather gear, tent pegs, ropes and water bottles.
* The SA ambulance service supplies 2 paramedics on a voluntary basis for 8 days.
*Operation Flinders relies on about 400 volunteers, and each camp is conducted under military style operation, noting that the program was started by a retired Army Captain, Pamela Murray-White, over 25 years ago.
2 weeks prior to the camp volunteers meet at the warehouse in Adelaide and pack all the provisions which are taken to the site by truck. 3 days before the camp, the Exercise Commander, logistics, radio operators, team leaders and other staff arrive, have briefings and make preparations. Finally, post-camp after the last team leaves, key players return to Adelaide for further briefing and then all items have to be retrieved from the sites and returned to Adelaide for the next exercise.
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