1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:03,320 Speaker 1: Operation Flinda spent the weekend there as you know, and 2 00:00:03,360 --> 00:00:05,320 Speaker 1: I caught up with some of the volunteers and you'll 3 00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:07,680 Speaker 1: meet some of them in a minute, Abby and Libby. 4 00:00:07,800 --> 00:00:10,879 Speaker 1: But a couple of teachers were there with their school, 5 00:00:11,039 --> 00:00:14,320 Speaker 1: about ten kids, and they were two teachers who do 6 00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:18,440 Speaker 1: it regularly, just the best you could hope for in 7 00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:21,400 Speaker 1: teachers in state school, Sam and Steve. 8 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:25,000 Speaker 2: And this is their story and why they're there. 9 00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:26,960 Speaker 1: So a couple of the teachers who are here with 10 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:30,240 Speaker 1: the kids from their school, let me ask them about 11 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:33,200 Speaker 1: their experiences so far. It's early on in the piece, 12 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:35,199 Speaker 1: a couple of days and they've got most of a 13 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:37,560 Speaker 1: week to go. How the kids been over the last 14 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:38,200 Speaker 1: couple of days. 15 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:42,960 Speaker 3: I've been fairly painful, largely, Yeah, And now they've gone 16 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:46,360 Speaker 3: on noight that cooperating largely what we speculated. It's a 17 00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:48,000 Speaker 3: bit of a shock the whole thing to them. And 18 00:00:48,040 --> 00:00:51,120 Speaker 3: there's some rules and some roles so they have that 19 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:54,480 Speaker 3: are a bit confronting for them, but they know the 20 00:00:54,480 --> 00:00:57,480 Speaker 3: Operation Flinders boys do it well and they fall into 21 00:00:57,560 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 3: line with that pretty well. 22 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:02,040 Speaker 2: What do you hope the kids come back to school with? 23 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:04,440 Speaker 3: Well, they come back to school with the experience that 24 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:09,880 Speaker 3: they've had here and the coping that they've enjoyed and experienced. 25 00:01:10,319 --> 00:01:12,720 Speaker 3: But I think one of the key roles we have 26 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:16,840 Speaker 3: it's being people who validate what they've done, verify what 27 00:01:16,880 --> 00:01:20,640 Speaker 3: they've done, encourage them in what they've done in the 28 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:22,880 Speaker 3: next couple of years, because they're largely tens and eleven, 29 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:24,480 Speaker 3: so they're here for another year and a half or 30 00:01:24,480 --> 00:01:28,560 Speaker 3: two and a half years. And you know, nobody else 31 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:30,560 Speaker 3: at school can do that because that are all teachers 32 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:32,760 Speaker 3: who've been probably happy to see them out of the 33 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:35,720 Speaker 3: classroom for a week, and maybe they also have an 34 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:38,760 Speaker 3: expectation that when the kids come back from this, they're 35 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:40,880 Speaker 3: going to be all bright and shiny and all fixed 36 00:01:40,959 --> 00:01:45,360 Speaker 3: up right, which is largely not what happens. But there's 37 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 3: a lot of ongoing stuff. We were able to encourage 38 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:51,920 Speaker 3: them in, remind them, you know, what they've achieved, and 39 00:01:51,960 --> 00:01:53,960 Speaker 3: build on that because we've got a relationship. We encourage 40 00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:56,720 Speaker 3: them in their are other efforts to seek apprenticeships and 41 00:01:57,680 --> 00:01:59,600 Speaker 3: do well at school or get on and whatever else 42 00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:02,120 Speaker 3: they do. So see, what are you going. 43 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:06,000 Speaker 4: To well succeeding with something like this, which is harsh 44 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:09,320 Speaker 4: and physically demanding and all that sort of stuff is 45 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:12,640 Speaker 4: one thing, but it's actually gaining the hope and the. 46 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:17,399 Speaker 2: Gaining trust with us, I guess, and trust with each other. 47 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:21,480 Speaker 4: And they've come from situations, well many of our kids 48 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:26,400 Speaker 4: come from situations in which they don't trust and they 49 00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:29,600 Speaker 4: want to do things themselves and to put out trust 50 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:33,239 Speaker 4: and to rely on someone else. There's actually a reasonably 51 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:36,040 Speaker 4: difficult thing to do. And so out here they're starting 52 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:40,360 Speaker 4: to do that. And as time goes on, that mutual 53 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:45,040 Speaker 4: trust develops with the group and develops with us. That's relationship, 54 00:02:45,639 --> 00:02:48,720 Speaker 4: and then that actually the ability to have that trust 55 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:51,920 Speaker 4: and to be successful gives some hope for the future. 56 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:54,120 Speaker 1: So not only is there work cut out for them 57 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:56,280 Speaker 1: in the future, so it's yours because of the relationship 58 00:02:56,320 --> 00:02:57,800 Speaker 1: you're forming here essentially. 59 00:02:57,880 --> 00:02:59,800 Speaker 4: Well, one of the things I wanted to mention is 60 00:02:59,840 --> 00:03:02,639 Speaker 4: that Sam and I we've done it for a couple 61 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:05,480 Speaker 4: of years, and one of the really important things that 62 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:08,480 Speaker 4: we say to the kids after we come back, we 63 00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:11,359 Speaker 4: have a chat with the guys and we say, if 64 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:13,800 Speaker 4: anything happens to you in the future, if there are 65 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 4: any issues that you need someone to talk about. We've 66 00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:20,080 Speaker 4: been through something that is really special. We've built this 67 00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:23,959 Speaker 4: mutual trust and even after we've left school, after you've 68 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:27,160 Speaker 4: left school, if it's five years, ten years down the track, 69 00:03:27,240 --> 00:03:30,000 Speaker 4: we're still there for you. If you really want to 70 00:03:30,040 --> 00:03:31,519 Speaker 4: spend time, give us a ring. 71 00:03:31,680 --> 00:03:34,120 Speaker 2: We'll spend time with you. We'd love to. How good 72 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:34,360 Speaker 2: is that? 73 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:37,920 Speaker 1: So that's like value added to year twelve, and the 74 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:38,880 Speaker 1: guarantee continues. 75 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:41,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's not just about being a teacher at school. 76 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:46,080 Speaker 4: It's about being a person who builds relationships and as 77 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:48,880 Speaker 4: a person that can be trusted, and it shows what 78 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:54,440 Speaker 4: authenticity and genuine genuineness is all about. 79 00:03:55,280 --> 00:03:56,119 Speaker 2: Do you get that much? 80 00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:59,440 Speaker 1: Do you get kids from a decade ago getting in 81 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 1: touch with you. 82 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:02,960 Speaker 2: We see kids a lot, but I haven't. 83 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 4: I don't think either of us have had somebody ring 84 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 4: us up and say, look, you know, I've got this 85 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:12,040 Speaker 4: really major issue in my life. But often they will 86 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:14,320 Speaker 4: see us in the in the barrier, they'll have a 87 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:16,680 Speaker 4: chat with us, they'll tell us how they're getting on, 88 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:20,560 Speaker 4: and yeah, that's really special to us because it's you know, 89 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:23,200 Speaker 4: we grow as well as the kids. It's not just 90 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:26,479 Speaker 4: about us being here to help them. We actually grow 91 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:27,440 Speaker 4: through the experience. 92 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 3: Two of them coming on a snow trip we're doing 93 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:34,159 Speaker 3: out of the local church and they got to know 94 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:37,200 Speaker 3: them through Operation Flindos a few years ago. They're now 95 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:41,760 Speaker 3: out of school working apprenticeships and got jobs, and that 96 00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:46,800 Speaker 3: contact has kept on when we're back at school because 97 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:49,680 Speaker 3: because of the relationship, kids are happy to lob in 98 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:51,800 Speaker 3: to our offices. I've got to toast you in my office. 99 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:55,360 Speaker 3: Kids come in and toast up their sandwiches when it's 100 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:58,880 Speaker 3: cold especially, and hang out and then they get chatting about stuff, 101 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:02,000 Speaker 3: and you know, they have We do be frank about 102 00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:05,480 Speaker 3: all sorts of things like drugs and relationships and jobs 103 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:08,400 Speaker 3: and teachers and homework and stuff, and often we get 104 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:11,320 Speaker 3: the opportunity to be let in on those conversations and 105 00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:15,200 Speaker 3: have something constructive to say and perhaps help them with. 106 00:05:15,480 --> 00:05:18,760 Speaker 1: Help them speak into that so important Good on you 107 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:21,680 Speaker 1: as teachers taking it to the next level, really, because 108 00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 1: there'd be many who wouldn't know. 109 00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:26,360 Speaker 3: And I think that our link is really really crucial 110 00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:32,160 Speaker 3: because otherwise it's flindless. Yeah, Operation from has become too 111 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:36,440 Speaker 3: much of a standalone and the kids need that connection. 112 00:05:36,520 --> 00:05:39,560 Speaker 3: After that, that sort of follow up which happened through 113 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:42,760 Speaker 3: our connection with them from having been on the same thing. 114 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 4: Sam and I have done this for a number of 115 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:46,400 Speaker 4: years and we do it as a team, and so 116 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:49,520 Speaker 4: the team that we build between us is really special too, 117 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:52,520 Speaker 4: you know, to we talk about the kids and we 118 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:55,520 Speaker 4: talk about them afterwards as well and how we can help. 119 00:05:55,920 --> 00:05:58,520 Speaker 2: Good on you both. Thanks, Thanks Matt, Thank you. 120 00:05:58,760 --> 00:06:01,880 Speaker 1: A couple of teachers with their students of Operation Flinda's. 121 00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:05,360 Speaker 1: How excellent is that hearing that story from them as 122 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:11,080 Speaker 1: to the care for children moving beyond school once they finish, 123 00:06:11,080 --> 00:06:12,480 Speaker 1: you know, give us a call any that's what you 124 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:15,560 Speaker 1: want teachers to be like. That's brilliant, I think, and 125 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:17,560 Speaker 1: good on them. It's a state school. I took out 126 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:22,800 Speaker 1: the references to the school in the conversation, but I 127 00:06:22,839 --> 00:06:27,160 Speaker 1: think that's going above and beyond and absolute champions. Libby 128 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:30,640 Speaker 1: is a long time volunteer with Operation Flinder's. I caught 129 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:33,080 Speaker 1: up with her up at Yankin in a station as well. Libby, 130 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:36,400 Speaker 1: you volunteer here with Wayne your husband. How's that working 131 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:38,599 Speaker 1: out and how did you get involve the two of you? 132 00:06:39,279 --> 00:06:43,159 Speaker 5: It's fantastic. We do lots of job sharing together, so 133 00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:48,200 Speaker 5: that's good. But I got involved with Operation Flinder's back 134 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:51,719 Speaker 5: a while I was lecturing at the university in outdoor education, 135 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:54,839 Speaker 5: and so I was Wayne and he did his first 136 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:57,919 Speaker 5: walk up here. After he'd done it, I went to 137 00:06:58,160 --> 00:07:02,000 Speaker 5: the meeting that you have afterwards with the group and 138 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:05,599 Speaker 5: that got me really fired up that I'd like to 139 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:08,719 Speaker 5: be involved. And so I started with the next step 140 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:13,320 Speaker 5: program with the kids that have done the first walk 141 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:18,480 Speaker 5: and then wanting to go on developing and doing things. 142 00:07:18,880 --> 00:07:21,080 Speaker 5: And so I've been doing that for about fifteen years 143 00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:25,680 Speaker 5: now and it's so rewarding. You get more out of 144 00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 5: it than you put in. It's just fantastic in seeing 145 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:31,760 Speaker 5: the kids grow, to see them grow. And I had 146 00:07:31,760 --> 00:07:36,880 Speaker 5: the most amazing experience with a kid about a year ago. 147 00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:41,560 Speaker 5: We live in Parkside and walked down the street. 148 00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:44,400 Speaker 2: I had a bit of Operation. 149 00:07:44,120 --> 00:07:47,320 Speaker 5: Flinder's jacket on, but a young man jumped out of 150 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:52,280 Speaker 5: a big truck that he was doing roadworks there, and 151 00:07:52,320 --> 00:07:55,160 Speaker 5: he jumped out and he recognized us. Oh wow, and 152 00:07:55,760 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 5: called out Lenny Wayne, I don't here, and he said 153 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:06,080 Speaker 5: how much Operation Flinda's had done for him. And it 154 00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:08,800 Speaker 5: just it thrills you, it really does. 155 00:08:09,080 --> 00:08:11,480 Speaker 1: Yes, Maybe tell me about your background, because I know 156 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:13,720 Speaker 1: you've run a school in the Northern Territory. 157 00:08:13,760 --> 00:08:17,080 Speaker 5: Was it in Cathrine, No, No, it was Actually I've 158 00:08:17,120 --> 00:08:19,360 Speaker 5: had kids from Catherine that have come down and done 159 00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:22,200 Speaker 5: the program. But in fact our school was just in 160 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:26,040 Speaker 5: South Australia by thirty k's. We were one hundred k's 161 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:28,720 Speaker 5: from the Western Australian border, thirty k's from the Northern 162 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:33,120 Speaker 5: Territory in South Australia. When we got there, we were 163 00:08:33,120 --> 00:08:36,520 Speaker 5: going to be the first teachers. The buildings hadn't arrived 164 00:08:36,520 --> 00:08:39,240 Speaker 5: because there'd been rain and they couldn't get them in, 165 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:42,400 Speaker 5: so we camped in our camper. We got the keys 166 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:47,320 Speaker 5: to the house and the school in September. But it 167 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:49,240 Speaker 5: was the best thing that could have been because the 168 00:08:49,280 --> 00:08:52,000 Speaker 5: people were wonderful to us. They looked after us really. 169 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:54,840 Speaker 5: But we actually had a woman who worked with me 170 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:57,439 Speaker 5: in my class and a woman who worked with Wayne 171 00:08:57,440 --> 00:09:00,240 Speaker 5: in his group. He had the older kids, which is 172 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:04,120 Speaker 5: appropriate male female, and we trained up someone to be 173 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:07,040 Speaker 5: the bus driver who went round to the four little 174 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:11,400 Speaker 5: homeland communities and brought the kids in every day, and 175 00:09:11,480 --> 00:09:14,440 Speaker 5: we had a groundsman. We trained them all up that 176 00:09:14,840 --> 00:09:17,400 Speaker 5: one of those women has now finished her degree, which 177 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:18,480 Speaker 5: is fantastic. 178 00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:21,840 Speaker 2: So one of the school children essentially. Yeah, she was. 179 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:25,360 Speaker 5: Actually the assistant teacher and she's now Yes, she's now 180 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:28,160 Speaker 5: a trained teacher. So yeah, it was fantastic. 181 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:30,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, what an experience. How long were you up there? For? 182 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:36,640 Speaker 5: Six years? And then also our own family, we've realized 183 00:09:36,760 --> 00:09:40,319 Speaker 5: because we had four boys and that we were studying 184 00:09:40,320 --> 00:09:43,320 Speaker 5: to get grandchildren and things, and we wanted to be 185 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:47,000 Speaker 5: a little bit closer to family, so yeah, and we 186 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:50,480 Speaker 5: then came down and then not long after that we 187 00:09:50,520 --> 00:09:54,320 Speaker 5: got offered a job at the university and yeah, and 188 00:09:55,320 --> 00:09:56,560 Speaker 5: lectured in outdoor education. 189 00:09:57,040 --> 00:09:59,079 Speaker 1: And now you're here, and I gather you don't miss 190 00:09:59,120 --> 00:10:00,880 Speaker 1: one of these when they set up. 191 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:02,200 Speaker 2: I love it. 192 00:10:03,800 --> 00:10:08,480 Speaker 5: I love the outback, but it's the people. Okay, I 193 00:10:08,520 --> 00:10:10,600 Speaker 5: don't have so much when I'm on base, I don't 194 00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:12,600 Speaker 5: have so much to do with the kids, but you're 195 00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:16,559 Speaker 5: supporting but all the other people who are terrific. 196 00:10:16,200 --> 00:10:16,760 Speaker 2: To work with. 197 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:19,000 Speaker 5: But then I Wayne and I. 198 00:10:18,960 --> 00:10:19,800 Speaker 4: Both do. 199 00:10:21,240 --> 00:10:25,000 Speaker 5: A lot of the work with the next steppers in 200 00:10:25,640 --> 00:10:31,600 Speaker 5: between exercises, and we've introduced kayaking into so we train 201 00:10:31,679 --> 00:10:35,480 Speaker 5: them up so that they get outdoor recreation qualifications as well. 202 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:38,160 Speaker 2: And that's not here, is it. That's where there's not 203 00:10:38,240 --> 00:10:39,559 Speaker 2: much that's right. 204 00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 1: So Operation Flinders goes to different regions like Kangaroo Island 205 00:10:42,559 --> 00:10:43,160 Speaker 1: and other. 206 00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:46,400 Speaker 5: Place and we do. We do a lot of the 207 00:10:46,440 --> 00:10:50,839 Speaker 5: training down at Clayton which is really good area. We 208 00:10:51,160 --> 00:10:54,920 Speaker 5: sometimes paddle on West Lakes or Port River. You know, 209 00:10:54,920 --> 00:10:59,160 Speaker 5: they're getting the skills to then work in the outdoors themselves, 210 00:10:59,400 --> 00:11:01,839 Speaker 5: maybe as a leader later if they get all the 211 00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:03,160 Speaker 5: qualifications they need. 212 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:06,480 Speaker 1: It's a wonderful thing, isn't it. I mean, directly and indirectly, 213 00:11:06,559 --> 00:11:10,199 Speaker 1: you're helping young people. You're affecting and potentially changing their 214 00:11:10,200 --> 00:11:12,440 Speaker 1: lives for the better, which is the best thing you 215 00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:13,240 Speaker 1: could possibly do. 216 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:19,320 Speaker 5: Yes, but in fact it sounds selfish, but I think 217 00:11:19,440 --> 00:11:21,160 Speaker 5: I get so much out of it too. 218 00:11:21,400 --> 00:11:22,480 Speaker 2: A lot of people have told me. 219 00:11:22,440 --> 00:11:27,640 Speaker 5: That, yeah, it's just fantastic. And I think the other 220 00:11:27,720 --> 00:11:32,840 Speaker 5: thing is that the whole support from Operation Flinders is 221 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:37,720 Speaker 5: so supportive of making use of the skills you bring, 222 00:11:38,480 --> 00:11:41,360 Speaker 5: but then giving you some training in the bits that 223 00:11:41,400 --> 00:11:46,520 Speaker 5: you're lacking in and that makes you feel comfortable. If 224 00:11:46,520 --> 00:11:49,800 Speaker 5: you're going into an area that you're not so familiar 225 00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:52,720 Speaker 5: with or you don't know so much, you know they've 226 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:56,079 Speaker 5: got your back and that makes a huge difference. 227 00:11:57,040 --> 00:12:02,520 Speaker 2: So it's fantastic, wonderful. Thank you, thank you, Libby, thank 228 00:12:02,520 --> 00:12:03,080 Speaker 2: you for your time. 229 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:05,079 Speaker 1: And one of the people that helps bring it all 230 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:07,800 Speaker 1: together up there in Yankin in the station. It's what 231 00:12:07,880 --> 00:12:10,880 Speaker 1: about seven hundred odd k's out of Adelaide due north 232 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:16,720 Speaker 1: northern Flinders, Abby Buckley, who is looking after operation SO. 233 00:12:16,760 --> 00:12:18,200 Speaker 1: I had a chat with her while I was up 234 00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:18,760 Speaker 1: there as well. 235 00:12:19,800 --> 00:12:20,079 Speaker 2: Abby. 236 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:22,080 Speaker 1: You're in charge of some of the colms here and 237 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:23,120 Speaker 1: some of the organization. 238 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:25,840 Speaker 2: What's your title here, Matthew. 239 00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:31,959 Speaker 6: My title is OPSO, which is the acronym for Operations 240 00:12:32,120 --> 00:12:33,720 Speaker 6: Officer of the Exercise. 241 00:12:33,760 --> 00:12:35,120 Speaker 2: All right, and what does that entail? 242 00:12:35,920 --> 00:12:39,000 Speaker 6: The OPSO. We have two of us on this exercise 243 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:46,320 Speaker 6: and our role is to be the communication contact and 244 00:12:46,400 --> 00:12:49,840 Speaker 6: to look after the everyone who's out in the field. 245 00:12:50,520 --> 00:12:53,640 Speaker 6: And at the moment we have one hundred and forty 246 00:12:53,720 --> 00:12:59,199 Speaker 6: three people that we are responsible for looking after their safety, 247 00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:05,240 Speaker 6: their needs and welfare, as well as we look after 248 00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:08,640 Speaker 6: all our resources that they're well managed out in the 249 00:13:08,679 --> 00:13:12,720 Speaker 6: field and also making sure that the environment out there 250 00:13:13,320 --> 00:13:16,320 Speaker 6: is well cared for and we have as minimal impact 251 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:17,000 Speaker 6: as possible. 252 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:18,880 Speaker 1: Okay, there's a lot of radio chat and I can 253 00:13:18,920 --> 00:13:21,440 Speaker 1: hear it now in the background, and that has NonStop 254 00:13:21,480 --> 00:13:23,200 Speaker 1: been the twenty four hours that I've been here. So 255 00:13:23,240 --> 00:13:25,280 Speaker 1: there is a lot of two and fro communications, isn't 256 00:13:25,280 --> 00:13:27,840 Speaker 1: there With ten different groups spread over six hundred odd 257 00:13:28,040 --> 00:13:29,400 Speaker 1: squea kilometers. 258 00:13:29,080 --> 00:13:34,400 Speaker 6: That's exactly right, Matthew. We run the communications twenty four 259 00:13:34,440 --> 00:13:39,480 Speaker 6: by seven, we run the shifts. So with our two opsos, 260 00:13:39,679 --> 00:13:43,760 Speaker 6: one is always on the radio at nighttime as well 261 00:13:43,760 --> 00:13:47,400 Speaker 6: as during the day. And that's why you're hearing all 262 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:51,199 Speaker 6: that radio chatter that we give that absolute priority when 263 00:13:51,280 --> 00:13:54,959 Speaker 6: one of the teams call in requesting something. 264 00:13:55,080 --> 00:13:58,079 Speaker 1: And generally food has dropped off, it's you know, perhaps 265 00:13:58,200 --> 00:14:00,520 Speaker 1: batteries running out or something like that that they might 266 00:14:00,559 --> 00:14:01,200 Speaker 1: call in for. 267 00:14:01,720 --> 00:14:04,560 Speaker 6: Yes, well you've heard what we call the sit reps 268 00:14:04,559 --> 00:14:07,760 Speaker 6: that come in between seven am and eight am every morning. 269 00:14:08,200 --> 00:14:11,839 Speaker 6: That stands for Situation report, and each of the team 270 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:15,760 Speaker 6: leaders they have a set format where they are able 271 00:14:15,760 --> 00:14:18,920 Speaker 6: to quickly tell us what's going on with their team 272 00:14:19,040 --> 00:14:21,920 Speaker 6: after the evening, what their intentions are for the day, 273 00:14:22,480 --> 00:14:25,760 Speaker 6: and if they have any needs. And then after we've 274 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:29,000 Speaker 6: had the sit reps, then the two opsos sit down 275 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:31,680 Speaker 6: and we work out what is the most efficient way 276 00:14:32,360 --> 00:14:36,960 Speaker 6: to cover all those kilometers with basically two vehicles to 277 00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:39,800 Speaker 6: get Basically it's a milk run. So we set up 278 00:14:39,800 --> 00:14:43,000 Speaker 6: these two really long milk runs. One goes out to 279 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:46,760 Speaker 6: the northwest and one goes out to the northeast, efficiently 280 00:14:47,120 --> 00:14:50,800 Speaker 6: dropping off and picking up or the empty food boxes, 281 00:14:50,880 --> 00:14:54,760 Speaker 6: dropping off receps like for batteries or water or anything 282 00:14:54,920 --> 00:14:58,200 Speaker 6: anything that the team leaders need and the participants where 283 00:14:58,240 --> 00:15:00,480 Speaker 6: they're to make their life as easy as par possible 284 00:15:00,720 --> 00:15:03,800 Speaker 6: with safety being the major criteria. 285 00:15:03,320 --> 00:15:05,160 Speaker 1: And that obviously drops off food as well for the 286 00:15:05,240 --> 00:15:08,040 Speaker 1: day and the night to come as camps groups make 287 00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:09,480 Speaker 1: their way to wear they're camping that night. 288 00:15:09,920 --> 00:15:14,160 Speaker 6: Well, actually, Matthew, that's what. Before the exercise, we have 289 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:18,560 Speaker 6: another amazing team of volleys who were down in HQ, 290 00:15:19,440 --> 00:15:21,480 Speaker 6: and that there's another team that come up here pre 291 00:15:21,560 --> 00:15:24,320 Speaker 6: exercise and they're the people who are packing all the 292 00:15:24,400 --> 00:15:28,440 Speaker 6: food into boxes and then they're sent up here and 293 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:31,240 Speaker 6: the food boxes are already put out at the camps 294 00:15:31,480 --> 00:15:34,840 Speaker 6: by this other amazing group of volleys the pre advance 295 00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:38,040 Speaker 6: and they set up all the camp sites. So our 296 00:15:38,160 --> 00:15:41,280 Speaker 6: role is if like we have special rations for people 297 00:15:41,280 --> 00:15:43,480 Speaker 6: who have special dietary needs, and we had one this 298 00:15:43,560 --> 00:15:46,960 Speaker 6: morning the Marror We camp, the one that's right out west. 299 00:15:47,320 --> 00:15:50,720 Speaker 6: The special rations have to be topped up, so they've 300 00:15:50,760 --> 00:15:53,880 Speaker 6: all been used, so we're making sure that by tonight 301 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:58,280 Speaker 6: they'll be resupplied at that camp site, but all the 302 00:15:58,320 --> 00:16:00,320 Speaker 6: food's already out there in this field. 303 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:04,160 Speaker 1: Boxes amazing system you've got in your control room. Were 304 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:07,520 Speaker 1: able to monitor everyone electronically with I suppose the attack 305 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:10,520 Speaker 1: equivalent type thing and you can see where they are 306 00:16:10,520 --> 00:16:14,480 Speaker 1: at any given moment or at least every ten minute intervals. 307 00:16:14,040 --> 00:16:19,240 Speaker 6: That's correct. This is new technology that we have integrated. 308 00:16:19,240 --> 00:16:21,560 Speaker 6: This is the second exercise that we've had it on, 309 00:16:22,040 --> 00:16:25,200 Speaker 6: so we're on a steep learning curve. But from doing 310 00:16:25,240 --> 00:16:28,920 Speaker 6: this role in the past where we had just a 311 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:32,880 Speaker 6: manual system, to now being able to any screen, not 312 00:16:32,960 --> 00:16:35,280 Speaker 6: just in our OPSO room, but any screen that is 313 00:16:35,320 --> 00:16:38,480 Speaker 6: in Wi Fi contact on the base. We're able to 314 00:16:38,880 --> 00:16:41,440 Speaker 6: open it up and see where all of our teams 315 00:16:41,840 --> 00:16:46,320 Speaker 6: and our vehicles are at within ten minute pins. 316 00:16:46,440 --> 00:16:48,000 Speaker 2: What do you get out of it personally, I've be 317 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:49,880 Speaker 2: being here and volunteering. 318 00:16:50,440 --> 00:16:55,960 Speaker 6: For me personally, it's about gett a bit emotional. This 319 00:16:56,120 --> 00:16:59,320 Speaker 6: it's about working with these where you've met the Matthew 320 00:17:00,280 --> 00:17:03,600 Speaker 6: people and we are all volunteers, And when do you 321 00:17:03,680 --> 00:17:07,680 Speaker 6: find an organization where you're working with so many people 322 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:11,560 Speaker 6: like we've got sort of twenty thirty odd people on 323 00:17:11,640 --> 00:17:15,719 Speaker 6: base and you absolutely know everyone here is giving one 324 00:17:15,840 --> 00:17:18,960 Speaker 6: hundred and fifty percent all the time. There are no slackers. 325 00:17:19,400 --> 00:17:23,159 Speaker 6: You don't have to ask people twice. People are just 326 00:17:23,640 --> 00:17:27,800 Speaker 6: wanting to work and give everything so beautually. By the 327 00:17:27,800 --> 00:17:31,240 Speaker 6: time we go home, we're all mentally, physically, emotionally exhausted, 328 00:17:31,400 --> 00:17:34,600 Speaker 6: but it's such a good feeling because we know that 329 00:17:34,720 --> 00:17:40,000 Speaker 6: everything we're doing is giving those young people out there 330 00:17:40,040 --> 00:17:42,119 Speaker 6: the chance to reach their highest potential. 331 00:17:43,080 --> 00:17:43,760 Speaker 2: Thank you for your time. 332 00:17:43,840 --> 00:17:44,560 Speaker 6: Thanks Matthew.