Chris

To progress throughout the program, participants must complete various stages to obtain a bronze, silver and gold award, including learning a new skill, improving their physical wellbeing, volunteer in their community and experience a team adventure in a new environment.

With a bronze award already achieved, Chris set his sights on obtaining his silver award, even if it meant a delay in obtaining it due to the COVID-19 environment.

In February, Chris set off from Victoria Quay in Fremantle aboard the STS Leeuwin II as a supported crew member, a unique and thrilling five night ocean adventure that would also complete his DoE Silver Award. His place on the voyage was secured by Rocky Bay’s Wishing Tree.

“I did lots of different stuff and enjoyed doing new things – pulling ropes to put sails up, cleaning and cooking,” Chris says.

He also completed cleaning and galley duties, worked on the bow spirit and furled sails, learnt to tie knots, undertook night watch duties and even took the helm to steer the ship. Chris’s proudest moment though was reaching his goal to climb the shrouds of the ship.

“I don’t like heights but am very happy I climbed to the platform,” Chris says.

“I climbed higher each try and got to the platform on Friday.”

Rocky Bay Lead Support Worker, Craig Johnston, who supported Chris throughout the voyage, says that Chris was always willing to join in on any task he was asked to perform, and although he found some of them challenging, he would persist with support from the Watch Leaders and himself.