a trip on the Upper Murray

Larry organised this trip for interested members of the public on behalf of the Conservation and Touring Committee of ACAWA, wondering who would turn up to the few dozen advertising leaflets that he had distributed. Invited were any "never been there, done that" humans who could swim fifty metres. Twenty four of " a right smorgasbord of humanity, aged from six years to fifty or sixty something" did ! Canadian canoes were hired from Dwellingup for the trip from Yarragil to Island Pool.

After helping each other get the canoes to the bank (nine doubles and two triples), I gave a briefing and set up our communication &endash; safety-buddy &endash; system and made sure they all heard "you will need to contribute to make it work" (to have fun and look after each other).

It was then that Tay, the Malaysian student, told us she could not swim! "I have climbed the highest mountain in Malaysia", she forthrightly claimed. The group decided to support her in the attempt and a system was organised ready to go if she took a swim. Anyway, "she can use chopsticks", someone said, and a paddle "is just a bit longer". "Yer, Tay, just pretend you're eating noodles". It was decided to have Nikki paddle with Tay, Nikki's qualification being that as she was the mum of Steve, she had a proven marathon tolerance factor that may be needed.

We launched. After two kilometres it was obvious that chopsticks do not make a paddler. Tay and Nikki were in a 'bumper car' and we bumper-car-ed them through the first rapid. By then Nikki's tolerance was exhausted and we called for a review. Kit offered Tay a "if you've had enough feel free to call it a day", but Tay wanted to kick on.

Paul explained the situation to the others further up and got a volunteer in Duncan. By this time we had lost contact with the lead group, the older kids, who had gone on ahead with two of the adults, Rob and Geoff, and we hoped they would be okay. With only four experienced paddlers and now three groups, we had two tail-ended with Duncan/Tay and myself and Paul with the middle group. So if YOU run this novice style trip, get six experienced helpers.

Tony's Bend came up and the middle and tail-end group disembarked to check Island Pool rapid and to yes or no it. The lead group had gone straight through with no swims and were having fun paddling in the soup of the rapid tail. The "yes or no-ers" from the tail and middle groups changed partners to give the yes-ers a shot. Tay wanted to run it. Who would go with her?

Warren, the ex-rugby player from Queensland, said he would like a second run... and off they went back to the canoe and we waited. They appeared above the rapid ... sort of in line ... with the hole ... and into it they descended. Warren, big and Tay, light, were not balanced and they slowly capsized at the bottom of the rapid. Warren went into "rugby touchdown mode" and grabbed Tay under his right arm before she hit the water and had her on the bank in about twenty seconds.

It was then that all the remaining no-ers decided to give it a go. And so they did, and we had a few more swims but noone seemed to mind, and then some of them had another go and swam again.

After that it was light the fires, off the rope swing, great shared BBQ tucker and a nice Chardonnay with a great view and that getting warm and pleasant " post adrenalin" relax drift that only canoeists know after they've got into their dries.

What did they get out of this? "A great day out "was the unanimous comment. We definitely want to do it again. They have all lined up another trip and having got to know the place and the system they want to go further. The younger ones are on the hunt for more rapids. Tay is going to learn to swim.

Opening up the experience to the "others" (the general public) this way is a rewarding experience and great fun. You don't have to control or "do everything" for them. I found the individuals in this group, both young and old, just "made it work" anyway and supported each other in a fun-dinkum manner.

A comfortable number of experienced paddlers would be one kayak to four boats to provide adequate cover. The odd "can't swim" works provided everyone knows that fact and a system is set up to minimise risk and the river conditions are minimal risk which they are on this section of river. It is an ideal place to have people "get" what canoeing is about &endash; sharing risk and having a great time in a beautiful place. They will be back one day.

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