Whitsunday Anglican School Mount Kilimanjaro Global Expedition
This time next week, 27 Whitsunday Anglican School staff, students and parents will be travelling to Africa in an attempt to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
If all goes to plan, Year 12 student Harry O’Connell, accompanied by his mum Di and dad David, will be the 100th person from Whitsunday Anglican School to reach the summit during the Global Expedition which is part of the School’s Global Learning Program.
Harry said he was feeling a mixture of emotions ahead of the trip but was excited to possibly be the 100th person from the Whitsunday Anglican School community to reach the top.
“I’m a bit nervous because I’ve not had many experiences with extreme cold growing up in North Queensland but I am very excited to attempt the climb of Mt Kilimanjaro with my friends from school and most of all with my family,” he said.
“I am very excited to potentially be the 100th person from Whitsunday Anglican School to summit Mount Kilimanjaro as this shows a great milestone in Whitsunday’s Global Learning activities.”
Harry said he was also looking forward to some friendly competition between himself and his father and was thankful for the organisation and training ahead of the trip which was coordinated by Whitsunday Anglican School’s Head of Operations Mr Nigel McDuff.
“I’m very happy that my family is coming along as this will be another of our many family adventures. I want to be able to beat my dad to the top of the mountain,” he said.
“This trip has been organised tremendously well by Mr McDuff who keeps everyone well informed and on task with their training.”
The O’Connells are strong supporters of the School’s Global Learning Program with Harry being the first student to undertake a Global Exchange to Spain in 2016 and they have also been a homestay family multiple times.
Whitsunday Anglican School Principal Mrs Maria McIvor said it was great to see another group heading over to take on the challenge.
“This is the fourth group we have had from the School head over to Africa to take on this challenge as part of our Global Learning Program,” she said.
“I undertook the challenge myself in 2016 and I know that everyone will be supporting each other to reach the 5895m summit.”
The 27 people taking on Mount Kilimanjaro, comprise of 10 students and 3 staff but perhaps of greater interest, the students are being accompanied by 14 of their adventurous mums and dads.
The group departs Mackay on Wednesday 20th June and following a safari in the Ngorongoro Crater, the climb up Mt Kilimanjaro, a recovery on the island of Zanzibar, and a stopover in Dubai, they will return to Mackay on July 7th.
