This poem was penned on the way home by one of our walkers – Natalie Gesslein. She read it out at the Bridge Hotel celebrations on Saturday to the great delight of all of us. While some of it may not be understood by those who weren’t there, it captures the spirit of our time and we’d love to share it with you.
One Step Forward
200km Charity Walk for the Royal Children’s Hospital Palliative Care Unit
By Natalie Gesslein
We travelled on a journey in Australian bush terrain
Starting just outside of Bright and walking in torrential rain
We trekked through Harrietville to Bright
Got photos at Wandi Pub
Followed rivers, roads,tracks and trails
Then met inside the hub
With soggy shoes and dripping clothes
We still had lots of fun
We looked forward to the following day
And prayed for lots more sun
Some love birds renewed their wedding vows
It was a funny sight
We had a ball; We laughed, we cried,
We had an early night
Each day we walked for miles and miles
We crossed a river bed
Our legs were sore, our blisters raw
But we all trouped on ahead
We had injuries with our walkers and also with our crew
Collapsing from exhaustion; over handle bars one flew
Swollen feet, hospital visits, blood sugar lows and coma
We had an unexpected discovery
Of a foetus we call Shona.
We had dramas and had panic;
We had tears and we had smiles
It’s amazing how fast time goes;
How it really flies
And then it’s nearly over, not far from whence begun
But over all a great time had
New friends and too much fun
Our goal was fifty thousand
Our screams were really loud
When we found we’d reached our goal plus more
We’d won and we were proud
We thank all our supporters
All those who showed they cared
For the little ones who need our love
Whose dreams have now been shared
We did it for the children; with thanks we do not seek
And now we must go to bed.
Don’t wake me for a week.
Image: Autumn in Bright. via
