Growing up on a farm, Hayley Johns was used to wide open spaces and paddocks of green as far as they eye could see.
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But wanting to challenge herself, this year the University of Newcastle student did what could be described as the direct opposite by living in confined quarters as part of a working sea voyage.
Miss Johns, 20, boarded the Young Endeavour Australian tall ship in June with 31 other people and for 11 days sailed from MacKay to Airlie Beach.
It was the second time in her life she had been on a boat.
“I’m originally from Gloucester. I grew up on a farm. I never even snorkelled in the sea before the trip,” Miss Johns said. “It was a really challenging trip for me but super rewarding. I absolutely loved it.”
The Young Endeavour Youth Scheme has been operating since 1988 when the training ship STS Young Endeavour was gifted to Australia by the UK.
The skills you learn on board, you take them back into your real lives.
- - Hayley Johns
Since then the scheme has provided Australians aged 16 to 23 a unique, challenging and inspirational experience at sea and an opportunity to develop teamwork and leadership skills and create a strong sense of community responsibility.
There are 20 voyages each year. Participants are selected through a ballot. Each voyage includes 24 youths and nine specially trained Royal Australian Navy support crew.
It was through a university classmate and friend that Miss Johns, who moved to Charlestown two years ago to study podiatry, heard about the Young Endeavour.
“I really wanted to do something a bit different, to challenge myself, but I didn’t want to go too far away. When I heard about the Young Endeavour, it sounded perfect,” Miss Johns said.
“I’d never done anything like that. It was a really great experience but I got a lot out of the personal development side of things like learning to be part of a team and leadership.
“The skills you learn on board, you take them back into your real lives.”
The trip is not a holiday. Each participant has duties they must perform on board. However, there is still plenty of fun and games, plus the exhilarating experiences of sailing a ship like climbing up the 32 metre tall mast.
“That was one of my favourite moments – climbing to the top of the mast,” Miss Johns said. “You’re not really connected to anything. Walking out on the yards and dangling over the sea – it’s special.
“When we pulled into Airlie Beach everyone had to climb up out on the yards and tuck away the sails. It was an awesome feeling to be up there.”
The ballot for 2019 Young Endeavour development voyages is now open at youngendeavour.gov.au.
Miss Johns encouraged anyone aged 16-23 wanting to challenge or learn more about themselves to apply.
