2016 RCHP Charitable Trust & Operation Flinders
RCHP Charitable Trust and Operation Flinders
The RCHP Charitable Trust 2016 AGM was held in conjunction with meeting 1731 of the Rotary Club of Hyde Park on 07Dec16.Formal reports were presented by Peter Ochota (Chairman) and Geoff Keynes (Secretary) before Ian Stewart (Treasurer) outlined the amazing work done by Operation Flinders, which has been supported by the Trust with two donations of $10,000 to date.
Ian had the privilege of attending an Operation Flinders camp recently to get a better appreciation of the programme. He met the management team and some of the participants and was able to prove his capability by abseiling down a 25m rocky cliff.Operation Flinders was started in 1991 by Pamela Murray-White, who realised the benefits that young 13-18 year old at-risk kids could draw from an outback experience that would challenge their day-to-day life style and introduce them to concepts of tolerance and understanding of those around them. Since the first trip involving 35 youths, OF now conducts five 8-day exercises per year attended by up to 100 participants supported by a team of 30-40 volunteers on Yankaninna Station on the edge of the Gammon Ranges between Leigh Creek and Arkaroola. The participants are dropped "in the middle of no where" to walk 100kms back to the property command centre. They navigate with map and compass between nominated camp spots where food and camping gear awaits.
The annual budget for the OF programme is $1.5m and the cost per participant is $1,650. Of the 6000 young people that have attended the camps so far, 70-75% have turned their lives around, which equates to a very cost effective method of improving the lives of our troubled youth.