By MARA PATTISON-SOWDEN
THERE were tears, blisters and yelps of joy as the 2013 Oxfam Trailwalker came to an end in Wesburn.
There was also sadness, after a man aged in his 40s died after collapsing on One Tree Hill Road in Ferny Creek.
On the positive side for Oxfam’s 11th Trailwalker, 79 per cent of the 750 teams completed the 100km walk within 48 hours from Wheelers Hill through the Dandenong Ranges, up the Warburton Rail Trail to Wesburn.
Yarra Valley team the Valley Misfit Chicks raised double their target of $1000, and finished as a team of three.
Woori Yallock walker Carol Gerrard, who walked with Kate Russell and Mel McLaren of Woori Yallock and Mez Higginson from Launching Place, said they all went through many emotions along the way.
“But laughter was our strongest one,” she said. “We were told we were one of the loudest groups by quite a few other walkers.”
Ms Gerrard, who works at Woori Yallock Primary School and has previously volunteered to cook food at the checkpoint for walkers, said “all the volunteers at each crossing and checkpoints were amazing and would clap and cheer us on”.
“We made it to Woori to a welcoming committee from family, friends, teachers and our principal which lifted our spirits,” she said.
“We finished tired, exhilarated, sore and emotionally drained but so very proud of our achievement.
“The tears flowed as we were cheered up the walk – we felt like celebrities.”
Celebrities or not, they had some pretty serious injuries when they got to the end.
“Kate’s knee was blown out and I had been walking in ugg boots since Dee Road and finished the last 12 kms wearing them, due to blisters on every toe,” she said.
“Mez (our trainer) was mentally exhausted and praised and encouraged us every step of the way – she was truly inspirational.”
Mel had dropped out 60kms into the trek due to her core temperature dropping dangerously low.
Trailwalker’s first-ever wheelchair participant Bruce Towers completed the trail in an impressive 32 hours and 18 minutes, crossing the finish line at 4.49pm on Saturday.
Trailwalker Melbourne Coordinator Brett Long said all participants should be congratulated for their wonderful efforts on the trail.
“This event is a massive achievement for participants and goes towards Oxfam’s life-saving work helping some of the world’s poorest communities find pathways out of poverty and injustice,” he said.
