Alice Miller in Term 4, 2025 HAPPENINGS AROUND THE PLACE

Year 7 Music

BUPA Woodend

On the 20th of November, the rest of the Year 7 students and I went on an excursion to the aged care home called BUPA. It was an enjoyable experience to play an array of songs for the residents, who were happy to see a group of students performing with violins and cellos. After we packed up quickly at the end of the performance, we had some free time to run around and play at the nearby children’s park.

Zalia Ulfan, Year 7.

Year 7

From Candlebark to Alice Miller, by foot!

As part of their Year 8 transition program, Year 7 students from both campuses made the journey from Candlebark to Alice Miller, around 30 km, over the course of one day. The four hike groups set off from Candlebark at self-nominated departure times of 6 / 6.15 / 6.30 / 6.45 am. The early stages were certainly not easy; think cool - cold air temperatures, misty rain, a sustained uphill climb to the old house at Wignalls, and plenty more kilometres to walk beyond there. By the time they reached Kerrie Valley Road, the four smaller groups had become one large, messy, mixed up bunch without much momentum...

Things began to change between Kerrie Valley Road and the morning tea meet up on Lions Head Road (beyond Sanatorium Lake). Much of this stretch involved gradual, and at times, steep, climbing on wet and muddy tracks. Rather than slowing down, the groups made swift work of this section, and they were soon feasting on a well deserved box of morning tea treats. Three groups then raced around the Camels Hump and on to the Memorial Cross for lunch, while a fourth group circumnavigated the Camels Hump (and a little more) before also making it to lunch, beneath blue skies and increasing patches of sun.

The afternoon was shorter, and perhaps easier walking, but by now legs and bodies were growing weary. But motivation to reach Alice Miller was growing too. From the final snack break at the beginning of Blackwood Road, the school gates felt like a short hop, skip, and a jump away. In total, they were 10 - 11 hours, and around 30 km, from where the day had started! To have made it this far in a single day is a phenomenal effort. Five years ago, this journey would have been a two day crossing for students 2 - 3 years older than these kids. As far as we know, this is the first time these two schools have been linked by foot (or feet), in a single day. We are incredibly proud and deeply impressed by the efforts of this particular bunch of kids.

A link to the rough route can be found here: https://mapy.com/s/resalofemu Needless to say, the festivities continued at Alice Miller the following day, with birthday cake for breakfast, and a rave and karaoke party!

By Sam Ford, Outdoor Education Coordinator.

Year 8 Humanities

After exploring the History of Economics, tracing the journey from barter to currency and digital banking, our Year 8 Humanities students spent Term 4 diving into the true value of money. They tackled a range of projects centred on the realities of independent living. Very quickly, students learned just how pricey adult life can be (the grocery bills caused the most outrage!). In their imagined early adulthood, healthy snacks were swiftly sacrificed for a weekly rotation of packet ramen and carbonara, though the Netflix subscription remained a non-negotiable. In their hypotheticals, money-saving strategies became increasingly inventive: borrowing cars, sharing houses, and even adopting worms found on the freeway as low-maintenance pets?! Next, the Year 8s took on the challenge of planning a full day of budget-friendly adventure. Working in small groups, they designed a picnic menu for the Queen Victoria Market and mapped out a schedule of affordable activities, proving you can have fun without spending much at all. To finish the term, students were given a challenge: to present a 2–5 minute speech presenting their personal perspective on the impact of money. The result was a wonderful mix of heartfelt reflections, fiery debates, and comedic satire.

By Chloe Woolley, Humanities.

Humanities Speeches

By the end of Term Four, my class had taken part in many different activities, such as the personal budgeting task, which taught us how to manage adult expenses, and the Budget Day excursion to the city - an excursion and picnic that was completely planned and budgeted by us Year 8 students. However, I will be focusing on the speech-writing task that my classmates and I developed over two lessons before presenting our speeches to the class on the final day of Year 8, the Friday before Step Up. Some of the big, opinion-based questions we could answer in our speeches included “Can money buy happiness?”, “Does money make the world a better or worse place?”, and “How does money affect the world?”. We were also allowed to be creative and come up with our own big question. During the first lesson, we worked on our own or with a partner to discuss and choose a topic before settling down to brainstorm ideas. In the following lesson, we wrote and finalised our speeches, which we then practised and completed that evening. Presenting to the class brought nervous feelings to the surface, but it was fun in the end and interesting to hear other students’ perspectives on their topics. It also helped us gain new ideas and viewpoints from listening to each other’s speeches. Overall, it was a fun and engaging way to end the term’s activities, bringing together many different opinions and perspectives on life with or without money.

By Mia Greenwood, Year 8.

Debate About Billionaires

Connor: In this debate, I would argue that the existence of billionaires is essential for large scale economies in the modern day. Their wealth fosters innovation, investment, tax revenue and millions of jobs. Outlawing billionaires or implementing disciplinary tax structures would damage national economic stability. At the very top of the economic pyramid, money is connected to stocks in companies, intellectual property/copyright, business ownership, not cash. Such investments in research and major projects is something the government cannot feasibly do more effectively. At this level it is unfeasible to spend this level of wealth, thus making it a sort of token for innovation.  If a country sets its taxes too high or introduces an artificial wealth cap, upper class individuals and corporations move their money abroad to other countries. A prime example of this is what is currently happening in the United Kingdom, where recent tax increases for the wealthy have led to record numbers of upper class individuals moving aboard. When they leave the country loses potential tax revenue, and investment. If a country prevents people from growing their wealth, many entrepreneurs and investors will simply move to a country with better opportunists, lower taxes and a freer market. When they leave they take their money, their businesses, and their tax revenue with them. Since upper class individuals and corporations provide a large share of tax revenue, losing them can seriously weaken economies. Large companies like Amazon, Microsoft and Walmart employ millions of people and play a huge role in keeping our global supply chains running. If governments implement strict limits on profits and wealth accumulation to the people who own these companies, it becomes harder for them to reinvest in their businesses. Resulting in these large companies to contemplate moving to countries with friendlier taxation policies. If that were to happen it would lead to major job losses and possibly a recession depending on the size of said company and the economy it's influencing. A real world example of this is Venezuela. The government introduced very heavy taxes and strict controls on private businesses and property. As a result, many venture capitalists, investors, and high net worth individuals fled the country, leading to hyperinflation thus shrinking the economy by over 75% in just seven years, according to a bread.org study. This shows what can happen when a country makes it too difficult for wealthy individuals and businesses to operate. Billionaires aren't just rich people, they're symbols of innovation, economic growth, investment and job creation. Seba: In this debate, I will attempt to argue that billionaires should not exist in today’s world because of factors like inequality, the lives we could improve through the money billionaires are sitting on, and the vast power and control that people with this kind of money can exert. Let's start with inequality. The UN defines extreme poverty as living on under $3.00 a day, and more than 10% of the world's population suffers this level of poverty. However, this unequal distribution of wealth isn't inherently billionaires' fault; rather, it is a systemic problem that has deep ties with many countries. Most billionaires earn their wealth, but millions of others aren't given the same chances, as money is finite. This brings me to the next issue. Millions of people’s lives could be improved if billionaires did not exist. Though billionaires use their money in many positive ways, such as philanthropy and development of new technologies, their vast concentration of wealth limits others' freedoms, such as healthcare, education, and employment. Finally, the control billionaires wield over the rest of the world through their economic empires is unfair and, more importantly, dangerous. Enabling a single individual to control that much money and power never works. I will now use the example of Communism. Despite claiming that everyone is equal, someone always rises to take advantage of everyone else, and so the system collapses. The same rings eerily true of Donald Trump. He is a president of and for billionaires. This is clear in his (sometimes strained) friendship with Elon Musk. After the attempted assassination of Trump, Musk publicly backed his campaign and went on to donate over $290 million, giving Trump an advantage over his competitor. And billionaires' wealth continues to grow, while Trump is given more and more power. As the saying goes, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. This is why billionaires should not exist in a world with inequality and extreme poverty.

By Connor Akey and Sebastian Riley-Fox, Year 8.

Year 9 English

The Year 9s explored 'Australian Voices' this term in English, diving into Indigenous, settler Australian and migrant experiences. We got to take our writing outdoors and explored our sense of connection with place. One poem, titled 'Be Good, Little MIgrants', by Uyen Loewald, was used as a mentor text to explore the contradictions and hypocrisies of growing up as a teenager in today's culture. Students took on the condescending tone of the media, the education system, Big Tech, social and family cultures at large, to expose the mixed messages delivered to their contemporary generation today. 

Be good little teenagers Let your phones raise you We'll blame them later for everything Post just enough to seem 'normal' Not enough to make us worry And never anything that suggests you might have a mind of your own - Kaelan Vassallo Be good little teenagers Grow up fast, but don't act older. Be mature, but not  independent. Do what we say, not what we did. And don't  ask questions, just listen. - Grace Humphries Be good little teenagers Be helpful and serve Give us your labour and service Have purpose in our society for minimal reward. - Yuta Borg Be good, little teenagers Fix the climate, plant the trees, save the animals But don't take my luxuries My generation earned these things. We deserve the cheap clothing, long showers, plastic packaging. - Marigold Joyner Be good, little teenagers I'll find an outlying example of a troubled delinquent youth and stereotype your whole generation but don't talk back - Ziggy Hurst Be good, little teenagers how brilliant you can be, but just remember intelligence and age go hand in hand you see - Hyugo Sato Be good, little teenagers sign up to our websites let us know your every move take tests to prove your worth let us know what kinda human you are - William Ferguson Be good, little teenagers Keep your moods controlled Don't be sad, don't be too happy, And if you cry do it quietly please, We're all so tired of your emotions. - Kaelan Vassallo

Year 9 OES

We had a very fun day hanging out with the year 2s, full of excitement, joy and thrill. We got to organise activities to do like a scavenger hunt, games and crafts. It was so sunny, we even had some kids wanting to jump in the dam! All the games worked really well until the Year 2s decided it was more fun to steal our shoes.

By Grace Humphrys, Year 9.

The year 9 and year 11 OE classes went on a day of rock climbing at Camels Hump. We learnt various climbing skills such as belaying and knot tying. We then went on to try 6 different climbs, 5 of which were completed by students. It was a great day out, thank you to Emily, Jonah and Conor for taking us.

By Marigold Joyner, Year 9.

Year 10 Big Trip

Since going on this trip, I've decided that I completely disagree with the saying that `time flies when you're having fun,’ because this past ten days have potentially been the longest ten days of my life, and they have been awesome. We started in Tokyo, where it took me a good day or two to figure out that the people in Japan are not trying to fool me and are, in fact, the nicest people you'll ever meet. We then went to Kyoto where we got to explore the older parts of the city, it was so beautiful. We are in Hiroshima now and have just come back from a tour of the parts of the city that were affected by the atomic bomb and the memorial sights. I'm very excited to see more of this incredible country.

By Liv Jacobson.

I'm having a great time here in Japan, it is very different from home. Tokyo and Kyoto are absolutely massive cities and you can see from rooftops how they go on forever until they eventually meet the mountains. It is interesting how right beside a bustling busy street you can find a zen temple or shine. It's also been very interesting to learn about the history, we visited Kawagoe castle and Hiroshima castle both of which had been restored/rebuilt. In Hiroshima we learned about how it became a military centre from the first shinto Japanese war which was a factor in it being a target for the A bomb. We saw many potent statues around Hiroshima that were calling for peace or a tribute to the victims. Japan is a beautiful and delicious country and I'm super grateful I get to experience it.

By Laurence Joyner.

Japan is such a beautiful place. We are surrounded by huge mountains here in Matsumoto. It’s also very cheap. Everyone is so kind and we have had help from many people. We went to a really pretty castle, a few temples, many 7/11’s, and rode bikes to a wasabi farm where we made delicious soba noodles. The nights have been very fun, filled with lots of good food and chats. We have all been a bit obsessed with our journals too. I really enjoy writing in it and adding train tickets and other items.

By Belle McGregor.

I'm currently writing this on our last night in Furano. This part of the trip went by very quickly, although it was definitely one of my favourite parts so far. The area is completely different to anywhere we'd been so far, and it was a lovely contrast compared to the warmer south. One of my many highlights was definitely an onsen we went to today, which was in a perfect spot nestled at the top of a very snowy valley. The onsen was super hot, and I felt really light headed getting out because of the change in temperature (I think). Going to the zoo in Sapporo was another favourite moment, where I got to see a polar bear for the first time, although it was quite sad seeing it in an enclosure. The park the zoo was located in was amazing, and all the trees were red and orange, covering the small mountains that surrounded it. Potentially my favourite day trip was our second trip to some nearby mountains which had a lot of snow. It was at the base of a volcano and it had picturesque views all around. We went tobogganing both times, although on the second everything was covered in powder, something I've never really seen before. Tomorrow we leave to catch an overnight ferry to Niigata, and eventually make our way to Matsumoto, which is when we will have our homestays.

By Harold Cammell.

I think the Homestay might be my favourite part of the trip. Although it's hard to say because everything we’ve done here has been AMAZING. Sarah and I were placed in a Homestay together! Which made the whole thing a lot less stressful for me. The family we were with were the nicest people ever. They gave us so much stuff. They remembered little details like our favourite colours, and bought us things in those colours. It was so cute. I really hope that if Hikari (our homestay sister) comes to Melbourne we will be able to host her at our house. I think that would be a nice way to return the kindness that her and her family showed us when we were here. The first day was mostly spent with the parents, they took us to a cafe, showed us their vineyard and we met a couple of their friends. Then we met Hikari and they took us to this really old street with lots of shops and cafes! We went to dinner that night, and I could only describe it as a family friend gathering, like the ones we have back home. It was really crazy and chaotic but sooooo much fun. The next day Hikari took us on a day out! We rented Kimonos and went sightseeing! We went to Matsumoto Castle and just walked around the city. Then she took us to her favourite cafe, it was so good I had an avocado salad wrap. Then we went to a mall and then a Buddhist temple where we met the Buddhist Monk, he taught us how to pray! We had to sit on the ground with our legs and hands crossed in a really weird way. After 20 minutes it was really hard to stand up again. He also taught us a bit about Buddhism in Japan and a little bit of its history! It was really cool. Then we went out to dinner with him and his family (Hikari was friends with his daughter) to a sushi train! It was very yummy. The next day we went to the school, which was such a great experience.

By Charlie Grobler.

We have gone from experiencing the vibrant night life in Osaka to riding through one of the most scenic cycling routes in the world, named the Shimanami Kaido. The first night we were camping right on the beach opposite a dolphin sanctuary. Some of us even got lucky enough for dolphins to swim up to us and let us touch them and play with them.  The second night we were camping on an island right on the beach again, there was a little family run burger shop where we all had dinner.  The third day we rode to an island called Onomichi which we had to catch a ferry to get to. The little guest house we stayed in was hidden away in the centre of a market with shops selling delicate pottery bowls, little souvenirs to take home and delicious ramen. To get to the guest house, you had to walk up this tiny narrow alleyway with artwork drawn on the walls. It was hidden between a cute café serving traditional teas and a secret bookshop which smelt of incense and owned by a man who spent his hours reading manga. The hostel itself was so unique, offering a cozy and warm feel.

By Nicholas Stevens.

We’ve been seeing so many beautiful mountains, beaches, and small towns over our bike ride! The weather has been lovely, and we’ve had a few chances to swim. Each day, Sam Ford has made us an incredible morning tea that has really motivated me during the first hour stretch of riding in the morning. The bridges are beautiful! We rode across one of the world’s largest cable stayed bridges the other day. Today we were allowed to go off in pairs, and explore the island on bikes. Gracie and I somehow ended up on a completely different island! Luckily we had a list of teacher’s phone numbers, and we were able to make it back to the accommodation easily. I have really been enjoying exploring the different food items at the Lawsons and 7 Elevens. I’ve begun to find the things I like the best, like the grilled soy sauce onigiri, the red bean bao, peach and mango iced tea, yakult, mugwort and red bean mochi, and dango skewers. We often get given 700 yen for lunch, and we are allowed to choose whatever we like. It’s very exciting!

By Nina Marsh.

I've loved Furano so much, and I'm going to miss it. It's pretty cold here, I'm grateful to have seen real snow for the first time. My favourite day was when we visited this beautiful waterfall that had snow covered trees surrounding it, and a lake that had frozen because of the weather. My hands were shaking but I still managed to eat an ice cream while walking along the path. At some point we visited a zoo, the owls and bears were the best part. I was incredibly scared on the first day when I saw a warning sign for bears when we went on a walk, but they are so cute. The trees around the gates of the zoo had orange leaves, I don’t think I've ever seen plants that brightly coloured. We also went to an arcade. It was so loud and all the games were flashing. It started snowing once we left, and it felt amazing to be back outside, even if it was freezing.

By Ivy Post.

AMS School Formal

This term saw the success of the inaugural school formal which raised funds for the year 10 Big Trip. The night was filled with music, food and dancing. So much effort went into the creation of this joyous event, and it was a team effort bringing it all together.  We’d like to thank the following people: The year 10s for organising the event, and setting up all day on the Friday. Mark, for the many lunch times he gave up to have meetings with us, and for helping with the details we weren’t sure about. Ed and Michael for transforming the space from a spartan gymnasium to a magical dance space. The year 9 AMP party for setting up the gym and helping us organise. Lisa for sending out many emails from us to the school community. James and his VET music students for setting up the lights and sound system. The year 10 parents who volunteered on the night. And last, thank you to all the teachers and students who came on the night.  It was an incredible night, and everyone looked amazing. We hope that there will be another event like this next year! By Nina Marsh, Year 10.

500km in 50 Hours for Cycling Without Age

This is the story of a 500km journey, made by 26 students from Candlebark and Alice Miller School. The story begins in cold and wet clouds, high on Mount Buller. Four riders are gathered at an imaginary start line. They wear whatever warm and waterproof layers they have. The temperature is four degrees, but the ‘feels like’ temperature is minus seven degrees. Riding downhill won’t make them any warmer, but the temperature may be a few degrees warmer at lower elevations. Shortly after midday, they are ready to roll.

They are the first of several small ride groups that together, will attempt to cycle a total of 500km in fifty consecutive hours. These groups will take turns to ride adjoining stretches of an unbroken line that will continue to Mansfield, Yea, Tallarook, Heathcote, Bendigo, Castlemaine, Maldon, Kyneton, and Macedon. Imagine a long distance relay, with a baton, because there just happens to be a baton. Collected in the foothills of the mountains, this hefty branch will be carried proudly and passed between groups along the way. The first group carry the baton through to Mansfield.

They take the scenic route, initially following majestic single track along the Delatite River. There are towering gums and luminescent ferns, wooden bridges across fast flowing streams, and occasionally, daring plunges through streams without bridges. When the water is too deep, or the plunge needs more commitment, bikes stall and feet get wet. It takes more than this to dampen the spirits of these riders though. They are having a ball. Leaving the forest behind, they follow dirt tracks through farmland, beneath an increasingly blue and sunny sky. They are one hour ahead of time when they reach Mansfield. the

In simple terms, riding 500km in fifty hours means maintaining an average speed of ten kilometres per hour for the duration of the ride. For most cyclists, this speed is achievable over shorter distances. In most cases, it also allows for headwinds, hills, puncture repairs, and snack breaks. Over longer distances, and more technical terrain, with increasingly tired riders, this speed becomes harder to maintain. However, this speed must also be maintained throughout the night, or in our case, two nights. With this in mind, we try to arrive ahead of our scheduled meeting times. This is easier said than done.

Taking the baton in Mansfield, the second ride group follows the Great Victorian Rail Trail towards Yarck. This stage is long and straight, with fewer pleasant surprises, and fading light. They cross Lake Eildon by bridge and roll into iconic Bonnie Doon, where there is ‘so much serenity’. The trail continues to Merton, before a gradual climb and descent to Yarck. They arrive right on time, and the next group departs soon after.

Stage three involves an out and back trip on the branch line to Alexandra. We share the trail with a bounding kangaroo, while a Tawny Frogmouth keeps watch from above. Momentum builds until a hissing front tyre signals our first puncture. We replace the tube, inflate the tyre, and the hissing begins again. How unfortunate. Meanwhile, we can’t find a hole to repair on the other tube. We begin to wonder whether the punctured tube was actually removed, and then accidentally returned to the tyre. Suddenly, everything makes sense. The new tube is inserted and inflated, and we begin a steady climb to Alexandra.

On a clear day, the trail above Alexandra offers great views to the Cathedral Range. We miss the views, but enjoy the gradual descent to the railway station. After a snack, we return the way we came; this time climbing first and descending second. We rejoin the main trail at Cathkin, and cross the Goulburn River at Molesworth. From here, the trail climbs again to the Cheviot Tunnel. A second puncture allows a welcome break, before our barrage of lights illuminates the tunnel entrance. The tunnel is spookier in the day, without lights. On the other side, a rewarding downhill leads to Yea. We arrive at two minutes past two, almost two hours ahead of schedule.

The stage four riders wake at four (yes, four in the morning, when most people are still sleeping soundly), and leave before five. These riders are among the youngest in our group. They manage themselves remarkably well at this time of day; they get dressed, eat breakfast, and are riding before first light. By the time the rest of us manage the same morning milestones, misty rain is swirling.

Stage four becomes stage five, and these riders beat the bus to the next meeting point at Majors Creek, a tributary of the Goulburn River. As we approach twenty four hours of riding, we remain an hour ahead of schedule. We celebrate with cinnamon donuts, then continue to Heathcote for lunch.

A handful of awesome parent volunteers join us at different points along the way. Mark H rides two stages. Jemimah and Marija deliver fresh riders to meeting points along the way, and return weary riders to school. Krista stays overnight; loading bikes onto the trailer after dark, making or sourcing hot drinks in the morning, comforting kids, and organising lunch.

Extra staff come and go too, including the Heads of Campus from both schools. Sam T arrives after a full day at Candlebark to lead stage eight, and Mark J arrives at 5am to ride stage eleven before a full day at Alice Miller. Ben joins us for the overnight stay at Harcourt. The support we receive from these people makes a world of difference; we really can’t thank them enough.

Stage six sees the first returning riders; those who have already ridden an earlier stage. A lot has been asked of these particular riders, who will ride three of the more challenging stages. This one includes gravel roads, undulating terrain, and warmer conditions. They reach the drier Box Ironbark forests of the Heathcote-Graytown National Park, where they dig deep to ensure the time deficit at the changeover is as small as possible. The baton is handed on ten minutes behind schedule, but in hindsight, an extra hour should have been allocated. This group has ridden phenomenally well.

The stage seven riders are similarly impressive. They ride out of the forest and pick up the O’Keefe Trail on the edge of Heathcote. Much of this stage seems to involve long and gentle climbs, accompanied by ever present wind. For a full two hours and fifty five minutes, these riders do not leave their bikes. They eat snacks, drink water, wait for one another, and rest, but their bikes are always with them. They cross the Campaspe River at Axedale, before reaching the changeover point just five minutes outside the scheduled time. It is a perfect time of day to be on a bike, riding towards the sinking sun.

The O’Keefe Trail weaves a path into the centre of Bendigo, where it officially ends at Lake Weeroona. The tracks around Lake Weeroona are home to the Bendigo Cycling Without Age group. Their 13 volunteer pilots conduct regular rides for the residents of eleven local aged care facilities. They ride 3 - 4 days each week. They are one of many inspiring Cycling Without Age groups who offer rides throughout Australia, and around the world.

By the time we arrive, the sun has already set, and there are no electric trishaws to admire, or passengers to greet with a wave and cheerful ringing of our bells. Instead, there is a new bike trail to locate, and a few kilometres still to ride. This group is having such a good time that they ride beyond the changeover point before they realise they have gone too far. Our ride may now be 502km by the time we reach the end.

Stage nine is bookended by two delightful stretches of riding on stunningly smooth surfaces. Sandwiched between them are possibly the roughest and rockiest tracks of the entire route. Twilight soon becomes torch light as we check the map frequently to confirm that yes, this single track through scrubby bush, punctuated by mounds of hefty boulders, is actually the path we should be following. We expend our entire mental capacity within the first forty five minutes, before relying on what one rider refers to as ‘auto pilot’.

Despite the challenges, there is a lot to love about the unusual situation we now find ourselves in. The night is perfectly still, and the sky is full of stars. The moon hangs higher than it did the night before. The track improves as we reach a water race, where we are joined by the purposeful sound of moving water. We stop for muesli bars at a perfectly positioned water tank, but can’t stop for too long in case we fall asleep where we are. A Tawny Frogmouth leaves a branch, flying the same direction as us. A deer with antlers appears and disappears before us; a seemingly surreal encounter.

One section of the track is so steep we have no choice but to push our bikes to the top. Again, we miss sweeping views that are normally enjoyed from this part of the track. We can still enjoy the downhill ride though. Before long, our track meets a ridiculously tempting sealed road. We make a few quick calculations to determine that both routes cover roughly the same distance; one shares a road with vehicles, but the chances of meeting one at this time of night (now after midnight), seem unlikely. We are also more lit up than a front garden filled with Christmas lights. We leave the track and follow the road for the final ten kilometres. It could be the best decision of the entire trip.

At our base camp above Harcourt, we are greeted by the stage ten riders. This is a hardened crew, confident in their ability to cover the required distance (and more), in four hours, instead of the five we have allocated to them. By 1am, they are on their way towards Castlemaine and Maldon. Awaiting them in Maldon is a treasure hunt. The X on the map is a mailbox packed with Tiny Teddy biscuits, and peanut butter flavoured protein bars. Fueled by tasty treats, the return trip to Campbells Creek is made in record time. A smooth changeover ensures the next group of riders are on their way by 5am.

Rewind the clock forty five minutes and you would find these same riders sleeping soundly in warm sleeping bags inside cosy tents. An initial wake up is unsuccessful. A second attempt is made five minutes later. Returning a further ten minutes later, we find these riders packing their belongings, an unthinkably complex operation at this time of the morning. Amazed by their efforts, we redirect them to the bus, hand them hot chocolate, and shuttle them to the start of the ride. There are no complaints as they switch on their bike lights, and set off towards Taradale and Malmsbury. Simply remarkable.

The last third of the ride takes them half of the overall riding time needed. They encounter farm paddocks, animals, fences, and gates, some of which require their bikes to be lifted carefully to the other side. It sounds like a genuine adventure, but there is little time to exchange stories when they successfully roll into Malmsbury. The bakery awaits these three brave riders, while an ominous climb out of town awaits those riding stage twelve.

This group covers fifteen kilometres of undulating terrain in their first hour. They feast on raspberry and blueberry muffins after successfully circumnavigating Kyneton, and the northern side of the Upper Coliban Reservoir. The familiar outline of Mount Macedon and the Camels Hump guides them to the Campaspe River, and over the Calder Freeway. They pick up another rider here, a full thirty minutes ahead of the intended meeting time.

Next stop - Hanging Rock. When they arrive, they are still ahead of the main group in the bus, so they ride on to meet them at the Kerrie Hall. This adds 9km to the stage, including a very steep pinch at the beginning of Kerrie Valley Road. It is steep enough to justify pushing, but every rider wills themselves to ride instead; another extraordinary effort after 480km of riding