Click here for the Minister for Water Resources recent announcement of Water Funding.
A Big Day Out
We Arrive How will a man react when death stares him in the face? From what height can a person fall and survive? Where's the coffee?! All valid questions at 8.30am on a brisk Friday morning. The Thornton Partners' team was gathered in bush at Challenge Stadium in Mt Claremont for what was to be a team building exercise. As we milled around the vehicles, the presentation of team jumpers took place. A perfect start to a great couple of days - the freezing temperature ensuring the jumpers were a welcome surprise. There was no hesitation as people pulled them over their heads. This enthusiasm was almost matched by the fear on the faces of team members as we approached the 'High Ropes Course'.
And I thought team-building exercises involved falling backwards while your teammates caught you. How wrong I was. Looking up at the high ropes course I saw a network of ropes, pulleys, poles and ladders all more than 12 metres above the ground. This was our exercise for the day, to negotiate around the course without plummeting to the ground.
We Learn We divided into teams of three. As I glanced around at the other teams, I felt confident that, Garry, Joe and myself would get each other safely through the course. Hard hats, harnesses and gloves on we began practising the required techniques. One climbed the ladder, one held the safety rope (belayer) and one was backup. As the climber negotiated the course the belayer fed out the safety rope and ensured that should he fall he'll stop centimetres short of the ground. The backup was just that, backup when the belayer fainted as his climber fell!
We Climb We each took it in turns to negotiate the course. From time to time the course supervisor would check to ensure we were following procedure and carrying out our safety checks. 'Have you done your safety check', he asked. 'Yes' we replied. 'Well where're your gloves and why is his helmet not done up?' 'Oh!' Safety is relative. What do we on the ground have to worry about, it's the climber up there that has all the problems.
During this time screams of laughter and some of fear could be heard through the bush as the other teams negotiated the course. At times there was hysterical laughter as someone said something out of the ordinary, something they will continue to be reminded of throughout the year.
Negotiating the course was no problem, some members of the team seemed to be part chimpanzee. For me, I gained most watching those I thought would struggle completing sections of the course. This was a major personal achievement for them and it was great to see team members step outside of their comfort zone and challenge themselves.
You Want Me To Do WHAT?? We were all reminded by the Teamworks' staff that the day was 'Challenge By Choice'. This was evident after lunch when the 'Leap of Faith' was revealed.
The Leap of Faith is a pole 12metres high. You climb the pole, stand on a platform the size of an A4 sheet of paper and jump to grab a trapeze. No worries! What started slowly ended in 17 of the Thornton Partners team jumping. This was far greater than the number I thought would jump, in part attributed to the loud encouragement from the ground.
If you want to test yourself, I strongly recommend clambering up a 12 metre pole, struggling onto a tiny platform and throwing yourself towards a distant trapeze. It provides an interesting opportunity for introspection.
All in all a great day was had by the entire team!
Darren Fissioli
Behind The Scenes Behind the scenes is a publication of Thornton Partners that delivers limited technical information together with some insights into how the firm operates, its people and a whimsical view of what's happening in the world.
You are welcome to download any of our back issues:
