Campout 19th-21st October 2007, Frenchman’s Creek, Upper Big River State Forest.

Hi, I’m Geoff and I’m an alcoholic.

This was first campout, for me, and a few of the guys, but the others gave us an idea of what to expect. This was the 21st Campout that the Deal has been on, and a few guys have actually been on them all. Does that make them “older camper members”?

Anyway car packed up by about 7.45am aiming for Ben’s by 8.30am. Arriving at 9.00am, Paul and I packed up the car whilst Ben made the breakfast. Then it was time to hit the road, leaving about 10.00.

As Malcolm and Gavin were already on the way with the trailer, and Cable and Dave were also en route somewhere, we decided to get to Marysville and call the others and arrange to meet up. The drive to Marysville was uneventful and we spent it chatting about various aspects of the program, experiences with and without alcohol and every so often Paul slipped something in about aliens, or computer games, or hatstands or the like.

When we arrived at Marysville the rest of the set up crew told us on the phone they were about 10 minutes away. Sure enough half an hour later the trailer arrived and we had some lunch before pushing on into the bush to find the campsite. An actual site had not been decided at this stage, and we followed Gavin and Malcolm (as Gav was the only one who bothered to read the map) and head off into the wilderness. After 10km of winding road we got into the Upper Big River State Forest. The road suddenly changed from usual to moonscape very suddenly.

Malcolm, Gavin and the trailer took off at warp speed down the pot-holed track, making a huge cloud of dust and we had to stop alarmingly to avoid losing the road and crashing into the trees. This of course meant that Cable had to stop suddenly to avoid smashing into us. It was only after he had blasted his horn, gesticulated wildly, and turned the air blue that Cable realised why we’d stopped suddenly, and serenity was restored.

After we stopped to replace the gear that fell out of Malcolm and Gavins’ ute we looked at the first camp site at Stockman’s Reward. This was rejected as it was basically a mud filled parking lot and did not look like it would present the creature comforts necessary to suit the sensibilities of most regular alcoholics. So we carried on further down the track, pausing to consult the map (at a confusing fork in the road, the one with the big sign) and to replace the gear that fell out of Malcolm and Gavins’ ute again.

Soon (ish) we arrived at the site at Frenchman’s Creek, not to be confused with Fisherman’s Creek, Frenchman’s Crack, or Frenchman’s Bend Creek (which don’t exist, Warren) or Frenchman’s Spur or Frenchman’s Creek Track (which do). So, we started to set up camp.

After an hour or so, with Cable’s expert instruction, Gavin’s practical sense, Ben’s recall of previous strategies and Malcolm’s ability to break things, we had the camp mostly up and secure. We paused at this stage as Gav and I had worked out how to fire up the burners and make some hot water for tea. A major crisis was averted because Dave had remembered to bring some tea bags! Nice one dave.

Next we turned to making a fire. There were a couple of old dead trees at the site so Malcolm got the axe and got to work, for about 45 seconds, then he broke the handle off the axe (and later burned it). Keeping the chopper and other assorted knob gags to a minimum we found enough wood to keep a fire going until Matthew got there later in the afternoon with the chain saw. In an attempt to remove the broken axe head that was now embedded in the old log, Malcolm broke the hammer.

We realised that when some of the guys arrived it might be dark and difficult for them to find the camp, so we should give them a call. However, no mobile phone reception! So I decided to make a list of things we needed (some coke for Paul, new-chopper for Mal) and head back to Marysville and call the guys. Not far out of the camp, I met Ben L., Warren and Billy on their way in. After clearly and accurately describing the site and its name (Frenchman’s Creek) they headed off with the food, they were now pretty close to camp.

Why one of the older sober members decided to insist going via Fisherman’s Creek, Frenchman’s Bend, Footscray, Frankfurt etc. remains unknown. As I was driving back along the potholes, I kept my phone switched on so I could call as soon as reception was restored. But the phone actually rang, and it was the chainsaw, who was bringing Matty and Dean along, they reckoned they’d make it early evening. After that call, the reception dropped out for the next 15k…Weird. Back in Marysville I bought the needful, sent the messages and waited for a while in case anyone arrived.

By the time I got back to camp, everything was set up and Ben L. and Warren had the sausages on the BBQ. It must have been the smell of the food, but people started arriving shortly after, well Fergus and Graham did. Fergus soon transformed himself from city slicker to Crocodile Dublin (call that a knife?), and we all ate and got the meeting organised. Don’t know if it was the location, or what but it was a really great meeting, there was definitely a power around that fire that you could almost touch. Thanks guys.

Around then Matt and Dean and the chainsaw arrived and by torchlight Matty carved up a huge pile of firewood, and Mark and Pete arrived. Sometime before midnight, Dmitry, Jamie, Steve, Justin and Ash straggled in tired, lost and hungry after trailing around the state trying to find us using Dmitry’s GPS. Fortunately Steve pointed out that a good old-fashioned look at the map might help. The last thing we all heard was Malcolm’s resentment of the Eurythmics, and snoring from Graham’s car.

After breakfast next morning (salt on porridge gentlemen, not fruit or other sweet stuff), we had our second meeting, slightly delayed for Dmitry, who had just run to Perth and back. It was great to hear from everyone and everyone had something helpful to say.

Next came the Deal Volleyball International World Series Championship of Australia. Teams were chosen at random from a hat, and then adjusted by an older sober member for some reason, probably not related to gaining an advantage. Warren explained the rules and ‘Team C’ won the first game after some amazing aerial manoeuvres, dirt biting and out and out cheating. Next they played Warren’s team. It was a very close game, and halfway through, in the interests of fairness one of the older sober members reinvented the rules and explained them again. When they won, that older sober member took over umpiring too, and his team won again. No need to mention which team won the Grand Final, but lets face it its the only thing that Carlton followers have had to shout about this year.

After lunch some guys chose to go into town, some went bush walking, others sat around chatting, others slept. Some even tried fishing. Talking with the guys was really for me the core of what campout is all about. It was a great chance to talk at length with some of the older sober members, and to hear their instructions on some aspects of step work. There was also the chance to talk not just about the program, but how the program relates to life, the universe and everything. It was also great to just chill and talk about anything and everything with whoever was around. As a newcomer myself it was great to really feel part of this thing, and to see how close a group the Deal is, and how the guys all get along regardless of sobriety time up. Malcolm even found time to work through his Eurythmics resentment.

A fine green chicken curry and chocolate pudding was just what was needed by then, and following the clearing up we settled in for our third meeting. Again it was great to hear what was said, and everyone took something away with them.

The fire, with promptings from several obsessed members had reached biblical proportions by now, so most of us just sat around and drank tea for a while before heading off to bed, apart from Dmitry, who had to head back to Melbourne.

Next morning the camp was partially cleared before breakfast, as some had to leave. After breakfast clean up we had our final meeting of the 21st Camp Out. We heard from a selection of 5 speakers, all with different insights on the topic chosen.

Shortly after camp was packed away and everyone started to return home, hopefully avoiding the motorcycling that was going on in the forest that day.

A big thank you to everyone involved in the Camp Out, all 21 who were there contributed in many ways to make it a successful and really enjoyable weekend.

— Geoff