A group of six youngsters from Rhinedahlen decided they would like to do their final Gold DofE Award expedition using canoes.

The DofE candidates Josh, Corey, Casey, Amy, Beth and Tom all voted in favour of the four day independent travel trip by boat.

Fortunately for the group, they were able to call on the help of AWS’ DofE volunteer Paul Carroll, who trained the team up to the necessary standards to complete the task.

Paul, a keen canoeist himself, arranged to borrow the boats needed for the practice lessons from the Adventure Training stores.

The team got started with their lessons in handling kayaks and canoes on the Roermond Lake as well as local rivers.

This is because Paul was delivering the new British Canoe Union (BCU) star scheme which requires candidates to use various craft in differing environments.

By the time their training was completed, the group had not only gained their 1 Star Paddlesport award – a flat water award that demonstrates an individual has basic boat control and foundation skills – but also had partly finished their 2 Star award.

Even after going on tour to Afghanistan, Paul remained in contact and made himself available to help staff the final expedition.

The group planned their practice expedition for the lakes around Mecklenburg, a series of interconnected lakes north east of Berlin.

Here the candidates experienced four days of narrow channels, vast lakes, lochs and sandy beaches. It was a self supported trip and gave the youngsters the opportunity to practice their paddling and camping skills.

After completing their practice expedition the team threw themselves into planning their final expedition.

This eventually took the shape of a four day journey, covering 76 miles on the slow and meandering River Wye that follows the English-Welsh border.

The group were fortunate enough to borrow canoes from Clubs for Young People Wales, a Welsh youth charity that Paul Carroll picked up for them.

After returning back from Afghanistan, Paul took up the role of the group’s safety boater and followed the group discreetly ensuring they were safe on the rapids.

Together with the group’s DofE assessor they were also accompanied by Brian Davies, Windsor School headmaster, and AWS members Laura Vickers and Phil Oakley, who acted as support staff and helped set up a base camp to operate out of.

Throughout the expedition the weather was inclement, some times raining while other times very gray and overcast.

The campsites ranged from the river bank in a farmers field to ones with hot running water and showers.

The group passed the challenge with flying colours, only possible due to their hard work, team effort and their dedication over the last 18 months.

The group were a credit to BFG, AWS, Windsor School and to young people in general.

From this project the group gained their 1 Star Canoe/Kayak award as well as completing the final expedition section of their Gold DofE Award.

The group would like to thank AWS HQ for their support of this project, Rhine Garrison who provided all of the transport to Berlin and Wales and Paul who coached the group to such a high standard. Also Brian, Laura and Phil for helping staff the expeditions.

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The residents of Wil-denrath raised more than €600 for Neptune’s nursery by holding a Fijian-themed night.

The Windmills families club was decked out in traditional Fijian decor and many of the guests attending wore traditional dress.

The event was opened by Josh Vosakiwaiwai saying: “Thank you all for coming, I hope you all enjoy the evening.”

The evening started when the men from the Fijian community went outside to dig up the ‘Lovo’, a traditional feast of meats like chicken and pork and root vegetables all cooked in the ground.

Josh explained: “This is how we cooked our feasts before appliances.” The food had been cooking in the ground for almost two hours and the smell coming from the pit as the soil was moved was mouth-watering.

Once the men had brought the food in for preparation,
spectators watched as a traditional celebration ceremony went ahead, the same celebration that the Queen enjoyed when she visited Fiji.

Josh gave a hugely interesting presentation on the diverse culture of Fiji, answering many questions and explaining the history of the country.

Neptune’s nursery staff had been learning some Fijian dances with the direction and help of their colleague Ruth Vosakiwaiwai.

Debby Perry said: “The dress rehearsal went really well, but the nerves are starting to creep in, I am sure we will be fine though.”

True to her word the nursery ladies were great in their display of dances which included a Hula dance.

Ruth said: “My husband and I have done a few Fijian-themed days, it’s a lot of fun, and it really brings the community together. Fiji is a multi racial place and I am from an Island called Rotuma.

“We all have a different kind of dress to say where we are from, so if I am wearing my Rotuma dress everyone will know that is where I am from. The Fijian people love to get together.”

Neptune’s manager Karen Birch said: “Thank you to everyone, the children will really benefit from the money raised. The money will go towards getting some IT equipment for the nursery.

“I can’t explain what this will mean to the children. A big thank you to everyone who came along and made tonight happen.”

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A group of 20 children in years 5 and 6 from Ark, Brüggen and Andrew Humphrey schools gathered at Windsor School recently to participate in an exciting day of challenging activities in German.

The children were invited because of their keen attitude to learning the language throughout the school year.

After introductions the children listened to the story of the jilted lover, Lorelei, who threw herself to her death from the cliffs above the Rhine, only to return later as the siren who would lure unwary sailors to disaster on the rocks.

Then the children set to work: One group prepared songs, another presented a news programme reporting the events as they unfolded on the Rhine and a third group prepared a drama based on a family outing along the river.

The standard of German used by the children was truly impressive.

SCE Primary German Coordinator Shirley Meijer said: “It is amazing how the children have thrown themselves into the day with such enthusiasm. Their level of German is so advanced.”

To end the day the children performed their projects to the enthusiastic audience who were extremely impressed by their efforts.

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