A mirror with memory

I look back over my life and wonder how I fitted it all in. Here I am standing on the steps of Chakola in the Kangaroo Valley. It was probably my second or third year that I had been working there. One of two Leonard Lizard singlets that had been hand painted by a lover.

This was my first real job. Though honestly the whole time there was unreal. We ran this camp for Derek Lucas, I had gone from enthusiastic scout to professional in a week, just weeks out of high school. It was so much fun running around the bush with people. Bushwalking, climbing, abseiling, canoeing, caving, high and low ropes courses, lots of initiative problems for people to solve and a workshop full of art supplies to play with. I often taught silkscreen printing and pottery.

It was here I learnt my craft of facilitating groups of people. That was the main focus of the place. Derek was passionate about teaching and every little thing we did had an educational purpose. Even down to how many people sat at a table for lunch. So they’d talk as a group. Eight was his magic number for a group. Nine with a facilitator.

He designed many new and fascinating activities and problems to give to clients to learn to work together. It was his forte. Some were overly complicated and often were simplified with use. Most had a huge back story used to set the scene.

I wonder how many people ‘Pedro’, locked up in his jail. It was a fascinating problem to solve. Based on the dinner table as Derek had noticed the shape of the table effected the conversations at it. A round one tended to have a more whole group discussion whilst a long narrow one always broke off into smaller multiple conversations. So he designed his prison to be long and narrow so that at least two conversations about how to solve it started simultaneously.

Pedro was the jail keeper and we had a script we used after dressing up. And playing with a fishing rod, we’d pretend swig a drink and pass out under a tree whilst they figured out their escape.

I probably ran that same activity hundreds of times. Over and over. Actually you took your group through all of them. I can’t imagine how many times I ran his bottomless pit.

Having someone with such an interest in group teamwork and facilitating them as my mentor meant I really worked hard at it. Unfortunately there was one ingredient missing that I didn’t figure out til fifteen years later. That is teaching people by telling them what they are doing right. Anyway that’s a different story.

Back at Chakola I became an expert in error correction. Trying to teach people to lead and manage others. The Center became focused on corporate training and I was proud to be associated with the first specialist outdoor corporate training centre and business in Australia. We lead the way in safety and teaching. Well, Derek did. I just worked hard and tried to do as I was told.

I don’t know who took this photograph. I am extremely happy. Full of life and energy. My lion’s mane full and healthy.

Honestly, we should write a book about Derek or perhaps about the place. To us, young and eggar it was full of magic. We’d try so hard to install that magic on others.

I notice I am wearing a handwoven bracelet made by Judy. Oh the memories…

In such an honest photograph lies so much. Yes. A mirror with memory.

Len at Chakola on the front steps. Photographer unknown. Text copyright © Len Metcalf 2021