Notre Dame student rides across the Kimberley on a mountain bike

Document Type

Media Release

Publication Date

Winter 6-7-2007

Publisher Name

The University of Notre Dame Australia, Broome

Publication Place

Broome

Abstract

Studying at The University of Notre Dame Australia's Broome Campus has been a huge adventure for second year nursing student, Greg Strangman, since he arrived from Canberra in 2005.

A Tug of War championship, a touch rugby grand final, NORFORCE expeditions into the Kimberley outback and conquering the Gibb River Road on a mountain bike have all contributed to his Broome experience.

"It's all been pretty amazing," Greg said. "The study has also been an adventure. I've spent time on practical placement in Carnarvon and Kununurra, but the highlight was going out on prac to the communities with the nurses. I like being remote. You take so much more in if it's a place you haven't been to before. You get so much feedback from the nurses out there because it's a bit more relaxed than what it would be like in a rushed setting."

The Kimberley landscape also made travelling to the practicums a unique experience. But even by Greg's standards his most recent journey was something a little different.

Greg braved road trains, river crossings and the odd cattle muster to ride 160kms as part of a NORFORCE team of five who conquered the Gibb for Police Legacy. As if the journey wasn't daunting enough Greg made the trip without any training after joining just three weeks out from the beginning of the event. He bought his bike the Thursday before the ride.

"I haven't done anything like that before," he says. "Parts of the road were pretty rough, but in others it was smooth so you could go faster as the dirt was hard. It was mainly just about taking in the country and talking to the other riders."

The highlight for Greg was rolling into Kununurra with cheering spectators lining the main street and knowing he'd achieved his goal. "There are a lot of opportunities to get out of your comfort zone up here and it's a pretty good feeling when you know you've met the challenge. I've seen my time in Broome as one really big adventure," he says.

Now Greg is looking forward to experiencing the Fremantle Campus. "It's a big step, but I'm sure I'll be fine. It's just another part of Notre Dame and it's just another adventure. I think it would be great if more people came up and experienced Broome, even just for a semester. They can get involved in so many events and you learn so much living on campus. This place is so unique compared to anywhere else in Australia."

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