Meet Byron — teacher and adventurer

Have you ever heard of trail magic? It’s one of the things that got Byron through his 4260km hike from Mexico to Canada. Totally unplanned, volunteers turn up with food and supplies to help hikers that they don’t even know. Trail magic makes hikers feel less isolated and gives them a serious morale boost.

 
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These days, Byron practices trail magic in a different way. His lessons are tailored to cater to the needs of all his students, of course. They’re also exciting and they make students feel good. Byron teaches the Manta Rays (aka. the year 3-4 class). They’ve worked hard this year at lots of things, but especially Readers’ Theatre. Their public speaking has improved by leaps and bounds, increasing confidence and class participation.

Bush rats and table manners

Byron’s first experience of the  Woodbury Boston way was on a year six school trip in the late 1990s to the neighbouring camp school run by school founder John Woodbury. Young Byron loved the campus and remembers getting up close and personal with rattus fuscipes (bush rats — the ultimate thrill for a year six kid!) He’s also got vivid memories of John. Byron and his classmates got an old-fashioned table manners lesson : no elbows on the table, please, thank you, make conversation — and it stuck! He remembers being struck by the high expectations placed on students and guests at Woodbury Boston.

Adventure abounds

Byron is known throughout the school as an adventurer — he has travelled widely and has lots of great stories. We sat down with Byron to get a few more details.

What is your favourite kind of travel?

Most of my trips are based on surfing or cultural immersion — I love getting to know a new culture or community.

What was your most memorable cultural immersion experience?

When I started teaching, I worked in a remote community called Tjuntjuntjara. I spent 18 months making connections with the school and community and it was an amazing experience.

 
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What were your favourite things about working in a remote community? What were the challenges? 

I loved learning about the culture of the Spinifex people. The school was located 630km north-east of Kalgoorlie. It is remote (obviously!) and quiet, and I was proud to be considered part of the community for a short time.

The language barrier was challenging. The Spinifex people speak Pitjantjatjara as their official language, as well as English. I learnt traditions and cultural norms, which was both interesting and tricky. And of course, the isolation made it hard as well.

You hiked the Pacific Coast Trail in 2019. Is that the trail from the book, Wild?

Yes! That’s the one. It runs 4260km from Mexico to Canada and it took us five months to hike.

What were the three best and three hardest things about hiking the PCT?

I loved being out in nature for five months. We made some great friends and I also liked being able to eat whatever I wanted. But the biggest lesson was that reaching lots of little goals can result in one big achievement.

 
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Sometimes the social dynamics were hard. Also, I had some injuries and I always worried that they would end my hike. In the last two months, we hiked up to 50km (usually in wet, cold weather) each day to make sure we would finish the trail. It was tough going.

What got you through those long hikes?

Determination! And also, there are some amazing people along the way. People do ‘trail magic’ to help hikers out and it’s amazing. Someone rocks up at a trailhead or at a crossroad and just hands you food and drinks. All you have to do is sit down and have a chat. Sometimes trail magic is just a lift into town to re-supply.  

Some trail magic for us was a man housing five of us stinky hikers in his little apartment in Mammoth, Colorado during the 4th of July weekend. He even took us out for dinner! Now I try to give a bit of trail magic whenever I can. 

Amazing! What are your other hobbies?

I love fishing, bodyboarding and hiking.

Teachers: they’re people too!

Big thanks to Byron for being the first teacher to be profiled for the blog. Next time you come across him in the playground, feel free to ask any travel or hiking questions you can think of! He’d love to have a chat.

 

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Woodbury Boston Primary School is a progressive independent school nestled in the bush between Denmark and Albany WA. We know that children learn best when they’re happy and having fun. With a strong focus on community, respect, independence and nature-based teaching, our students learn the Western Australian Curriculum and so much more. For more information or to book a personal tour, please ring 9845 1185.

Martha Barnard-RaeWoodbury Boston Primary School